National Recall Round-Up Day, 2000

Proclamation 7294 of April 14, 2000

National Recall Round-Up Day, 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 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.