Mr. LEWIS. I will be interested in the follow-up of these safety things, the number of people who actually leave them open still over time. Ms. BROWN. We will get the evidence, if we are reducing the numbers of poisonings, we will be able-we watch that. That is our bottom line. Our benchmark is how do we reduce injury and death. [The information follows:] Previously-available packaging was considered to be difficult to open by 22 to 64 percent of people from ages 18 to 45, depending on package type. Among people from ages 61 to 75, 27 to 69 percent found the packages difficult to open. Recent test results with older adults with more senior-friendly packaging differ markedly from the tests cited above. These latter results showed 95 to 99 percent of the adults (ages 60 to 75) were able to use the reclosable packages tested, and 84 to 91 percent of the adults rated the packages as "easy to use." Similar results were obtained for non-reclosable packaging. Thus, the data support the idea that a panel of older persons is an appropriate mechanism for making child-resistant packaging easier to use and that this will result in more persons buying child-resistant packaging and using it properly. This will ultimately result in reduced numbers of ingestions of toxic products by small children. Mr. STOKES. Mr. Chairman, one other statement. Mr. LEWIS. Lou, one more. MINORITY STATISTICS Mr. STOKES. In the past, as you know, Mr. Chairman, I have been concerned about the employment of both minorities and women at not only this agency, but all agencies. Not from a perspective of affirmative action, but from a perspective of when agencies are using Federal funds, those agencies ought to look like America. And with the knowledge that I have concerns in this area, the chairperson has brought with her statistics relative to minority and women at this agency. I would ask unanimous consent that they be inserted in the record at this point. Mr. LEWIS. Certainly. That information, as well as questions the other Members may have. [The information follows:] MINORITY AND WOMEN STATISTICS The current CPSC workforce is: 54.8%-Men; 45.2%-Women; and 29%-Minority. CPSC exceeds the federal government level for women which is 40.83%. CPSC is 45.2%. CPSC is in line with the federal government level for minorities. The federal level is 28.98% and we are 29%. During the first quarter of FY 95 there were 16 new hires. Of those new hires: 50% were men; 50% were women; and 37% were minority. The CPSC Procurement Preference Program was very successful and possibly unmatched in federal government: 63% for small businesses; 31% for minority businesses; and 27% for women-owned businesses. Mr. STOKES. Sure, thank you. Mr. LEWIS. And thank you very much for your testimony. Look forward to working with you. COMMISSIONERS' STATEMENT This Budget Request for Fiscal Year 1996 is submitted by the Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION SALARIES AND EXPENSES For necessary expenses of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, including hire of passenger motor vehicles, services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for GS-18, purchase of nominal awards to recognize non-federal officials' contributions to Commission activities, and not to exceed $500 for official reception and representation expenses, $44,000,000. (Additional authorizing legislation to be proposed). |