[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 59 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 59

    Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of 
             National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2001

  Mr. McKeon submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of 
             National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.

Whereas more than 1,000,000 children were abused or neglected in the United 
        States during the most recent year for which Government data is 
        available regarding child abuse and neglect;
Whereas more than 3 children die from abuse or neglect each day in the United 
        States;
Whereas, in 1998, 37.9 percent of all fatalities of children under the age of 1 
        were caused by child abuse or neglect, and 77.5 percent of all 
        fatalities of children under the age of 5 were caused by child abuse or 
        neglect;
Whereas head trauma, including the trauma known as shaken baby syndrome, is the 
        leading cause of death of abused children;
Whereas shaken baby syndrome is the loss of vision, brain damage, paralysis, 
        seizures, or death that is caused by severely or violently shaking a 
        baby;
Whereas an estimated 3,000 babies, usually younger than 1 year of age, are 
        diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome every year, with thousands more 
        misdiagnosed or undetected;
Whereas shaken baby syndrome often results in permanent, irreparable brain 
        damage or death;
Whereas the medical costs associated with caring for a baby suffering from 
        shaken baby syndrome often exceed $1,000,000 in the first few years of 
        the life of the baby;
Whereas the most effective method for ending the occurrence of shaken baby 
        syndrome is to prevent the abuse which causes it;
Whereas educational and prevention programs regarding shaken baby syndrome may 
        prevent enormous medical costs and unquantifiable grief at minimal cost;
Whereas programs to prevent shaken baby syndrome have been shown to raise 
        awareness and provide critically important information about shaken baby 
        syndrome to parents, caregivers, day care workers, child protection 
        employees, law enforcement personnel, health care professionals, and 
        legal representatives;
Whereas the month of April has been designated as National Child Abuse 
        Prevention Month, an annual tradition initiated by former President 
        Jimmy Carter in 1979;
Whereas the last full week in April is an appropriate week to designate as 
        National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week;
Whereas child abuse prevention programs and the establishment of National Shaken 
        Baby Syndrome Awareness Week are supported by the Shaken Baby Alliance, 
        Children's Defense Fund, National Children's Alliance, American Humane 
        Association, Prevent Child Abuse America, National Exchange Club 
        Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, National Association of 
        Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, Center for Child 
        Protection and Family Support, Inc., American Academy of Pediatrics, and 
        American Medical Association; and
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect children from abuse and 
        neglect: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) a National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week should 
        be established to raise awareness regarding shaken baby 
        syndrome; and
            (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon 
        the people of the United States to observe such a week with 
        appropriate programs and activities regarding the prevention of 
        shaken baby syndrome.
                                 <all>