[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21506-21507]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 459) expressing support for designation of 
``National Safety Month''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 459

       Whereas, after years of decline, the rate of unintentional 
     injuries and deaths in the United States has reversed and has 
     reached unacceptably high levels in recent years;
       Whereas deaths from motor vehicle collisions, poisonings 
     from unintentional overdoses, and falls remain as the three 
     leading causes of preventable death in the United States;
       Whereas the cost of unintentional injuries to people in the 
     United States exceeds $684,400,000,000 each year and causes 
     great suffering among individuals and their families;
       Whereas the cost of unintentional injuries to workers and 
     their employers is $175,300,000,000 each year, including the 
     value of 114,000,000 days of lost productivity;
       Whereas preventing unintentional injury and death requires 
     the cooperation of all levels of government, the Nation's 
     employers, and the general public;
       Whereas the National Safety Council, founded in 1913, was 
     congressionally chartered in 1953 to lead this Nation in 
     injury prevention through safety and health education, 
     training, and advocacy in the United States;
       Whereas the National Safety Council educates the workforce 
     about policies, practices, and procedures leading to 
     increased safety, protection, and health in business and 
     industry, as well as in schools and colleges, on roads and 
     highways, and in homes and communities;
       Whereas since the summer season is a time of increased 
     rates of preventable injuries and death, it is an appropriate 
     time to focus the attention of our workforce and community 
     leaders on injury risks and preventions by celebrating June 
     2009 as ``National Safety Month''; and
       Whereas the National Safety Council in 2009 as part of its 
     public education about safety and health will provide this 
     Nation a monthlong campaign in June: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of ``National Safety Month'';
       (2) recognizes the contributions of the National Safety 
     Council and its ongoing commitment to raising awareness about 
     the need for the implementation of safe practices in our 
     schools and jobs; and
       (3) encourages citizens to observe the ``National Safety 
     Month'' with appropriate ceremonies and educate themselves 
     about the importance of implementing safe practices in our 
     schools and on our jobs to prevent unintentional injury and 
     death.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 459 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 459 which recognizes the month 
of June as National Safety Month and commends the National Safety 
Council for its ongoing commitment to educating the public on the 
prevention of accidental injury and death.
  The National Safety Council was established in 1912 by a small group 
of midwestern industrial leaders concerned about safety in the 
workplace. Since then, the council has broadened its scope to include 
the home, transportation and the community. Its membership has grown to 
over 18,000 companies with more than 33,000 locations. All together, 
the council represents 8.3 million employees across the Nation.
  In 1953, a congressional charter was granted to the National Safety 
Council to lead the country in injury prevention through safety 
education and training. The council has had a great impact at the local 
level by providing a variety of community-based programs and services, 
including workshops, training and conferences, as well as by providing 
a local voice for safety and health education. Through the efforts of 
the National Safety Council, more than 8.5 million rescuers have been 
trained and more than 60 million people have taken one of the NSC 
defensive driving courses.
  The training and information offered by the National Safety Council 
has helped raise attention to the cost of accidental injuries to this 
Nation. Each year, accidental injuries cost Americans more than $684 
billion. Additionally, unintentional injuries cost workers and their 
employers $175 billion each year.
  We know that the work of the National Safety Council complements the 
essential injury prevention and emergency response training efforts by 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration and the many excellent State worker safety and 
health agencies. While National Safety Month is over, the health and 
safety of our workers and families should be a top priority year round.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Safety 
Month, and I want to thank Congressman Roskam for bringing this bill 
forward. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

[[Page 21507]]

