taining existing responsibilities of other agencies in the areas of traffic safety and injury prevention. In view of the significant benefits to the public welfare from a reduction of highway accidents, injuries, and death which could result from the coordinated program proposed, we recommend enactment of S. 3005. We are advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's program. Sincerely, WILBUR J. COHEN, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letter of March 3, 1966, requested any comments that the General Services Administration may care to offer concerning S. 3005, 89th Congress, a bill to provide for a coordinated national safety program and establishment of safety standards for motor vehicles in interstate commerce to reduce traffic accidents and the deaths, injuries, and property damage which occur in such accidents. The bill would provide for a national program of highway safety, including intensification of research into the causes of highway accidents, improvement of minimum safety standards for the highway, vehicle, and driver, and for assistance and encouragement to the States to develop programs for improvement of highway safety. As operator of one of the largest vehicular fleets in the United States, GSA is vitally concerned about highway safety. In addition, GSA has the responsibility, pursuant to Public Law 88-515 and sections 206 (a) (4) and 211(a)(5) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 487 (a) (4), 491(a)(5)), for prescribing standards for vehicles purchased by the Government. Pursuant to our authority, we have issued Federal Standard No. 515, which was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1965 (30 F.R. 8319). GSA intends to revise this standard from year to year as the science of automotive safety advances. We believe that a national program of highway safety such as that provided for in S. 3005 would substantially reduce the current toll in highway deaths and injuries. The General Services Administration, therefore, favors its early enactment. If S. 3005 is enacted, GSA would be happy to share its experience in the field of automotive safety with the appropriate Federal authority, to assist in the development of safety standards under title II of the bill, and to coordinate them with existing GSA standards. The financial effects of this measure cannot be estimated. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee and that the enactment of S. 3005 would be in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, LAWSON B. KNOTT, Jr., Administrator. B-88925. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Chairman, Committee on Commerce, U.S. Senate. Washington, D.C., April 8, 1966. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in response to your letter of March 3, 1966, inviting our comments on S. 3005, a bill to provide for a coordinated national traffic safety program and the establishment of safety standards for motor vehicles in interstate commerce. The objective of the proposed legislation is the reduction of traffic accidents and their toll of deaths, injuries, and property damage. To achieve that purpose the bill would confer upon the Secretary of Transportation (the head of the Department of Transportation proposed in S. 3010, now pending before the Senate Committee on Government Operations) the authority to establish safety standards for motor vehicles and equipment in interstate commerce, undertake and support necessary safety research and development, and encourage and provide financial assistance in developing State traffic safety programs under effective standards for drivers, motor vehicles, postaccident care, and the traffic environment, including highways. While our Office cannot claim expertise in the field of traffic safety, we are inclined to view with favor S. 3005, as seeking to achieve a well-rounded and meaningful traffic safety program. Our only suggestion, with reference to grants under sections 104(e), 106(a) and 301 of the bill, the latter amending title 23 of the United States Code, is that there be added to the bill a records and audit section similar to that contained in section 11 of Public Law 88-206, Clean Air Act. We have no other comment to offer. Sincerely yours, FRANK H. WEITZEL, Assistant Comptroller General of the United States. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, April 18, 1966. Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in further response to your recent request for our views on S. 3005, a bill to provide for a coordinated national safety program and establishment of safety standards for motor vehicles in interstate commerce to reduce traffic accidents and the deaths, injuries, and property damage which occur in such accidents. We strongly support S. 3005 which is designed to carry out President Johnson's recent recommendations for legislation to provide effective means for averting the tragic and wasteful slaughter of citizens in traffic accidents on our highways. Beyond our general interest in the bill, we have an immediate interest in adequate safety standards for the millions of American workers whose livelihood is closely tied to the operation of motor vehicles. We note that the measure provides for appropriate cooperation between the Secretary of transportation and other departments and agencies of the Government with respect to the particular agency responsibility involved. Presumably, cooperative arrangements would be entered into with the Department of Labor, as well as the Federal Safety Council, involving such matters as the compilation of relevant statistics and the providing of training in safety matters. As you know, section 307 places restrictions on the use of information in accident reports collected pursuant to this bill and existing statutes. We understand this limitation is not intended to apply to the authority of the Secretary of Labor to use accident reports properly in his possession as a result of Federal Employees' Compensation Act matters. This conclusion is based upon the provision in section 308 safeguarding the authority under existing law of any Federal department of agency. Because of the broad language of section 307, however, it might be well to clarify this matter in the Committee's report. The Bureau of the Budget advises that from the standpoint of the administration's program there is no objection to the submission of this report. Sincerely, W. WILLARD WIRTZ, Secretary. The text of the bill as reported by your committee is as follows: S. 3005 A BILL To provide for a coordinated national safety program and STATEMENT OF PURPOSE SEC. 2. The Congress hereby declares that the purpose of this Act is to reduce accidents involving motor vehicles and to reduce the deaths and injuries occurring in such accidents. To this end, the Secretary of Commerce