[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 93 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 93


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 4, 1999

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the social problem of 
   child abuse and neglect and supporting efforts to enhance public 
                       awareness of this problem.

Whereas each year more than 3,000,000 children in the United States are reported 
        as suspected victims of child abuse and neglect;
Whereas more than 500,000 American children are currently unable to live safely 
        with their families and have been placed in foster homes and 
        institutions;
Whereas it is estimated that more than 1,000 children in the United States, 78 
        percent of whom are less than 5 years of age and 38 percent of whom are 
        less than 1 year of age, lose their lives each year as a direct result 
        of abuse and neglect;
Whereas the tragic social problem of child abuse and neglect results in human 
        and economic costs due to its relationship to crime and delinquency, 
        drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and welfare dependency; and
Whereas April has been designated by the President as Child Abuse Prevention 
        Month to focus public awareness on this social ill: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) it is the sense of the Congress that--
                    (A) the faith community, nonprofit organizations, 
                State and local officials involved in prevention of 
                child abuse and neglect, and volunteers throughout the 
                United States should recommit themselves and mobilize 
                their resources to assist children in danger of abuse 
                or neglect;
                    (B) Federal resources should be marshalled in a 
                manner that maximizes their impact on the prevention of 
                child abuse and neglect;
                    (C) because abuse and neglect of children increases 
                the likelihood that they will later engage in criminal 
                activity, State and local officials should be provided 
                with increased flexibility that allows them to use 
                Federal law enforcement resources in the fight to 
                prevent child abuse and neglect if they consider that 
                use appropriate; and
                    (D) child protective services agencies, law 
                enforcement agencies, and the judicial system should 
                coordinate their efforts to the maximum extent possible 
                to prevent child abuse and neglect; and
            (2) the Congress--
                    (A) supports efforts in the United States to--
                            (i) focus the attention of the Nation on 
                        the disturbing problem of child abuse;
                            (ii) demonstrate gratitude to the people in 
                        the United States who work to keep children 
                        safe; and
                            (iii) encourage individuals to take action 
                        in their own communities to make them healthier 
                        places in which children can grow and thrive; 
                        and
                    (B) commends the faith community, nonprofit 
                organizations, State and local officials involved in 
                prevention of child abuse and neglect, and volunteers 
                throughout America for their efforts on behalf of 
                abused and neglected children everywhere.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 29, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.