Rep. Gillen Hosts Press Conference with MADD and Freeport Law Enforcement to Combat Drunk Driving
Watch the Full Press Conference Remarks HERE.
FREEPORT, NY — Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Village of Freeport Police Department and families who have lost loved ones to drunk driving for a press conference to share federal and local efforts to prevent drunk driving and keep Long Island roads safe. Congresswoman Gillen highlighted critical bipartisan legislation she introduced to combat drunk driving, support law enforcement and establish national resources for communities to end drunk driving fatalities. Members of the Freeport Police Department also emphasized the critical role law enforcement plays in identifying and keeping impaired drivers off the road.
“Far too many Long Island families know the agonizing pain of losing a loved one to a drunk driving accident,” said Rep. Gillen. “I’m proud to advance my bipartisan bill, the Drunk Driving Prevention and Enforcement Act, to implement anti-drunk driving technology and support law enforcement. Mothers Against Drunk Driving and our brave law enforcement have been invaluable partners in combatting these senseless tragedies. I will continue fighting in Congress to end more preventable deaths on our roadways.”
“Mothers Against Drunk Driving thanks Congresswoman Laura Gillen for her steadfast work to end impaired driving. Technology is the solution that can protect everyone on the roads. The HALT Drunk Driving Law is a historic public safety breakthrough that will end drunk driving for good and save more than 10,000 lives every year. Every 44 minutes, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash, and behind every statistic is a person. MADD is joining the Congresswoman in advocating for safer roads in NY and across the country. We are advocating for accountability. And we are advocating for victims who deserve to have their voices heard and their rights protected,” said Paige Carbone, Regional Executive Director, MADD New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
“The Freeport Police Department is proud to collaborate with Congresswoman Gillen in combating impaired driving,” said Joseph China, Freeport Deputy Chief of Police. “Our officers work tirelessly to remove dangerous drivers from our streets, but enforcement alone cannot solve this problem. We welcome her efforts to provide law enforcement with additional resources, technology and support to help prevent impaired driving, protect our community, and save lives.”
Rep. Gillen has been a bipartisan leader in Congress in combating impaired driving. She introduced the Drunk Driving Prevention and Enforcement Act with Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) to advance life-saving anti-drunk driving technology mandated in the HALT Drunk Driving Act as well as data-driven solutions to prevent tragedies caused by impaired driving. Two provisions of her bill were included in the recent surface transportation reauthorization bill, which recently passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a bipartisan basis.
Since taking office, Rep. Gillen has taken action to improve safety on Long Island’s dangerous roads, announcing a Road Safety Strategy, securing nearly $600,000 of new federal funding for road safety for the Village of Hempstead, and working with DOT Secretary Sean Duffy to make Long Island’s roads safer. Rep. Gillen continues to work with law enforcement, organizations and families affected by drunk driving to advance federal legislation that will make Long Island roads safer.
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