[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING 
                  NATIONAL CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2002

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to 
commend the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 
sponsoring National Child Passenger Safety Week. I also want to commend 
the sponsor of the legislation, Mr. Camp, the Ranking Democratic Member 
of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Mr. Borski, the Chairman 
of the Subcommittee, Mr. Petri, and the Chairman of the full Committee, 
Mr. Young, for their support of the legislation.
  In 2000, motor vehicle crashes killed more than 2,300 children under 
the age of 15 and injured another 291,000. Six out of ten children 
killed in these crashes were completely unrestrained. In 2000, only 
nine percent of all children under the age of five rode unrestrained, 
but they accounted for more than one half of all child occupant 
fatalities. This is not acceptable.
  To increase seat belt use nationwide, the previous Administration 
established goals to reduce the number of child occupant fatalities 15 
percent by 2000 and 25 percent by 2005. Education programs, such as TEA 
21's Child Passenger Protection Education Grant program, and other 
programs, played important roles in helping the Department meet the 
first of these goals. In each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002, 
Congress provided $7.5 million to finance the Child Passenger 
Protection Education Grant program in the Transportation Appropriations 
Act and pursuant to TEA 21. Forty-eight states, the District of 
Columbia, and the Territories have received grants under this program. 
Since 1997, the number of child fatalities resulting from traffic 
crashes has declined 17 percent, exceeding the previous 
Administration's goal of a 15 percent decline by the end of 2000. 
Restraint use for infants has risen to 95 percent from 85 percent in 
1996, and has climbed to 91 percent for children aged one to four, up 
from 60 percent in 1996.
  The proper use of child restraint systems can save lives, Mr. 
Speaker. It is essential that we continue to remind parents that all 
children should use restraint systems properly and to continue 
providing funding for grant programs to ensure that we continue to make 
progress in preventing deaths and injuries to children on our Nation's 
highways. These efforts will help us achieve our goal of a 25-percent 
reduction in child occupant fatalities by 2005.
  Again, I want to commend the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration and its Administrator, Dr. Jeff Runge, for sponsoring 
National Child Passenger Safety Week. I strongly support the concurrent 
resolution and urge its approval.

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