June 4, 2024

June Updates

Good morning all, and happy June!

This year has flown by, and May was no exception. It’s been a beautiful spring here in D.C., and I hope that all of you are enjoying your time in the sun. Speaking of sun, we’ve got three *hot* new updates below. As always, thank you for reading, subscribing, and supporting.

First, I am delighted to share some very exciting news. On May 9th, Senators Fischer, Duckworth, Blackburn, and Murray, introduced the bipartisan She DRIVES Act. This legislation would require that the New Car Assessment Program test vehicles with female dummies the same way they test with male – with the most accurate female dummy in the driver’s seat. Moreover, it demands that all tests are equal for men in women in number and form, and directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to continually update its testing procedures to incorporate the most up-to-date dummies. Check out our press release on the bill here.

The She DRIVES Act is groundbreaking, and we are so grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Senators Fischer, Duckworth, Blackburn, and Murray, and the countless hours of work their staff put in behind the scenes. We look forward to doing everything we can to turn this bill into law.

Second, we’re in a book! Check out Women Behind the Wheel (available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Books a Million, and more) – we’re in chapter fourteen. In this narrative non-fiction, author Nancy Nichols explains the long history of women’s involvement with the automobile industry, intertwined with her own personal one. I was honored to be mentioned in this fantastic and important read, and thank Nancy Nichols and the folks at Simon and Schuster for including us.

Third, a personal update. With the introduction of the She DRIVES Act, I am leaving my position as a staffer in the U.S. Senate to work for the bill’s passage full-time. It has been my honor to lead this work for over four years and my privilege to see it through. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Senator King and all the wonderful people who make his team so effective, kind, and fun.

Thank you for reading, and for continuing to follow along. We will have more ways help with the She DRIVES Act very soon, so keep an eye out if you would like be involved. Thanks again, and happy June.

Warmly,

Maria