Safety Funding Parity Adjustment Act of 2025
Summary
The Safety Funding Parity Adjustment Act of 2025 aims to adjust highway safety funding between Section 402 and Section 405 programs. It directs the Secretary of Transportation to make funding adjustments based on the relative increases in funding for these two sections from one fiscal year to the next. The goal is to ensure a more balanced allocation of resources between these highway safety programs.
Expected Effects
The act will likely lead to a redistribution of highway safety funds. Specifically, it will shift funds between Section 402 (State and Community Highway Safety Grants) and Section 405 (National Priority Safety Programs) based on a formula related to their respective funding increases. The Secretary of Transportation will have increased authority to adjust these funds to meet the act's objectives.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially more efficient allocation of highway safety funds.
- Increased flexibility for the Secretary of Transportation to address specific safety needs.
- Possible improvement in highway safety outcomes due to more targeted funding.
- Could lead to better alignment of funding with current safety priorities.
- May encourage states to improve data collection and reporting to maximize funding.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential disruption to existing highway safety programs due to funding shifts.
- Increased administrative burden on the Department of Transportation.
- Possible unintended consequences from the formula-based adjustments.
- Risk of political influence in the Secretary's funding decisions.
- Uncertainty regarding the long-term impact on highway safety outcomes.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to provide for the general welfare and regulate interstate commerce, as highway safety falls under these powers. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations. The delegation of authority to the Secretary of Transportation is a common practice and does not seem to violate the principle of separation of powers.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).