[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PAYING TRIBUTE TO SAFE KIDS USA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the 
accomplishments of Safe Kids USA, a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, for 
its work to make our children safe when traveling in motor vehicles. 
Safe Kids USA and its long time partners, General Motors and Chevrolet, 
were recently honored by the National Transportation Safety Board 
(NTSB) for completing their one millionth child safety seat check.
  Unfortunately, auto crashes are the leading cause of death for 
children in the U.S., making it critical that child safety seats be 
properly installed. Safe Kids and its partners work to train parents 
and caregivers in the proper installation and use of child safety seats 
through nationwide car seat checkup events, and on June 12 this year 
they reached the milestone of one million child safety seats checked 
for proper installation.
  Child safety seats have to be installed correctly to insure the 
safety of our children, yet statistics show that four in five seats are 
not installed so they properly protect the child riding in the seat. 
Correct seat installation is essential.
  A Safe Kids inspection provides hands-on training for parents and 
caregivers in how to use child safety seats the right way. I have 
hosted and attended car seat checkup events in Michigan where trained 
technicians worked one-on-one with families to help them learn how to 
safely transport their children.
  I am sure that the one millionth milestone reached by Safe Kids has 
likely resulted in hundreds of lives being saved. Certainly that 
prompted the NTSB to honor Safe Kids, GM and Chevrolet with its 
prestigious Safety Leadership Award, celebrating their collaborative 
efforts to improve child occupant protection.
  The one million seat inspection was achieved by the more than 600 
state and local Safe Kids coalitions and chapters, staffed primarily by 
volunteers, throughout the country. The Safe Kids coalition network is 
very active in my home state of Michigan, and I encourage all of my 
colleagues to participate in a Safe Kids/GM child safety event in their 
own states where they will see firsthand how the non-profit and 
corporate sectors can work together to advance a lifesaving public 
health safety message.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Safe Kids 
USA, General Motors and Chevrolet on their extraordinary achievement. 
They are truly deserving of our respect and admiration.

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