[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 59 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 59


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 4, 2001

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the prevention of shaken 
                             baby syndrome.

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 programs and techniques to prevent child abuse and shaken baby syndrome 
        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 increased awareness of shaken baby syndrome and of the techniques to 
        prevent it would help end the abuse that causes shaken baby syndrome: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) strongly supports efforts to protect children from 
        abuse and neglect; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to educate 
        themselves regarding shaken baby syndrome and the techniques to 
        prevent it.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 3, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.