[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CAMERON GULBRANSEN KIDS AND CARS SAFETY ACT

  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I submit to the Record my disappointment 
that the Senate failed to consider S. 1948, The Cameron Gulbransen Kids 
and Cars Safety Act to improve the child safety features in new 
vehicles.
  Nearly every other day, a child dies in the United States from a 
completely preventable tragedy--backed over by a driver who could not 
see behind their vehicle, strangled in a power window, or killed when 
an automobile inadvertently shifts into gear. The average age of 
victims in these cases is just 1 year old. In 70 percent of cases, a 
parent, relative, or close friend is behind the wheel.
  Safety is something every family deserves, and it is not a partisan 
issue. I have been proud to work with Senator Sununu of New Hampshire 
as my partner on this legislation. We have met with families from our 
States and listened to parents share their heart-wrenching experience 
of losing a child.
  The Gulbransens are one such family. Two-year-old Cameron was killed 
when he slipped outside unnoticed by his mother and babysitter and 
toddled behind the SUV his father was backing into the driveway. It is 
in memory of Cameron and the hundreds of children like him that we 
introduced bipartisan legislation to take steps we know can reduce 
these accidents. The Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act will 
help to ensure that America's cars are properly equipped to prevent 
these tragedies from happening to others.
  While the auto manufacturing industry has tried to make some changes 
to address these issues, this bill is timely and urgently needed. As 
parents, we do all we can to keep our children safe. As legislators, we 
should do the same to protect our Nation's children.
  I am committed to reintroducing the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars 
Safety Act in the 110th Congress and will work vigorously to ensure 
that safer cars mean safer kids across America.

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