[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 485 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 485

 Expressing support for designation of the third week of April 2009 as 
           ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2009

 Mrs. Lowey submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for designation of the third week of April 2009 as 
           ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week''.

Whereas the month of April has been designated ``National Child Abuse Prevention 
        Month'' as an annual tradition initiated in 1979 by President Jimmy 
        Carter;
Whereas the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System reports that 794,000 
        children were victims of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2007, 
        causing unspeakable pain and suffering for our most vulnerable citizens;
Whereas over 95,000 of those children were younger than 1 year old;
Whereas more than 4 children die each day in the United States as a result of 
        abuse or neglect;
Whereas children younger than 1 year old accounted for over 40 percent of all 
        child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2007, and children younger than 4 
        years old accounted for nearly 76 percent of all child abuse and neglect 
        fatalities in 2007;
Whereas abusive head trauma, including the trauma known as Shaken Baby Syndrome, 
        is recognized as the leading cause of death among physically abused 
        children;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision, brain damage, 
        paralysis, seizures, or death;
Whereas medical professionals believe that thousands of additional cases of 
        Shaken Baby Syndrome and other forms of abusive head trauma are being 
        misdiagnosed or left undetected;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent and irreparable brain 
        damage or death of the infant and may result in extraordinary costs for 
        medical care during the first few years of the life of the child;
Whereas the most effective solution for preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is to 
        prevent the abuse, and it is clear that the minimal costs of education 
        and prevention programs may avert 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 to protect their children 
        from injury can significantly reduce the number of cases of Shaken Baby 
        Syndrome;
Whereas education programs raise awareness and provide critically important 
        information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents, caregivers, childcare 
        providers, 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 groups formed by parents and 
        relatives of children who have been injured or killed by shaking, whose 
        mission is to educate the general public and professionals about Shaken 
        Baby Syndrome and to increase support for victims and their families 
        within the health care and criminal justice systems;
Whereas 20 States have enacted legislation related to preventing and increasing 
        awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe the third week of April 2009 as 
        National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week; and
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect children from abuse and 
        neglect: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Shaken Baby 
        Syndrome Awareness Week'';
            (2) commends hospitals, child care councils, schools, 
        community groups, and other organizations that are--
                    (A) working to increase awareness of the danger of 
                shaking young children;
                    (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 people of the United States--
                    (A) to remember the victims of Shaken Baby 
                Syndrome; and
                    (B) to participate in educational programs to help 
                prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
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