,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bigb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #c1 #bjad ,mr4 ,blumenthal 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 and ,mr4 ,carper7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require all equestrian helmets manufactured or sold in the ,united ,states meet a minimum safety standard1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,christen ,o',donnell ,equestrian ,helmet ,safety ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,head injuries are the number one reason for hospital admissions of horseback riders and the leading cause of death following a horseback riding injury4 7#b7 ,more than #ajj deaths per year are estimated to result from equestrian related activities1 with head injuries accounting for #c of every #e of these deaths4 7#c7 ,nearly #fh1jjj people visited an emergency room in #bjab as a result of horseback riding related injuries1 with head injuries accounting for #bb percent and concussions accounting for #g percent of these visits4 7#d7 ,horseback riding causes #aa4g percent of sports-related traumatic brain injuries1 which is the largest percentage of any recreational sport4 7#e7 ,between #bjja and #bjji1 children younger than #ai years of age made #c1fch emergency room visits per year for traumatic brain injuries resulting from horseback riding accidents4 7#f7 ,between #ge and #hj percent of head injuries occur while physically mounted on a horse--when a rider would normally be wearing his or her helmet4 7#g7 ,racing organizations require helmets1 and as a result jockeys now sustain fewer head injuries than pleasure riders4 7#h7 ,the ,united ,states ,pony ,clubs lowered head injury rates by #bi percent through mandatory helmet use4 7#i7 ,properly fitted ,,astm_/,,sei certified helmets can reduce head injury-related deaths by #gj to #hj percent4 #c4 ,standards for equestrian helmets 7a7 ,equestrian helmet defined ,in this section1 the term equestrian helmet means a hard shell head covering intended to be worn while participating in an equestrian event or activity4 7b7 ,requirement ,every equestrian helmet manufactured on or after the date that is #bgj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act shall meet-- 7#a7 in the case that the ,consumer ,product ,safety ,commission has not established a standard under subsection 7c71 the ,,astm ,international standard designated as ,f#aafc or successor standard2 and 7#b7 in the case that the ,commission has established a standard under subsection 7c71 the standard established under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,standard 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,consumer ,product ,safety ,commission may promulgate a standard for equestrian helmets that incorporates all of the requirements of the ,,astm ,international standard designated as ,f#aafc or successor standard4 7#b7 ,inapplicability of certain laws ,sections #g and #i of the ,consumer ,product ,safety ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bjef and #bjeh7 shall not apply to the promulgation of a standard under paragraph 7#a71 and section #aa of such ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bjfj7 shall not apply with respect to any standard promulgated under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,status of standard ,a standard promulgated under paragraph 7#a7 shall be considered a consumer product safety standard promulgated under the ,consumer ,product ,safety ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bjea et seq474 7d7 ,enforcement ,an equestrian helmet subject to subsection 7b7 that does not meet the applicable standard specified in such subsection shall be considered in violation of a consumer product safety standard promulgated under the ,consumer ,product ,safety ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bjea et seq474 7e7 ,authorizations of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,consumer ,product ,safety ,commission to carry out this section1 #ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjad1 which amount shall remain available until expended4