WASHINGTON, D.C. and SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE Act including language introduced by Rep. Cárdenas to establish an advisory council at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on autonomous vehicles.
In response to the passage of this legislation, Rep. Cárdenas said, “Autonomous vehicles will have game-changing implications for jobs and our economy. As policymakers, we need to move forward with our eyes open and anticipate the potential challenges that will come with these innovations. We must ensure that American workers are in the position to take advantage of these new opportunities and that we continue to develop this industry in a safe, effective way. This responsibility is not just on policymakers, but on all of us, including manufacturers.
My bill, passed within the SELF DRIVE Act, will ensure that state and local governments have a seat at the table as this industry grows. What’s more, my bill will allow us to go forward with our eyes open and to make sure no American worker is left behind by this technology.”
Rep. Cárdenas’ legislation, H.R. 3404, incorporated as Section 9 of the SELF DRIVE Act, creates an Advisory Council on Highly Automated Vehicles at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This Council will explore the impact autonomous vehicles will have on employment and the labor force, environmental impacts, consumer privacy and cybersecurity, and cabin safety. The membership of this advisory council will include a variety of stakeholders, including state and local authorities, emphasizing the need to keep our states and cities involved in the autonomous vehicles discussion. Los Angeles has been particularly active in getting ready for the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles, including with connected infrastructure.
