[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33--RELATING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL 
              GROUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL SAFE KIDS CAMPAIGN

  Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. Abraham) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.

                            S. Con. Res. 33

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL SAFE KIDS 
                   CAMPAIGN SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP SAFETY CHECK.

       The National SAFE KIDS Campaign and its auxiliary may 
     sponsor a public event on the Capitol Grounds on August 27 
     and August 28, 1997, or on such other date as the Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of 
     the Senate may jointly designate.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--The event authorized under section 1 shall 
     be free of admission charge to the public and arranged not to 
     interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be 
     prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol 
     Police.
       (b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The National SAFE KIDS 
     Campaign and its auxiliary shall assume full responsibility 
     for all expenses and liabilities incident to all activities 
     associated with the event.

     SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

       (a) Structures and Equipment.--Subject to the approval of 
     the Architect of the Capitol, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign 
     and its agents are authorized to erect upon the Capitol 
     Grounds any stage, sound amplification devices, and other 
     related structures and equipment required for the event 
     authorized under section 1.
       (b) Additional Arrangements.--The Architect of the Capitol 
     and the Capitol Police Board are authorized to make any other 
     reasonable arrangements as may be required to plan for or 
     administer the event.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today along with Senator Abraham to 
introduce a resolution that will allow the National Safe Kids Campaign 
to use a small portion of the Capitol Hill grounds to provide a very 
important community service, a Car Seat Check-Up event. This 
initiative, called Safe Kids Buckle-Up, is a joint project of the 
National Safe Kids Campaign and the General Motors Corporation. Its 
purpose is to educate families about the importance of buckling up on 
every ride. Child passenger safety has received significant attention 
in the past year, and this program will provide parents and care givers 
with the essential information they need to ensure that their children 
are safely restrained in an automobile.
  Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-
related death to children ages 14 and under, yet 40 percent of kids are 
still riding unrestrained! More disturbing is the fact that, of the 
children who are buckled up, eight out of ten are restrained 
incorrectly. Each year more than 1400 children die in automobile 
accidents, and an additional 280,000 are injured. Tragically, most of 
these injuries could have been prevented. Child safety seats are proven 
life savers, reducing the risk of death by 69 percent for infants and 
47 percent for toddlers.
  It will take a nationwide effort to combat this problem. Safe Kids 
Buckle-Up will be part of such effort. It is a national grassroots 
effort that will disseminate key safety messages through the more than 
200 Safe Kids Coalitions, health and education outlets--such as 
hospitals and community health centers--and GM dealerships in all 50 
states. Additionally, educational workshops and Car Seat Check Up 
events will be available at participating GM dealerships.
  On August 28, 1997, this program will be launched here at the 
Capitol, highlighted by a Car Seat Check Up for Federal employees, 
Congressional members and staff, and others from the metropolitan area. 
This event will kick off Labor Day weekend--one of the biggest travel 
weekends of the year. I am honored to be supporting this event and the 
overall program with my friend and colleague Senator Abraham. We urge 
our colleagues to support this Congressional Resolution allowing this 
event to take place. Protecting our children is a critical national 
priority that deserves national attention.

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