[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 439 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 439

  Designating the third week of April 2006 as ``National Shaken Baby 
                       Syndrome Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 7, 2006

  Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. 
   Clinton, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
Durbin, and Mr. Coleman) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating the third week of April 2006 as ``National Shaken Baby 
                       Syndrome Awareness Week''.

Whereas the month of April has been designated ``National Child Abuse Prevention 
        Month'' as an annual tradition that was initiated in 1979 by former 
        President Jimmy Carter;
Whereas the most recent National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System figures 
        reveal that almost 900,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 
        the United States in 2002, causing unspeakable pain and suffering to our 
        most vulnerable citizens;
Whereas among the children who are victims of abuse and neglect, nearly 4 
        children die in the United States each day;
Whereas children aged 1 year or younger accounted for 41.2 percent of all child 
        abuse and neglect fatalities in 2002, and children aged 4 years or 
        younger accounted for 76.1 percent of all child abuse and neglect 
        fatalities in 2002;
Whereas abusive head trauma, including the trauma known as ``Shaken Baby 
        Syndrome'', is recognized as the leading cause of death of physically 
        abused children;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision, brain damage, 
        paralysis, seizures, or death;
Whereas a 2003 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association 
        estimated that, in the United States, an average of 300 children will 
        die each year, and 600 to 1,200 more will be injured, of whom \2/3\ will 
        be babies or infants under 1 year in age, as a result of Shaken Baby 
        Syndrome, with many cases resulting in severe and permanent 
        disabilities;
Whereas medical professionals believe that thousands of additional cases of 
        Shaken Baby Syndrome are being misdiagnosed or are not detected;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, irreparable brain 
        damage or death to an infant and may result in 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 the abuse, and it is clear that the minimal costs of education 
        and prevention programs may prevent enormous medical and disability 
        costs and immeasurable amounts of grief for many families;
Whereas prevention programs have demonstrated that educating new parents about 
        the danger of shaking young children and how they can help protect their 
        child from injury can bring about a significant reduction in the number 
        of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
Whereas education programs have been shown to raise awareness and provide 
        critically important information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents, 
        caregivers, daycare workers, child protection employees, law enforcement 
        personnel, health care professionals, and legal representatives;
Whereas efforts to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome are supported by advocacy groups 
        across the United States that were formed by parents and relatives of 
        children who have been killed or injured by shaking, including the 
        National Shaken Baby Coalition, the Shaken Baby Association, the Shaking 
        Kills: Instead Parents Please Educate and Remember Initiative (commonly 
        known as the ``SKIPPER Initiative''), the Shaken Baby Alliance, Shaken 
        Baby Prevention, Inc., A Voice for Gabbi, Don't Shake Jake, and the 
        Kierra Harrison Foundation, whose mission is to educate the general 
        public and professionals about Shaken Baby Syndrome and to increase 
        support for victims and the families of the victims in the health care 
        and criminal justice systems;
Whereas child abuse prevention programs and ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome 
        Awareness Week'' are supported by the National Shaken Baby Coalition, 
        the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, the Children's Defense 
        Fund, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Child Welfare League of 
        America, Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Child Abuse 
        Coalition, the National Exchange Club Foundation, the American Humane 
        Association, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 
        the Arc of the United States, the Association of University Centers on 
        Disabilities, Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Family Partnership, 
        Family Voices, National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention 
        Funds, United Cerebral Palsy, the National Association of Children's 
        Hospitals and related institutions, Never Shake a Baby Arizona, Prevent 
        Child Abuse Arizona, the Center for Child Protection and Family Support, 
        and many other organizations;
Whereas a 2000 survey by Prevent Child Abuse America shows that approximately 
        half of all citizens of the United States believe that, of all the 
        public health issues facing the United States, child abuse and neglect 
        is the most important issue;
Whereas Congress previously designated the third week of April 2001 as 
        ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week 2001''; 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 2006 as ``National 
        Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'';
            (2) commends those hospitals, child care councils, schools, 
        and other organizations that are--
                    (A) working to increase awareness of the danger of 
                shaking young children; and
                    (B) educating parents and caregivers on how they 
                can help protect children from injuries caused by 
                abusive shaking; and
            (3) encourages the citizens of the United States to--
                    (A) remember the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome; 
                and
                    (B) participate in educational programs to help 
                prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
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