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H.R.3381 / 117th Congress

School Bus Safety Act of 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 20, 2021

School Bus Safety Act of 2021

This bill addresses safety features for school buses.

Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement rules requiring school buses to include

a three-point safety belt at each designated seating position,

a fire suppression system which addresses engine fires,

a firewall that prohibits hazardous quantities of gas or flame to pass through the firewall from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment,

an automatic emergency braking system,

an event data recorder, and

an electronic stability control system.

DOT must also establish a grant program to assist local educational agencies to purchase school buses equipped with three-point safety belts or any of the other safety features under this bill and assist them in modifying existing school buses to be equipped with such features.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] · D–TN

Committees

  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Education and Workforce Committee
2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

  2. Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.3381 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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