[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 55 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 55

Designating the third week of April as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome 
        Awareness Week'' for the year 2001 and all future years.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 8, 2001

Mr. Wellstone submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the third week of April as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome 
        Awareness Week'' for the year 2001 and all future years.

Whereas the month of April has been designated National Child Abuse Prevention 
        Month as an annual tradition initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy 
        Carter;
Whereas the most recent Government figures show that almost 1,000,000 children 
        were victims of abuse and neglect in 1998, causing unspeakable pain and 
        suffering to our most vulnerable citizens;
Whereas among the children who are victims of abuse and neglect, more than 3 
        children die each day in this country;
Whereas the rate of child fatalities resulting from child abuse and neglect in 
        1998 for children aged 1 and younger accounted for 40 percent of the 
        fatalities, and for children aged 5 and younger accounted for 77.5 
        percent of the fatalities;
Whereas head trauma is the leading cause of death of abused children, including 
        the trauma known as Shaken Baby Syndrome;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome is a totally preventable form of child abuse, 
        caused by a caregiver losing control and shaking a baby that is usually 
        less than 1 year of age;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision, brain damage, 
        paralysis, seizures, or death;
Whereas an estimated 3,000 children are diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome 
        every year, with thousands more misdiagnosed and undetected;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, irreparable brain 
        damage or death to an infant, and more than $1,000,000 in medical costs 
        to care for a single, disabled child in just the first few years of 
        life;
Whereas the most effective solution for ending Shaken Baby Syndrome is to 
        prevent such abuse, and it is clear that the minimal costs of education 
        and prevention programs may prevent enormous medical and disability 
        costs and untold grief for many families;
Whereas prevention programs 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 prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome is supported by groups such as the 
        Shaken Baby Alliance, an organization which began with 3 mothers of 
        children who had been diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome, and whose 
        mission is to educate the general public and professionals about Shaken 
        Baby Syndrome and to increase support for victims and victim families in 
        the health care and criminal justice systems;
Whereas child abuse prevention programs and ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome 
        Awareness Week'' are supported by the Shaken Baby Alliance, Children's 
        Defense Fund, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical 
        Association, Child Welfare League of America, Prevent Child Abuse 
        America, Brain Injury Association, National Child Abuse Coalition, 
        National Exchange Club Foundation, American Humane Association, Center 
        for Child Protection and Family Support, Inc., National Association Of 
        Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, and many other 
        organizations including the National Basketball Association, which is 
        sponsoring a series of ``NBA Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Night 
        2001'' events to generate public awareness about the issue of child 
        abuse and neglect during National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2001;
Whereas a year 2000 survey by Prevent Child Abuse America shows that \1/2\ of 
        all Americans believe child abuse and neglect is the most important 
        issue facing this country compared to other public health issues; and
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect children from abuse and 
        neglect: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the third week of April, as ``National 
        Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'' for the year 2001 and all 
        future years; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation urging 
        the people of the United States to remember the victims of 
        Shaken Baby Syndrome and participate in educational programs to 
        help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
                                 <all>