SRES-943-119
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5299; text: CR S5271)
Sponsored by Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
What it does
This Senate resolution would express the Senate's support for the goals and ideals of a National Move Over Law Day. It would urge national, State, and regional incident management organizations to spread awareness of State move over laws and to educate the public about the dangers when those laws are not observed. It creates no legal duty, changes no law, and provides no funding.
Who benefits
Traffic incident management responders, such as law enforcement officers, fire and rescue personnel, emergency medical staff, tow truck operators, and transportation workers, could benefit if awareness efforts lead drivers to move over or slow down. Stranded motorists on roadsides could also benefit indirectly. Incident management organizations would receive a formal expression of Senate support for their outreach.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully affected, since the resolution imposes no requirements, penalties, or spending. Drivers would face no new obligations beyond existing State move over laws. Organizations urged to run awareness efforts may choose to use their own limited resources, as the resolution provides no money.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that raising public awareness is a low-cost way to protect roadside workers, since the resolution's text cites 36 responder deaths from roadside collisions in 2025 reported by the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. They contend that a GAO report finding that limited resources constrain State awareness efforts shows a need for more outreach, and that a national day would help responders reach drivers.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that a symbolic resolution does nothing concrete to change driver behavior or to fund the awareness work it urges, even though a GAO report cited in the text says resources limit State outreach. They contend that Senate floor time is better spent on binding measures, and that move over enforcement and education are matters handled by the States, which each already have such laws.
Constitutional context
This non-binding resolution raises no constitutional question beyond each chamber's authority to adopt its own resolutions under Article I. Move over laws themselves are State traffic-safety measures within State police powers under the Tenth Amendment, and this resolution does not alter them.
Checks and balances
The Senate alone expresses a view; the resolution is not presented to the President and binds no agency, State, or person, so no branch gains authority.