[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 163 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 163

  Designating the third week of April 2007 as ``National Shaken Baby 
                       Syndrome Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 20, 2007

   Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
 Cantwell, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Levin, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Schumer, 
Mr. Domenici, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Salazar, and Mr. Lieberman) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating the third week of April 2007 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 2005, causing unspeakable pain and suffering to our 
        most vulnerable citizens;
Whereas among the children who are victims of abuse and neglect, more than 4 
        children die in the United States each day;
Whereas children aged 1 year or younger accounted for approximately 42 percent 
        of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2005, and children aged 3 
        years or younger accounted for approximately 77 percent of all child 
        abuse and neglect fatalities in 2005;
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 and other forms of abusive head trauma 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 extraordinary costs for 
        the provision of medical care to the infant in just the first few years 
        of life of the infant;
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 ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'' and efforts to prevent 
        child abuse, including Shaken Baby Syndrome, are supported by groups 
        across the United States, including those formed by parents and 
        relatives of children who have been killed or injured by shaking, 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 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 2007 as ``National 
        Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'';
            (2) commends those hospitals, child care councils, schools, 
        community groups, 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
                    (C) helping families cope effectively with the 
                challenges of child-rearing and other stresses in their 
                lives; 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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