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    "label": "Folder 179 (04/22/1985 continued - 04/25/1985)",
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    "title": "Folder 179 (04/22/1985 continued - 04/25/1985)",
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{
    "seq": 21,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/reagan/rr-0652/5752507/Batch002/file000007/40_744_5752507_012_010_2025_Page_21.jpg",
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    "ocrText": "DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nTHE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\nUNITED\nFAMERICA\nSTATES\nof\nAPR 17 1985\nMEMORANDUM TO:\nAlfred Kingon, Assistant to the President\nfor Cabinet Affairs\nElizabeth Hanford Dole\nA\nFROM:\nSUBJECT:\nMotor Vehicle Occupant Protection\nRequirements\nThe debate about automatic crash protection for motorists has been\nin progress since the 1960's. The National Traffic and Motor\nVehicle Safety Act of 1966 directs the Secretary of Transportation\nto \"reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries to persons\nresulting from traffic accidents\" through the issuance of Federal\nMotor Vehicle Safety Standards. Since the initial issuance of the\nsection of the standards dealing with protection of occupants,\nthere have been approximately 60 rulemaking documents issued with\nrespect to it.\nIn 1981, the Department rescinded the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety\nStandard that would have required the front seat positions in all\nnew cars to be equipped with automatic restraints. Law suits were\nfiled and on June 24, 1983, the Supreme Court held that an\ninadequate basis had been provided for the recision. The Court\nrequired the Department to reopen the rulemaking, and unless\ncertain very stringent standards could be met, reimpose the rule.\nThe rulemaking record and the Supreme Court's strict\ninterpretation of the statute led us to the conclusion that\npassive restraints must be mandated unless motorists could be\nconvinced to wear manual safety belts. With this evidence in\nhand, I announced a rule last July that provides the American\npeople a choice between the two approaches.\nThe rule I announced requires the phasing-in of automatic occupant\nprotection for all passenger cars manufactured for sale in the\nUnited States after September 1, 1989, unless sufficient states\nenact seat belt use laws.\nThe requirement for automatic protection will be rescinded if belt\nuse laws meeting specified conditions are passed by a sufficient\nnumber of states before April 1, 1989, to cover two-thirds of the\npopulation of the United States."
}