The legislation includes an act requiring all new cars to have an alert system to prevent children being accidently left in back seats, as well as a provision that would increase the required amount of insurance for commercial vehicles.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3684, the “INVEST in America Act," by 221-201 in a mostly partisan vote. If enacted, the legislation would spend $547 billion over five years on surface transportation.
The Big “I" was pleased to see H.R. 3164, the “Hot Cars Act of 2021," included in the legislation, which would require all new cars to be equipped with a detection system to alert drivers that a child has been left unattended inside the vehicle.
Prior to House passage of the broader transportation package, the Big “I" joined a number of insurance companies and organizations in sending a letter of support for the “Hot Cars Act." In the letter, the organizations note that, “Occupant detection and alert systems will save the lives of countless children and pets that are accidently left in back seats."
The “INVEST in America Act" also included a provision that would update the required amount of insurance for commercial motor vehicles. Specifically, the provision increases the minimum amount of insurance required for commercial motor vehicles from $750,000 to $2 million and directs this amount to be adjusted for inflation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association every five years.
Following House passage of the “INVEST in America Act", the U.S. Senate is expected to take up its surface transportation reauthorization bills, S. 2016, the “Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021," and S. 1931, the “Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act," in the coming weeks.
The Big “I" will continue to provide members with any important updates in the weekly News & Views e-newsletter as the legislation makes its way through Congress.
Wyatt Stewart is Big “I" assistant vice president of federal government affairs.
