Frank Lautenberg: “this bill includes a critical measure to make .08 the national drunk driving standard. Chairman Shelby and I both care…”

“this bill includes a critical measure to make .08 the national drunk driving standard. Chairman Shelby and I both care deeply about improving transportation across this country, but we also share a commitment to making sure our transportation systems are as safe as possible. One of the most important things we can do to keep our families safe on our nation's roads is to keep drunk drivers off those roads. Mr. President, the Senate already voted in favor of the .08 standard in 1998. The Senate overwhelming passed the Lautenberg-DeWine .08 amendment to TEA-21 by a vote of 62-32. But, ultimately, the American public did not get the safety legislation that they deserved when a national .08 standard was not included in the final TEA-21 conference report that was sent to the President. The TEA-21 conference report removed the Senate-passed .08 standard and replaced it with an incentive grant program, that, while well intentioned, frankly is not working. Only two states have passed .08 BAC since TEA-21 was enacted two years ago and it seems very unlikely that any other state will be motivated by the incentive grants over the next few years. Mr. President, we have learned with other effective drunk driving legislation such as the minimum 21 drinking age and zero tolerance that weak incentive programs do not work--but national standards do. I would assure my colleagues that the .08 provisions in this bill today do not alter the TEA-21 incentive grant program.”