Dear Supporters,
On March 3, 2026, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced H.R.7772 - LIGHT Safety Act to limit vehicle headlamp intensity. (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7772/text). This is a massive step forward for our cause.
We now have substantial administrative and legal actions that NHTSA must respond to. Below is a letter that I sent to my Representative, Mike Thompson, requesting a Congressional Inquiry.
My request to you is that you use the below letter as a template and send a similar letter to your Representative in Congress. This way, all of us can act to provide oversight of this process.
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Dear Congressman Thompson,
I am writing on behalf of the Soft Lights Foundation and your constituents who are increasingly endangered by unregulated vehicle headlamp glare. I am requesting that your office initiate a formal Congressional Inquiry to ensure the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is complying with the directives found in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148) which was signed into law on February 3, 2026.
Incorporated by reference in this law is H. Rept. 119-212 – DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2026, which contains the following text: "Headlight brightness.–The Committee urges the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress on what gaps may exist related to the impact of the brightness of low beam headlamps on the vision and safety of drivers, pedestrians, and other road users, including the effect of varied terrain, including hills and curves." (https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/212/1)
As a constituent directly impacted by the proliferation of high-intensity LED headlamps, I am concerned that NHTSA has not yet established the administrative infrastructure to execute this safety mandate. Therefore, I am asking your office to initiate a formal Congressional Inquiry to confirm the following:
Administrative Identification: Has NHTSA established a specific Rulemaking ID (RIN), Case Number, or Project Code for this study to track its progress?
Fiscal Accountability: Under what Accounting or Billing Code is the agency drawing funds for this specific investigation, as authorized by H.R. 7148?
Coordination with H.R. 7772: Is NHTSA coordinating this study with the technical requirements proposed in the "LIGHT Safety Act" (H.R. 7772) introduced in the current session? (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7772/text)
Soft Lights Foundation Petitions: Is NHTSA coordinating this study with the February 24, 2024 petition to set an overall limit on headlamp intensity (https://www.softlights.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NHTSA-Petition-to-Limit-Headlight-Intensity.pdf), and May 15, 2024 petition to limit blue wavelength light (https://www.softlights.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NHTSA-Petition-to-Limit-CCT.pdf)?
Reporting Timeline: When does the Secretary intend to submit the required report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations?
The "by reference" nature of this mandate requires proactive oversight to ensure the executive branch does not treat it as a mere suggestion. I am ready to sign a Privacy Act Release Form to proceed.
Sincerely,
Mark Baker
President
Soft Lights Foundation
www.softlights.org
mbaker@softlights.org
X: @softlights_org
Bluesky: @softlights-org.bsky.social