[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 16 (Monday, April 24, 2000)]
[Pages 839-840]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7294--National Recall Round-Up Day, 2000

April 14, 2000

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Every year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) researches 
the safety of more than 15,000 types of products used by the American 
people and secures the recall of defective or potentially dangerous 
products. Last year alone, the CPSC negotiated almost 300 recalls 
involving more than 74 million individual consumer products that 
presented a significant risk to the public. Despite these recalls and 
additional safety alerts issued by the CPSC, many consumers are still 
using products that may seriously injure or even kill them or their 
children, and people are still able to purchase these products at flea 
markets, secondhand stores, and garage or yard sales.
    The CPSC estimates that some 29 million Americans will suffer 
injuries involving consumer products this year, and 22,000 will lose 
their lives. To reduce these tragic statistics, the CPSC is working to 
increase public awareness of recalled products and to ensure that such 
potentially hazardous products are

[[Page 840]]

removed from people's homes. As a vital part of this effort, the CPSC is 
conducting the fourth annual Recall Round-Up Campaign this year in 
partnership with the U.S. Postal Service. With the cooperation and 
active involvement of State and local officials, health and safety 
organizations, the media, and community groups, this innovative public 
safety campaign will sponsor activities in communities across the Nation 
to publicize the products that have been recalled, to encourage 
Americans to repair, return, or destroy any recalled products that may 
still be in their homes or businesses, and to urge them to stay alert 
and informed about such products when purchasing secondhand items.
    This year's Recall Round-Up will focus on a number of previously 
recalled consumer products that pose a threat to children in particular, 
including certain infant car seats; swimming pool dive sticks that can 
cause impalement injuries to young children; television carts that can 
tip over; tubular metal cribs that can entrap children; and old cribs, 
hair dryers, and children's drawstring jackets that fail to meet the 
most current safety standards. Last year's campaign succeeded in 
reaching some 55 million consumers; this year, with the assistance of 
the U.S. Postal Service, the CPSC hopes to reach millions more--
especially parents and child care providers--with these lifesaving 
messages.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the 
Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 18, 
2000, as National Recall Round-Up Day. I call upon all Americans to 
observe this day by working with safety, health, and consumer agencies 
and other appropriate community organizations to organize and conduct 
local round-ups of dangerous and defective consumer products and to warn 
parents, child care providers, and the general public about the hazards 
of using recalled consumer products.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day 
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 19, 
2000]

 Note:  This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on April 
20. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.