  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 459, expressing support 
for the designation of National Safety Month. I want to thank my 
colleague, Mr. Roskam of Illinois, for introducing this resolution. 
This resolution recognizes the work of the National Safety Council to 
educate our citizens about accident and injury prevention.
  The National Safety Council works tirelessly through its nationwide 
networks to prevent accidents in the workplace, in our homes and on our 
roads. Founded in 1913 and congressionally chartered in 1953, the 
National Safety Council conducts workshops and training opportunities 
to help prevent both injuries and illness. These include a diverse 
range of issues from preventing the spread of H1N1 to making drivers 
more aware of the dangers of distracted driving.
  This week, the council is encouraging parents to ensure proper child 
safety seat installation. According to the NSC's statistics, motor 
vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 2 to 12. 
And as adults are buckling in children, the council reminds them to use 
their seat belts as well.
  Many injuries are preventible and constant vigilance in our daily 
activity will go a long way to reduce the risk. I rise today to commend 
the National Safety Council for its dedication to the important task of 
raising awareness of accident and injury prevention, and I urge the 
passage of H. Res. 459, commending the council's service to the Nation. 
I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Having no additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for 
National Safety Month, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 459, which expresses support for the designation of June as 
National Safety Month. Promoting safety awareness will help to reduce 
thousands of preventable injury and deaths in the United States in the 
workplace, on roads and highways, and in our homes and neighborhoods.
  Each week of National Safety Month focuses on a different aspect of 
safety: traffic, workplace, home, and community. This year's National 
Safety Month themes are teen driving, fall prevention, overexertion, 
and distracted driving. The statistics on the types of safety that 
comprise this year's National Safety Month are jarring.
  According to the National Safety Council, NSC, traffic crashes are 
the number one cause of teen fatalities, accounting for 38 percent of 
all teen deaths. In 2007, 20,600 people died from falls in U.S. homes 
and communities. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Labor documented that 
8 percent of all occupational fatalities from trauma were caused by 
falling. Overexertion, particularly in the form of back injuries, 
affects over 1 million workers. Lastly, 80 percent of automobile 
crashes are the result of distracted driving. Given these drastic 
statistics, I believe that National Safety Month is an important effort 
to improve the well being of our country.
  Injuries and loss of life due to preventable accidents are tragedies 
that traumatize workplaces, families, and communities. In addition to 
the suffering of the victims and their families, accidents in the home 
and on the road created over $600 billion in costs to Americans. 
Accidents in the workplace created over $175 billion in costs for 
workers and employers. I believe that National Safety Month will help 
to improve our national economy as we climb out of the economic 
downturn.
  In my home State, the Texas Chapter of the National Safety Council is 
working hard to educate and influence the public in order to prevent 
accidental injury and death. The Texas Chapter contributes to Texas' 
public safety through events such as National Seat Check Saturday, 
National Child Passenger Safety Week, National Preparedness Month, and 
the Texas Safety Conference & Expo. I am proud of the work that the 
Texas Chapter of the NSC does to train safety professionals, reach out 
to the public for safety education, and raise awareness of safety.
  By raising awareness and educating the public on safety, National 
Safety Month honors the work of safety experts and professionals. 
Safety experts research, analyze, and publish information on improving 
safety in many aspects of our daily lives. Safety professionals provide 
training in schools and colleges, workplaces, and communities, as well 
as to drivers across the country. The work of these men and women save 
countless lives each year, and through this resolution, we honor their 
contribution to society.
  In addition to supporting National Safety Month, we must also 
recognize the achievements of the National Safety Council, NSC. The NSC 
was established in Illinois in 1913 to promote industrial safety. Since 
then, their mandate has expanded to include traffic safety, home 
safety, community safety, and workplace safety at large. In 1953, the 
NSC received a Congressional Charter. Today, over 51,000 labor 
organizations, businesses, schools, public agencies, private 
organizations, and individuals comprise the NSC. The NSC and its 40 
member local chapters coordinate safety events, educate the public, 
analyze safety research, and raise awareness about safety issues. The 
NSC inaugurated the first National Safety Month in June 1996. In 
addition to National Safety Month, the NSC holds an annual Congress & 
Expo to exchange information among safety experts, safety 
professionals, and the safety industry. Their work is an invaluable 
contribution to the well-being of our country.
  Mr. SABLAN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 459.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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