[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 74 (Monday, May 19, 2003)] [House] [Pages H4213-H4214] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF BUCKLE UP AMERICA WEEK Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 166) expressing the sense of Congress in support of Buckle Up America Week. The Clerk read as follows: H. Con. Res. 166 Whereas Buckle Up America is a national campaign that promotes and encourages safety belt and child safety seat use; Whereas failure to wear safety belts and use child safety seats contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior; Whereas, in 2002, 42,850 people were killed in automobile accidents and 2,914,000 people were injured in such accidents; Whereas the economic cost to society is estimated at annual cost of non-use at current safety belt usage rates is $26 billion per year; Whereas most passenger vehicle occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes continue to be those not restrained by safety belts or child safety seats; Whereas crashes are the leading killer of all children, including African-American and Hispanic children; Whereas car crashes are the second leading killer of African-American young men, Whereas according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, safety belts saved over 11,000 lives in the United States in 2000; and Whereas educational programs like Buckle Up America Week have increased seat belt usage: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that-- (1) all people throughout the Nation should talk to family and friends about the importance of wearing a safety belt; (2) law enforcement agencies should be commended for their commitment to enforce safety belt usage laws; (3) national and community agencies and organizations should be recognized and applauded for their work in promoting awareness about Buckle Up America Week; (4) all legislative leaders should participate in Buckle Up America events; and (5) drivers and passengers should insist their fellow automobile passengers wear their safety belt and that all children in the car are buckled up in the appropriate restraint for their age, height, and weight. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri). Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This week is Buckle Up America Week. The legislation before us, House Concurrent Resolution 166, expresses the sense of Congress in support of Buckle Up America Week. This national campaign is dedicated to increasing the proper use of seat belts and child safety seats. For the first time in several years, highway fatalities increased from the previous year. Nearly 43,000 people died and over 3 million were injured on our Nation's highways last year. This is the highest number of highway fatalities since 1990. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, in the past 26 years safety belts prevented 135,000 and 3.8 million injuries, saving $585 billion in medical and other costs. If all vehicle occupants had used safety belts during that period, nearly 315,000 deaths and 5.2 million injuries could have been prevented and $913 billion in costs saved. We have made significant headway recently. Seat belt use has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. In 1984, seat belt use was only 15 percent. Today, the national average is 75 percent. But more needs to be done. Most vehicle occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes in recent years were not wearing seat belts. Even more disturbing is the fact that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 6 and 14. About half of children ages 4 to 7 who are fatally injured in motor vehicle accidents were completely unrestrained. Child safety seats save thousands of children's lives during motor vehicle crashes each year. This resolution draws much-needed attention to the pressing issue of increasing seat belt and child safety seat use. I applaud the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter) for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Buckle Up America Week marks a high point in our push for greater seat belt and child safety seat use. This week kicks off a massive $20 million ``Click It or Ticket'' mobilization, the largest-ever nationwide law enforcement program to increase safety belt use. More than 12,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will conduct safety belt checkpoints as part of the mobilization. And all I can say is, watch out, Members, because we are doing it in this region. This year, the effort is specifically targeting one of our most at- risk populations: teenagers. Due in large part to low seat belt use, fatality rates for teen drivers are four times higher than for older drivers. In 2002, 4,942 16- to 19-year-old teens were killed in traffic crashes, and thousands more were injured. Two out of the five deaths among teens are the result of a traffic crash. Today, safety belt use stands at 75 percent of the general population, but less than 69 percent for teens. We know the way to increase seat belt use is through strong laws and high visibility enforcement. Prior campaigns of this kind have produced a 9 percent overall increase in seat belt use. So today we begin by putting people on notice to click it or expect a ticket. The campaign runs through June 1st. I want to commend the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), as well as the sponsor, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter), for bringing this matter to the House floor. Because of our efforts, and especially efforts of communities and law enforcement agencies around the Nation, I believe we will see Americans and American teenagers [[Page H4214]] buckling up as never before. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this lifesaving measure. Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I offer this resolution today and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting Buckle Up America Week. This national campaign promotes awareness of safety belt and child safety seat use. The fundamental message is that seatbelts save lives. In 2002, over 42,850 people were killed in automobile accidents, and 2.9 million people were injured in such. An average of four Americans die every hour in car accidents, ninety-six people a day. Many of these injuries and deaths could be prevented by wearing a seatbelt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated safety belts saved more than 11,000 American lives in 2000. Educational Programs like Buckle Up America Week have successfully increased seat belt usage. These programs aim to encourage children and adults to start or continue to use safety belts each time they get into their vehicles. I applaud all law enforcement agencies for their commitment to the enforcement of safety belt usage laws. Such dedication serves to encourage increased seat belt usage. Lack of seat belt use costs Americans $26 billion every year. We all pay higher health care and insurance costs because of unbelted drivers and passengers. But, the true cost is the loss of life. Car crashes are the leading killer of all children. Please join me in supporting this important resolution. I urge all of my colleagues to talk with their families and friends about the importance of wearing safety belts. Let's encourage all drivers and passengers to insist that their fellow automobile passengers buckle up and that all children are secured in the appropriate child safety seats. Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 166. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative. Mr. PETRI. 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. ____________________