Norton Introduces Bill to Make “Blue Envelope” Programs Eligible for Federal Transportation Safety Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to make “blue envelope” programs, which improve interactions between police officers and drivers with difficulty communicating through speech during traffic stops, eligible for federal transportation safety funding. The programs, which allow drivers to receive a blue envelope that explains the driver’s limitations on the front and hold documents that an officer might request during a traffic stop inside, exist in many parts of the country but currently aren’t eligible for federal transportation funding. The first blue envelope program, instituted by Connecticut in 2020, was designed to aid drivers on the autism spectrum. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has endorsed the bill.

"Blue envelope programs are an effective way to smooth interactions between police officers and drivers with disabilities and help prevent miscommunications that may escalate tensions and discourage able drivers from exercising a skill necessary for independence in many parts of the country," Norton said. "Police officers in jurisdictions with the programs praise them for giving the officers a tool to quickly identify what's going on, leading to fewer negative outcomes for both police and drivers. These programs have typically passed on the state level with bipartisan support. This simple, low-cost and compassionate solution should be eligible for transportation safety funding on the federal level."

"For far too many disabled Americans, traffic stops and encounters with law enforcement can be deadly," said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. "This is especially true for people who may have language and communication barriers. The Blue Envelope Act would help mitigate the harm people with communication disabilities face during traffic stops and educate the officials who interact with them, working across language and information barriers. AAPD calls on all Members of Congress to support this bill and protect disabled drivers from danger and even death."

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