DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act

HR 8349 establishes a new "National Roadway Safety Advocate" position within the Department of Transportation (DOT), directly serving victims and survivors of road crashes and their expanded definition of family members (beyond traditional relatives like parents or spouses). The advocate's core duties include collecting and communicating stakeholder feedback on DOT safety programs, explaining technical DOT processes in plain language, building relationships with affected communities, and submitting annual reports to the Secretary highlighting systemic safety issues and recommendations. The role cannot make decisions, set deadlines, create policies, or provide legal counsel - its purpose is solely to facilitate communication between the DOT and crash-affected communities. The position must be filled within 180 days of the bill's enactment and will report to the DOT's Office of the Under Secretary for Policy.