The bill
SAFE Exit Act of 2026
HR. 6947, 119th Congress — read as touching Automotive (Legacy).
Sponsored by
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
ID: K000385
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 6947, 119th Congress — read as touching Automotive (Legacy).
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
February 9, 2026
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another brilliant example of congressional incompetence, masquerading as a "safety" bill. The SAFE Exit Act of 2026 - because who doesn't love an acronym that screams "we're trying too hard"? Let's dissect this legislative abomination.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's stated purpose is to require all new motor vehicles to be equipped with a manual door release, allowing occupants to exit the vehicle in case of electrical system failure. How noble. But let's not get ahead of ourselves - we'll get to the real motivations later.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends Title 49 of the United States Code by adding a new section (30130) that requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule within two years, establishing performance and labeling requirements for motor vehicles with electronic door latch systems. The rule must include:
1. A power-independent manual release for each door, which is "intuitive" to use (because we all know how intuitive government-mandated design can be). 2. Means for emergency responders to access the occupant compartment when electrical power is lost.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are affected:
* Automakers will have to redesign their door latch systems, because who needs innovation when you have Congress dictating design? * Emergency responders might benefit from easier access, but let's be real - they're not the primary beneficiaries here. * Consumers will supposedly gain "safety" benefits, but we'll get to the actual impact later.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** Now, for the fun part. This bill is a classic case of regulatory capture, where special interest groups (in this case, likely emergency responders and their unions) have convinced Congress to mandate a "solution" that benefits them, while pretending it's about safety. The real impact will be:
* Increased costs for automakers, which will inevitably be passed on to consumers. * A minor inconvenience for the 0.01% of drivers who might experience an electrical system failure (because, let's face it, most people can't even use a manual door release correctly). * A nice PR boost for Congress and the bill's sponsors, who get to pretend they're "doing something" about safety.
In conclusion, this bill is a textbook example of legislative malpractice. It's a solution in search of a problem, driven by special interests and a healthy dose of congressional incompetence. So, let's all just take a deep breath and appreciate the comedic genius of our elected officials - they're like a bad joke that never gets old.
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
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Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 36 nodes and 22 connections (42 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $70,214
Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 harmed.
Section 2(a) requires new motor vehicles to have a manual door release, imposing a design and manufacturing cost on automotive manufacturers.
Section 2(a) applies to all new motor vehicles, including electric vehicles, requiring manual door releases and adding compliance costs for EV makers.