ATSSA presents Rep. Esty and Rep. Graves with Roadway Safety Champion Award

Annual award recognizes elected officials that advocate for roadway safety infrastructure

(Washington, D.C.) - ATSSA presented two members of Congress with the prestigious 2018 Roadway Safety Champion Award for their leadership in advocating for the roadway safety industry.

Representative Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) received the awards during ATSSA’s annual Legislative Briefing & Fly-in in Washington, D.C.

Elected officials that are champions for roadway safety infrastructure and contribute to eliminating fatalities and injuries on our nation’s roadways are selected each year for the award.

Rep. Esty partnered with Representative Lou Barletta (R-PA) to launch the bipartisan Road Safety Caucus in 2017. This caucus supports roadway safety infrastructure policies, and advocates for congressional legislative action related to the White House’s infrastructure package and a long-term funding solution for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).

“As the daughter and granddaughter of civil engineers, I was raised to believe this country could and should build big things. Our parents and grandparents dared to invest, even when the economy struggled. They turned gravel roads into paved roads, and connected the country coast to coast with the interstate highway system. They put jet planes into the sky with airports that were the envy of the world. Our best days do not have to be behind us. We can harness modern technology and materials to reduce the 40,000 road deaths this country experiences. We can revitalize our roads and railways to help keep American manufacturers competitive in a global economy. We do not have to settle for putting duct tape over our crumbling infrastructure. We have a unique opportunity to take steps today to build a 21st century infrastructure to support a 21st century economy. Let’s continue to do great things that will move our people and our country forward," said Esty.

Rep. Graves serves as the Chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee and has been a vocal supporter of a long-term funding solution for the HTF within the context of tax reform. Additionally, Graves is working to enact a long-term highway bill in 2020 and supports the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

“I am honored to receive the 2018 Roadway Safety Champion Award. It’s always great to work with ATSSA members from Missouri like Jay Bruemmer and the Moores, who have firsthand knowledge about the importance of our transportation dollars contributing to safety improvements. ATSSA’s efforts during the 2015 highway bill were instrumental to securing a long-term bill and I appreciate their continued support for finding a sustainable funding solution for the highway trust fund,” said Graves.

ATSSA’s Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith shared his thoughts on Graves' and Esty's commitment to roadway safety.

“Reps. Esty and Graves’ leadership in championing roadway safety infrastructure policies and investments at the federal level is critical to achieving ATSSA’s goal of eliminating deaths and serious injuries on roadways across the United States. They have both clearly demonstrated their commitment to roadway safety and have taken an active role in saving lives not only in their congressional districts, but nationwide. We look forward to continuing to work with them in the years to come to ensure that each man, woman and child who leaves his or her home in the morning, arrives back home alive,” said Smith.

Over 85 members participated in the 2018 Legislative Briefing & Fly-In, sharing experiences with legislators and their staff about roadway safety infrastructure, and what can be done to move Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) on the nation’s roads.

For more information about the Fly-In, visit flyin.atssa.com.