[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4497-S4498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION'S ``RECALL ROUND-UP'' STATEMENT

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
commend the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the kick off of its 
Recall Round-up campaign. The Recall Roundup is a national effort to 
retrieve all hazardous products that have been recalled, but may still 
be in people's homes.
  Each year the Commission coordinates approximately 300 recalls of 
defective or dangerous products. The task of getting these products out 
of American homes has been a difficult one.
  The existence of faulty products has been the cause of serious injury 
and even death to children in the United States. This is unacceptable. 
That's why I am pleased to report that in my own State, Maryland Lt. 
Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on April 16 announced the State's 
plans to join the Commission in the Recall Roundup.

[[Page S4498]]

  Mr. President, as one of the Senators for Maryland, I would like to 
submit Lt. Governor Townsend's remarks for the Record. I commend the 
Commission and the State of Maryland on their partnership to protect 
American children from hazardous products.
  The remarks of the Lt. Governor follow:

          [Consumer Product Press Conference, April 16, 1997]

                      Remarks of the Lt. Governor

       Good Morning. This is a very exciting day and it's great to 
     be here with you. I want to thank Chairman Ann Brown for her 
     leadership and hard work, as well as all of the men and women 
     of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
       Everyday, you make our homes and communities safer for 
     children. You are doing a tremendous job of identifying 
     hazardous products and getting them off the market and out of 
     our homes. I am grateful, not just as the Lt. Governor of 
     Maryland, but as the mother of four daughters. Thank you.
       You know that we need to do more than just identify 
     dangerous items. Every year, scores of children die because 
     of products that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has 
     already recalled. But for one reason or another, they were 
     never replaced with safer products. These children did not 
     have to die. And if we do the job we know we must, and make 
     sure these products are taken out of homes, we can save many, 
     many lives in the future.
       Governor Glendening and I are extremely proud that Maryland 
     and the Commission are working so closely together to make 
     this happen. The Recall Roundup is the quintessential example 
     of how federal and state governments can work together for 
     our shared goals.
       The Commission's information about what products pose 
     threats to children is vital to parents, and we're going to 
     make sure that they get it. We will distribute a list of 
     these products to local health departments, community 
     organizations, local publications, to second-hand stores. At 
     the State's Child Care Conference, at the State Fair, and 
     training seminars for child care providers. We are going to 
     blanket the State, and in case some parents cannot get to the 
     information, we'll be coming to them.
       Maryland's high school student volunteers will be helping 
     to perform Recall Roundup Home Inspections to point out 
     potential hazards to families. Parents have enough to worry 
     about. The world today is already dangerous for children. But 
     we can make a difference. With hard work and cooperation, we 
     can make sure that every child's home is child-safe. Thank 
     you.

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