American Truckers and Organizations Unite for Jason’s Law
Monday June 28th, 2010, the trucking community stands in unison together for their support of Jason’s Law
With all the issues existing within the trucking industry today, none have brought together a more unified atmosphere among truckers, bloggers, organizations, social media participants, and radio shows, than the desire to see the much needed bill, Jason’s Law (H.R. 2156 and S971) passed into law.
The Jason’s Law bill will allocate 120 million dollars over a 6 year period to ensure that safety improvements are made ( including SAFE adequate truck parking) for rest areas and truck stops.
Hope Rivenburg, the widow of Jason Rivenburg for whom this bill is named, has made Monday June 28th, 2010 as the day for everyone to call their Senators and Representative and strongly urge them to Support Jason’s Law. The trucking community has strongly supported this day in unison together.
As you most likely know, Jason Rivenburg was murdered as he parked to rest in an abandoned gas station because he could not find safe suitable truck parking for his early morning delivery. Adequate and safe truck parking has been a major concern of truckers for many years, with promises in the past made to remedy the problem.
We are now all standing together to ensure that something be done and that the death of fellow truck driver Jason Rivenburg has not been in vain.
Jason’s widow Hope, has made numerous trips to Washington, urging lawmakers and government officials to support Jason’s Law. In a year when highway safety has taken a significant increased priority among government agencies, this bill should be 100% supported and should have been passed by now.
Hope and Congressman Paul Tonko, who is the originator of the bill HR 2156, has also made numerous pleas on Truth About Trucking “Live”, Allen Smith’s blog talk radio show. Hope and Congressman Tonko have also been guests discussing Jason’s Law on TruckStar Radio with Daniel Audet.
Hope was recently a guest on Road Dog Trucking Radio on the Lockridge Report, sharing her story and urging listeners to support this day. Many of the other shows on Road Dog Radio have also made numerous mentions of the June 28th Call to Action, strongly supporting this day and urging their listeners to take action.
Organizations are supporting this badly needed bill, including OOIDA, who on June 24th released a National Call to Action to their members for the participation of the June 28th Calling Campaign to Washington.
The Teamsters and ATA have also supported the need for Jason’s Law.
Now we must ensure that the government officials whom we’ve elected into office, do their part in recognizing the need for HR 2156, Jason’s Law. For some reason, this bill has been “stuck” in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. James Oberstar of Minnesota is the chair and John Mica of Florida is the ranking Republican.
Representative Jim Oberstar (D – 08) 202-225-6211
Representative John L. Mica (R – 07) 202-225-4035
The Subcommittee that appears to be “sitting on this bill” is the Highways and Transit.
Highways and Transit is chaired by Pete Defazio of Oregon and John Duncan Jr. of Tennessee is the ranking Republican.
Ironically, John Duncan has recently written an article about the dangers of distracted driving, obviously concerned about the “safety of drivers.”
Representative Peter DeFazio (D – 04) 202-225-6416
Representative John J. Duncan, Jr. (R – 02) 202-225-5435
I say we give all these folks in the committees a call and urge them to get the ball rolling for Jason’s Law.
*ALSO: Please call your own state representatives and senators :
The entire process, including the phone call will take less than 5 minutes, but the positive effects for drivers will BE PRICELESS.
© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: H.R. 2156, Highways and Transit committee, jason rivenburg, Jason's law- H.R.2156 S971, Jim Oberstar, John J Duncan, John L Mica, Peter Defazio, safe truck parking, truck drivers, trucking
Friday, March 5th, 2010 will mark the one year anniversary of the death of fellow truck driver, Jason Rivenburg. Killed by a gunman for a measly $7.00, Jason had pulled into an abandoned gas station to park his truck, due to the lack of parking in the area for commercial vehicles. Leaving behind a wife and two year old son, Hope Rivenburg also gave birth to twins shortly after Jason’s death. Although Jason Rivenburg was not the first professional truck driver to have their life taken away from them due to a lack of safe and secure parking areas, Hope Rivenburg set out on a mission to make certain no other driver would fall victim to such a meaningless crime.
Jason’s Law is not only about Jason Rivenburg, but for all professional CMV drivers who have been endangered by the lack of safe parking for the big rigs. From parking lots, rest areas, side streets and from on and off exit ramps, professional truckers are expected to do their jobs with little effort for safety precautions being established for them.
Because of YOUR support and dedication to the cause, Jason’s Law will be attending the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas. Your donation(s) have insured that Hope Rivenburg and family members will have the opportunity to keep this important issue out in the open, and to continue forward in achieving the final goal: to pass H.R. 2156 into law.
