Calendar No. 674
102d CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3096
[Report No. 102-406]
A BILL
To establish a grant program under the Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration for the purpose of promoting the use of bicycle
helmets by children under the age of 16.
September 16 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 8), 1992
Reported with amendments
S 3096 RS1S
(Star Print)
Calendar No. 674
102d CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3096
[Report No. 102-406]
To establish a grant program under the Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration for the purpose of promoting the use of bicycle
helmets by children under the age of 16.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29 (legislative day, JULY 23), 1992
Mr. DANFORTH (for himself and Mr. MCCAIN) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
September 16 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 8), 1992
Reported by Mr. HOLLINGS, with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
A BILL
To establish a grant program under the Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration for the purpose of promoting the use of bicycle
helmets by children under the age of 16.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
FINDINGS
  SECTION 1. The Congress finds that--
  (1)  [Struck out->] Ninety  [<-Struck out] 90 million Americans ride
  bicycles and  [Struck out->] twenty  [<-Struck out] 20 million ride a
  bicycle more than once a week;
  (2) between 1984 and 1988,  [Struck out->] two thousand nine hundred and
  eighty-five  [<-Struck out] 2,985 bicyclists in the United States died
  from head injuries and  [Struck out->] nine hundred and five thousand seven
  hundred and fifty-two  [<-Struck out] 905,752 suffered head injuries that
  were treated in hospital emergency rooms;
  (3)  [Struck out->] Forty-one  [<-Struck out] 41 percent of bicycle-related
  head injury deaths and 76 percent of bicycle-related head injuries occurred
  among American children under age  [Struck out->] fifteen  [<-Struck out] 15;
  (4) deaths and injuries from bicycle accidents cost society  [Struck out->]
  $7,600,000,000  [<-Struck out] $7.6 billion annually; and a child suffering
  from a head injury, on average, will cost society  [Struck out->] $4,500,000
  [<-Struck out]  $4.5 million over the child's lifetime;
  (5) universal use of bicycle helmets in the United States would have
  prevented  [Struck out->] two thousand and six hundred  [<-Struck out]
  2,600 deaths from head injuries and  [Struck out->] seven hundred and
  fifty-seven thousand  [<-Struck out] 757,000 injuries; and
  (6) only 5 percent of children in the Nation who ride bicycles wear helmets.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM
  SEC. 2. The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
  Administration may, in accordance with section 3, make grants to States
  and State political subdivisions for programs that require or encourage
  individuals under the age of  [Struck out->] sixteen  [<-Struck out] 16 to
  wear approved bicycle helmets. In making those grants, the Administrator
  shall allow grantees to use wide discretion in designing programs that
  effectively promote increased bicycle helmet use.
PURPOSES FOR GRANTS
  SEC. 3. A grant made under section 2 may be used by a grantee to--
  (1) enforce a law that requires individuals under the age of  [Struck out->]
  sixteen  [<-Struck out] 16 to wear approved bicycle helmets on their heads
  while riding on bicycles;
  (2) assist individuals under the age of  [Struck out->] sixteen  [<-Struck
  out] 16 to acquire approved bicycle helmets;
  (3) develop and administer a program to educate individuals under the age
  of  [Struck out->] sixteen  [<-Struck out] 16 and their families on the
  importance of wearing such helmets in order to improve bicycle safety; or
  (4) carry out any combination of the activities described in paragraphs (1),
  (2), and (3).
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
  SEC. 4. For the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to carry out
  this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year
  1993, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1995.
DEFINITION
  SEC. 5. In this Act, the term `approved bicycle helmet' means a bicycle
  helmet which meets the testing standards of the American National Standards
  Institute or the Snell Memorial  [Struck out->] Institute.  [<-Struck out]
  Foundation.