shall have authority to establish motor vehicle safety standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment in interstate commerce; to undertake and support necessary safety research, development and evaluation; and to encourage and provide financial assistance in developing State traffic safety programs under effective standards for drivers, motor vehicles, postaccident care, and the traffic environment, including highways. TITLE I-MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS DEFINITIONS SEC. 101. As used in this title (a) "Motor vehicle safety" means the performance of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment in such a manner that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring as a result of the design or construction of motor vehicles and is also protected against unreasonable risk of death or injury to persons in the event accidents do occur, and includes nonoperational safety of such vehicles. (b) "Motor vehicle safety standard" means a minimum standard for motor vehicle performance, or motor vehicle equipment performance, which is practicable, which meets the need for motor vehicle safety, and which provides objective criteria. (c) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power primarily for use on the public roads, streets, and highways, other than (1) a vehicle subject to safety regulations under part II of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or under the Transportation of Explosives Act as amended (18 U.S.C. 831-835), and (2) a vehicle or car operated exclusively on a rail or rails. (d) "Motor vehicle equipment" means any system, part, or component of a motor vehicle as originally manufactured or any similar part or component manufactured or sold for replacement or improvement of such system, part, or component or as an accessory, or addition to the motor vehicle. (e) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in the manufacturing or assembling of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, including any person importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale. (f) "Distributor" means any person engaged in the sale and distribution of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale. (g) "Dealer" means any person who is engaged in the sale and distribution of new motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment primarily to purchasers who in good faith purchase any such vehicle or equipment for purposes other than resale. (h) "State" includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, and American Samoa. (i) "Interstate commerce" means commerce between any place in a State and any place in another State, or between places in the same State through another State. (j) "Secretary" means Secretary of Commerce. (k) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other form of business enterprise. (1) "Defect" includes any defect in design, construction, components, or materials in motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment. (m) "United States district courts" means the Federal district courts of the United States and the United States courts of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, and American Samoa. (n) "Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission" means the Commission established pursuant to the joint resolution of the Congress relating to highway traffic safety, approved August 20, 1958 (72 Stat. 635), or as it may be hereafter reconstituted by law. INTERIM FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS SEC. 102. (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, on or before January 31, 1967, the Secretary shall prescribe, by order, and publish in the Federal Register interim motor vehicle safety standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, which shall be based upon existing public and private safety standards. (b) Interim standards prescribed pursuant to this section shall become effective on a date specified by the Secretary which shall be no sooner than one hundred and eighty days nor later than one year from the date on which such standards are published. Such standards shall remain in effect until new and revised Federal motor vehicle safety standards become effective pursuant to section 103. (c) In prescribing interim standards under this section, the Secretary shall (1) consult with the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission, with other State and interstate agencies (including legislative committees), with motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, and with scientific, technical, business, and consumer organizations, as he deems appropriate. (2) consider, in the light of available technical information, whether any such proposed standard is reasonable, practicable, and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed; and (3) consider the extent to which such standards will contribute to carrying out the purposes of this Act. REVISED FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS SEC. 103. (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, on or before January 31, 1968, the Secretary shall prescribe, by order, in accordance with sections 3, 4, and 6 of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 1002, 1003, 1005) new and revised motor vehicle safety standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. (b) Standards prescribed pursuant to this section shall become effective on a date specified by the Secretary which shall be no sooner than one hundred eighty days nor later than one year from the date on which such standards are published, except that, for good cause shown, the Secretary may specify a later effective date, and in such event he shall publish his reasons therefor. (c) In prescribing standards under this section, the Secretary shall(1) consider relevant available motor vehicle safety data, including the results of research, development, testing and evaluation activities conducted pursuant to this Act; (2) consult with the Vechile Equipment Safety Commission, and such other States or interstate agencies (including legislative committees) as he deems appropriate, which consultation shall include (A) informing the Commission and other agencies of all proposed Federal vehicle safety standards and amendments thereto and (B) affording such Commission and other agencies an opportunity to study and comment on such standards and amendments; (3) consider whether any such proposed standard is reasonable, practicable and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed; and (4) consider the extent to which such standards will contribute to carrying out the purposes of this Act. (d) The order prescribing standards pursuant to this section shall include as part of the concise general statement of the basis and S. Rept. 1301 0, 89-2 |