In FY 1996, this program activity will continue with an increased allocation of $680,000 to: improve the collection of mortality data from the States (present system includes delays up to two years and is incomplete, unlike the on-line hospital emergency room system for injuries); improve accident investigator skills by providing for basic investigator training similar to that provided by other investigatory agencies; and, increase the number of on-site investigations. (All hazard reports are screened initially by a telephone investigation. Based on this screening, when details are required, on-site investigations are conducted to obtain causality data on which to base agency action). A strengthened and quicker means of identifying product hazards results from this program improvement.

Hazard Assessment and Reduction. The Hazard Assessment and Reduction (HAR) program develops and implements reduction strategies for hazards identified under the HIA program. The new and continued activities in this program seek to reduce an annual toll of 4,612 deaths, 825,360 injuries, and $38.4 billion in societal costs.

The FY 1996 program supports a variety of continuing hazard reduction efforts, new hazard initiatives, and maintains the agency's laboratories at a state-of-the-art operating level. The new hazard initiatives include: bedding and upholstered furniture fires (1,180 deaths annually); sports/recreation (the largest single source of children's injuries); and, bicycle helmets (legislatively mandated rulemaking).

Compliance and Enforcement. The Compliance and Enforcement (CE) program enforces the laws enacted by Congress and the regulations and standards issued by the Commission to carry out those laws. In carrying out its enforcement activities, the staff applies principles of riskbased decision making to assure that its actions are appropriate for the level of hazard presented by a product.

In FY 1994, there were over 300 recalls involving more than 12 million product units. These recalls involved products that presented substantial risks of injury to the public or that violated safety standards. In addition, an additional 500,000 products that violated safety standards were seized for the Commission by Customs thus preventing those products from being sold to U.S. consumers.

Additional funds have been reallocated to fund a viable State and local program. Under this program, the Commission awards small contracts to States so they can support the agency's overall enforcement program by conducting injury accident investigations or by providing advance alerts to the Commission of potential product hazards. Additional resources are allocated to provide rapid and authoritative technical evaluations of potentially hazardous products. Additional funding is also reallocated for Poison Prevention Packaging Act efforts. This funding allows the Commission to test packages to verify that they meet the requirements for child-resistance designed to prevent poisoning of children.

Consumer Information. The Consumer Information (CI) program informs consumers, families, and businesses about product hazards and Commission recommendations on how to reduce these hazards. The Commission focuses on helping families by simplifying safety and maintaining a constant dialogue with consumers. Groups which we work with to spread safety messages include 4-H, the AAA Safety Patrol, American Association of Retired Persons, National Safe Kids Campaign, Children's Safety Network, International Association of Chiefs of Police, etc. To strengthen the tools of the program, funds have been reallocated to this program to increase contract support necessary to get safety information out to families.

Agency Management. The Agency Management (AM) program provides policy guidance, executive direction, and legal and administrative services necessary to support the work of the hazard reduction programs. The AM program use of agency FTEs has declined from 26 percent in FY 1989 to 19 percent in FY 1996. The program's FTEs were cut eight percent in FY 1994; additional reductions are planned in future years. There are no changes proposed in this program in FY 1996. The dollar increase in FY 1996 reflects the program's allocation of agency inflation increases.

The mission of the agency is to reduce deaths and injuries of American consumers from product hazards. The Commission is working hard to reach out to industry, consumers, families, and professional groups with our consumer safety program, an approach justified by the $200 billion annual cost of product hazards.

The Commission is maximizing its existing resources through reinvention efforts and customer service improvements. The Commission seeks to save both consumers and businesses money by common sense hazard reductions.

The greatest contribution of the Commission to the nation will be realized by aggressively reducing deaths, injuries, and related health care costs and other societal costs. Thus, the Commission requests full funding of the FY 1996 amount of $44 million.

• Relocation funds are not discussed in the budget narrative because the funds are special purpose funds expected to expire in FY 1995.

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The Hazard Identification and Analysis (HIA) Program provides the information needed to assess product hazards and develop injury reduction strategies.

and

The Commission collects data on consumer product-related injuries deaths, as well as potential injury incidents. It also collects economic and hazard exposure information on products under the agency's jurisdiction. Investigation of specific injury cases provides additional knowledge about injuries or hazards and how the reported product was involved. Commission staff screen the hazard data and conduct analyses to determine if hazard reduction action should be taken under the Commission's Hazard Assessment and Reduction, Compliance and Enforcement, or Consumer Information programs.