Washington, D.C.— Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted to advance key provisions of Representative Jamie Raskin’s (MD-08) bicameral, bipartisan Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act. These provisions will expand access to federal funding opportunities for local governments to make roadways safer for all, including bicyclists, pedestrians and roadside workers.
Now that the legislation has advanced out of committee, the next step is a vote on the House floor.
“Sarah Langenkamp—a loving mother, dedicated wife and patriotic diplomat—had just relocated to Maryland with her family from foreign service in Ukraine when she was struck by a truck while biking and killed,” said Rep. Raskin. “Sarah’s husband Dan, her father Dirk, and her entire family awe and inspire me and our entire community with their commitment to honor her memory by improving roadway safety. Together, we will keep pushing forward this legislation to save lives in Montgomery County and across the country.”
“Too many Americans, like the Langenkamp family, know the pain of losing a loved one tragically in a cycling or pedestrian road accident,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who leads companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. “That’s why it’s critical that we take action to improve biker and pedestrian safety. Today’s Committee passage of key provisions from our bipartisan Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act is an important step forward in making our roads safer and more accessible for everyone. I will continue working to pass this legislation in the Senate and honor Sarah’s legacy as a committed public servant and beloved member of our community.”
Specifically, this legislation will:
- Expand the types of projects eligible under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), including projects that eliminate gaps in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure for vulnerable road users.
- Enable communities to use HSIP funds as the statutorily required matching funds for Transportation Alternatives Projects (TAP) in certain cases and allow for a 100% federal cost share in these projects.
“Our family has been working for three years to pass this legislation, and we are grateful that members of Congress—on both sides of the aisle—agree that we don’t have to sit back and accept that people like Sarah have to die on our roads,” said Dan Langenkamp and Dirk Debbink, Sarah’s husband and father, respectively. “We are glad they agree that we have the power as a nation to do something about this problem.”
After Sarah’s tragic passing, Rep. Raskin met with her family to learn more about her inspiring life and their road safety advocacy. In 2023, Rep. Raskin introduced the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act. In 2025, Rep. Raskin reintroduced the legislation making the fight for its passage bipartisan and bicameral. Now that key sections of the bill have advanced out of committee, they are one step closer to becoming law.
The House bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Bryan Steil (R-WI-01), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Elanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Andre Carson (D-IN-07), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Tony Weid (R-WI-08), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-05), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03). The Senate bill is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
This legislation is endorsed by the Safe Routes Partnership and the League of American Bicyclists.
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