H.R. 5415

National DWI Victims Memorial Designation Act of 2010

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I

111th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5415

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 26, 2010

Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. Luján, and Mr. Teague) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To designate the Memorial of Perpetual Tears, which honors victims of driving while impaired, as the official National DWI Victims Memorial.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National DWI Victims Memorial Designation Act of 2010.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities represent approximately 1/3 of all highway fatalities in the United States each year.

(2)

In 2008, there were 11,773 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the United States.

(3)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears, located adjacent to Interstate 40 in the City of Moriarty, New Mexico, opened in November 2008 to honor the victims of Driving While Impaired (hereinafter referred to as DWI).

(4)

The mission of the Memorial of Perpetual Tears is to raise awareness of the devastation caused by DWI crashes by recognizing their victims, educating the public, and encouraging preventive measures.

(5)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears is the only memorial of its kind in the United States.

(6)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears is a visible statement to the world expressing what words cannot by portraying fatalities and injuries caused by DWI.

(7)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears resembles a veterans’ cemetery with markers representing the most recent 5-year period of deaths attributed to DWI in New Mexico.

(8)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears includes a site dedicated to victims of DWI nationwide.

(9)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears gives recognition to innocent victims of DWI nationwide by displaying Victim Tribute books in the memorial visitor center. The Victim Tribute books include stories and pictures submitted by injured victims and family members of those killed in DWI crashes.

(10)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears offers public education on DWI prevention as well as national and local DWI information to visitors.

(11)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears is visible from Interstate 40 and attracts visitors traveling on that major Interstate Highway.

(12)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears attracts visitors from across the United States, many of whom make the Memorial of Perpetual Tears the destination of their trip.

(13)

The City of Moriarty and the State of New Mexico invite travelers on Interstate 40 and all Americans to visit the Memorial of Perpetual Tears.

(14)

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears helps focus attention on the need to eliminate DWI as a national priority.

3.

Designation of the Memorial of Perpetual Tears

(a)

In general

The Memorial of Perpetual Tears, located adjacent to Interstate 40 in the City of Moriarty, New Mexico, shall be known and designated as the National DWI Victims Memorial.

(b)

References

Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the memorial described in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the National DWI Victims Memorial.