WASHINGTON – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act – legislation to expand access to federal funding opportunities for local governments to improve roadway safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. 

This legislation is named in honor of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a mother, wife, and American diplomat who was killed while riding her bicycle in Bethesda barely two weeks after being evacuated from Ukraine in the summer of 2022 following Russia’s illegal invasion. 

This bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI), and in the House by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Bryan Steil (R-WI-01), and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03).

“After my constituent Sarah Langenkamp was killed after being struck by a car while biking, her grieving family sprang into action, fighting for policy change to protect cyclists and everyone who uses our streets,” said Rep. Raskin. “Sarah was a dedicated, passionate public servant and I’m honored to introduce this legislation in her memory to help state and local governments invest in effective road safety efforts and save lives. May Sarah’s memory continue to be a blessing to her family and to our community.” 

Rep. Raskin recognized Sarah’s husband, Dan Langenkamp, on his weekly “Local Hero” video series in May of 2024. 

“Too many Americans know the pain that the Langenkamp family carries: that of a loved one taken tragically by a cycling or pedestrian road crash. The truth is that many of our roads still aren’t built to protect those on bike or on foot. In honor of Sarah, who was a committed public servant, we’re working to expand our federal investments in making our roads safer and more accessible for everyone,” said Senator Van Hollen.

”Sarah’s death meant we lost a mother, a wife, a friend and an incredible diplomat, and she was just one of thousands caught up in a worsening trend of traffic death in America,” said Sarah’s husband Dan Langenkamp. “We have to do more to protect people, and this bill, by helping communities build the walking and biking infrastructure they need, will do just that.”

“Sarah Debbink Langenkamp should still be with us today,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “That’s why we need to pass the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act, so no more innocent Marylanders lose their lives while biking to work or enjoying a walk. This legislation will honor Sarah’s memory by supporting our local communities in getting the funding they need to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.” 

“Sarah’s passing was a tremendous loss to her family and to her community. We must ensure no other family endures the same tragedy. Thank you to Reps. Raskin, Van Orden, and Steil, and Senators Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Baldwin for their leadership on the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act. Together, we can ensure federal dollars are going towards making our roads safer for everyone,” said Rep. Mike Thompson, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus. 

According to the National Household Travel Survey and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicyclists and pedestrians account for 7.8% of transportation trips but 21% of fatalities. In 2022, overall traffic fatalities decreased slightly, while bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities increased by 13% and 0.7%, respectively. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) advises that bicycle lanes can reduce total crashes up to 49 percent on urban four-lane undivided collector and local roads and reduce total crashes up to 30 percent on urban two-lane undivided collector and local roads. In addition, FHWA reports that sidewalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by 65-89 percent along roadways and that adding a shoulder on a rural road can reduce pedestrian crashes by 71 percent. 

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – created more than a decade ago and expanded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – funds projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities and other road safety efforts, and it includes a set-aside to ensure communities with a population under 5,000 have a fair opportunity to apply for these funds. However, it is those communities – often rural or low-income – that face difficulty meeting the program’s 20 percent local matching fund requirement. 

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act allows the option of using federal funds from the Highway Safety Improvement Program to cover the local cost share of safety projects under TAP. Allowing up to 100 percent federal support for pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives will give states additional flexibility to support locally identified and initiated projects to improve roadway safety for all users. 

This legislation is endorsed by The League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes Partnership.

The bill text is available here.

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