[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CHILD PASSENGER PROTECTION EDUCATION GRANTS EXTENSION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 691 which will 
extend the Child Passenger Protection Grant Program for an additional 
two years--making the program consistent with the TEA 21 
reauthorization cycle.
  Currently, the Child Passenger Protection Grant program authorizes 
$7.5 million each year for the Secretary of Transportation to make 
incentive grants to states to encourage the implementation of child 
passenger protection programs in those states. This program is critical 
to ensuring that child passenger safety is on the minds of citizens 
nationwide.
  Motor vehicle crashes are the single largest cause of child 
fatalities in the United States. Each year more than 1,400 children die 
as motor vehicle passengers, and an additional 280,000 are injured. 
Despite these horrifying figures, parents are still allowing their 
children to ride unrestrained.
  More disturbing is the fact that of children who are buckled up, 
roughly half are restrained incorrectly--increasing the risk of serious 
or fatal injuries. Tragically, most of these injuries could have been 
prevented. Car seats are proven life savers, reducing the risk of death 
by 69 percent for infants and 47 percent for toddlers.
  With programs like the Child Passenger Protection Grants, we can 
prevent these senseless deaths and injuries by increasing awareness in 
our communities.
  In my district, the Drivers' Appeal for National Awareness (DANA) 
Foundation has worked tirelessly to increase public awareness for child 
passenger safety. Joe Colella, from Montgomery County, founded the DANA 
Foundation in memory of his niece, Dana, who died because of injuries 
sustained in a crash while riding in a child restraint that was 
installed with an incompatible system.
  Joe deserves great credit for bringing the incompatibility problem to 
the attention of the National Highway Transportation Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) and to Congress. Because of the DANA 
Foundation's efforts, the nation is now better educated and aware about 
the proper installation of children's safety seats in motor vehicles.
  Protecting our children is a national issue that deserves national 
attention. I urge my colleagues; to support H.R. 691, as well as other 
noble efforts to increase child passenger safety.

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