Senate Committee Passes John P. Smith Act to Improve Safety on Tribal Roads

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), praised the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) for passing his bill to increase the safety of roads throughout Indian Country.

The John P. Smith Act (S. 302), cosponsored by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), streamlines the permitting process for tribal road safety projects and requires the Department of the Interior to work closely with tribes to complete permitting and approval processes in a timely manner.

The bill is named after the late John P. Smith, former director of the Department of Transportation for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Reservation.

"The number of lives lost on roads across Indian Country is staggering. The John P. Smith Act will help make intersections, railroad crossings, and general transportation safer on tribal lands," said Barrasso.

"John Smith's unwavering commitment to improving transportation infrastructure earned him awards and respect throughout the country. More importantly, he inspired others to invest in transportation and road safety on the Wind River Reservation. It is only fitting that this bill would be named after such a committed man."

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