[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2001

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce legislation that I 
believe is vital to the safety of our children as they make their way 
to and from school. The introduction of this legislation is especially 
timely as we observe National Child Passenger Safety Week, February 
12th-16th.
  Each day, parents in this country send their children off to school 
believing their young ones will arrive safely. However, since 1985, 
close to 1,500 people have died in school bus related accidents. These 
numbers reveal the need for action to make school buses safer. Both the 
American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency 
Physicians gave their support and endorsement to identical legislation 
in the last session of Congress.
  The basic design of the large yellow school bus has not been changed 
since 1977. While the design of high-back padded seats known as 
``compartmentalization'' provides protection in head-on collisions, it 
does nothing to secure passengers during rear-end, side-impact and 
rollover collisions. In these situations, children can be thrown from 
their seats, into one another or into aisles, blocking quick 
evacuation.
  My legislation would require seat belts on school buses by 
prohibiting the manufacture, sale, delivery, or importation of school 
buses without seat belts. In addition, the measure would impose civil 
penalties for those that do not comply.
  Daily, 23.5 million children are taken to and from schools and 
school-related activities by roughly 440,000 public school buses. Since 
these buses travel nearly 4.3 billion miles each year with young people 
on board, it is imperative that every precaution be taken to ensure 
their safety.
  Since I last introduced this legislation, the states of Florida, 
Louisiana, and California have joined the states of New Jersey and New 
York to require seat belts on school buses. I commend the action of 
these states, and I urge my fellow colleagues to support the 
legislation to help make the trip to and from school safer for all of 
our nation's school children.

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