Congresswoman Johnson cosponsors “BUSES Act of 2009” with Congressman Bill Shuster

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today announced that she is an original cosponsor of H.R. 1135, the Bus Uniform Standards and Enhanced Safety (BUSES) Act of 2009.  The BUSES Act of 2009 directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to perform a study to determine which motorcoach safety requirements need to be improved.

“Motorcoach and charter bus transportation is very safe,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “However, recent fatal motorcoach accidents have shown us that additional safety measures may be warranted.  I believe this legislation is an important step in the process of determining what we can do to ensure that all motorcoach and charter bus passengers are as safe as they can be.”

Congressman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, a Republican, is the other original cosponsor of the BUSES Act of 2009.  Congresswoman Johnson and Congressman Shuster both serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“The BUSES Act of 2009 is bipartisan legislation,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “I appreciate Congressman Shuster’s long commitment to bus safety, and I look forward to working with him throughout the legislative process.”

“Ensuring the safety of passengers on the road should not be a political issue and I thank Representative Johnson for joining me as an original cosponsor,” Congressman Shuster added.  “I look forward to working with all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this important legislation law in the 111th Congress.”

Key provisions of H.R. 1135 are as follows:

* The bill stipulates that within 30 months of enactment, the Department of Transportation concludes a safety study of the motorcoach industry.

* The Agency shall then prescribe federal standards for a motorcoach occupant protection system that accounts for frontal impact collisions, side impact collision, rear collisions and rollovers.

* Additionally, the Secretary shall issue standards for roof strength, window glazing, ways to prevent fire and means for improving the emergency evacuation process. 

* Finally, the bill allows for the retrofitting of any safety provisions that are issued by the Department of Transportation or its agencies.  This provision is essential to allow the industry to adjust to new safety requirements.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.