An original bill to extend National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorizations funded by the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 80 · Reported to Senate without amendment · Jul 22, 2009

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to extend through FY2010 and the period October 1, 2010-March 31, 2011, the authorization of appropriations funded by the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) (other than the Mass Transit Account) for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highway safety programs, including: (1) highway safety research and development; (2) the occupant protection incentive grants program; (3) the safety belt performance grants program; (4) state traffic safety information system improvements; (5) the alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures incentive grant program; (6) the National Driver Register; (7) the high visibility enforcement program; (8) the motorcyclist safety program; (9) the child safety and child booster seat safety incentive grants program; and (10) NHTSA administrative expenses.

Extends funding through FY2011 for: (1) drug-impaired driving enforcement; and (2) programs to improve older driver safety and provide law enforcement training.

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Extends through FY2010 and the period October 1, 2010-March 31, 2011, the authorization of appropriations funded by the HTF (other than the Mass Transit Account) for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) motor carrier safety programs, including: (1) the motor carrier safety grants program; (2) FMCSA administrative expenses; (3) a set-aside for high priority activities and projects that improve commercial motor vehicle safety and compliance with commercial motor vehicle safety regulations; (4) a set-aside for new entrant motor carrier audits; (5) state commercial driver's license information system modernization; (6) a motor safety outreach and education program; and (7) a grant program to train commercial motor vehicle operators in the safe use of commercial vehicles.

Extends through March 31, 2011: (1) the motor carrier safety advisory committee; and (2) the working group for development of practices and procedures to enhance federal-state relations.

Extends through FY2010 and the period October 1, 2010-March 31, 2011, the funding for hazardous materials research projects.

Amends the Dingell Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to extend through FY2010 and the period October 1, 2010-March 31, 2011, the current requirements for distribution of appropriations for fish restoration and management projects.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D–WV

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 22, 2009
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.
Jul 22, 2009
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Rockefeller. Without written report.
Jul 22, 2009
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Rockefeller. Without written report.
Jul 22, 2009
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Placed on Calendar Senate · Jul 22, 2009 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1496 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1496, 111th Congress: An original bill to extend National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorizations funded by the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1496

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 2009-07-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1496/BILLS-111s1496pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1496 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1496 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1496, 111th Congress: An original bill to extend National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorizations funded by the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1496

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 2009-07-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1496/BILLS-111s1496pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1496 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1496 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1496, 111th Congress: An original bill to extend National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorizations funded by the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1496

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 2009-07-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1496/BILLS-111s1496pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1496 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1496 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1496, 111th Congress: An original bill to extend National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorizations funded by the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1496

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 2009-07-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1496/BILLS-111s1496pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1496 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.