[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SCHOOL BUS SAFETY AND THE SECURE ACT OF 2005

  (Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my condolences to the 
victims and their families of Tuesday's school bus accident in Liberty, 
Missouri, just north of my district in Kansas City. That tragic 
accident killed two adults and injured 23 children, some critically. 
The tragic accident of which I speak, Mr. Speaker, has generated a 
great deal of trauma in our community, understandably, because these 
injuries could easily have been prevented had the school bus in 
question been equipped with safety belts. Over 23 million children ride 
school buses every day, and almost none of them are equipped with 
seatbelts. While no one anticipates a tragedy like that which occurred 
in Liberty, we do owe it to our children to do all we can to ensure 
their safety while traveling to and from school.
  Yesterday, the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), my good friend 
and colleague, introduced the SECURE Act to equip school buses with 
safety belts. By supporting this common sense measure, we can help 
ensure that our children's ride to school and their safety is assured. 
I have cosponsored the SECURE Act, and I urge all Members to do the 
same.

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