[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 134 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 764) to 
     reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, and for 
     other purposes.

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong and stringent 
support of H.R. 764, the Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act 
(CAPE Act). Victims of child abuse often suffer in silence and alone, 
and this legislation will help shine light on those who take advantage 
of our Nation's most vulnerable.
  In the State of Michigan, every four minutes a child is reported 
abused or neglected. Statistics indicate that children who suffer the 
indignity of child abuse are far more likely to demonstrate future 
deviant behavior along the very same lines they suffered. Other 
Michigan statistics show that every 31 minutes a baby is born to a 
teenage mother, and every two days a child or youth is killed by a gun. 
How many of these additional statistics are directly related to prior 
child abuse?
  By expanding the allowable uses of grant funds provided through law 
enforcement grants for child abuse prevention, States will have greater 
flexibility in crafting solutions to the problem. The measure allows 
grant money to be used for abused children to testify in court through 
closed circuit television instead of in person. It will also help 
social workers, child protective workers, and law enforcement officers 
gain access to criminal records and court documents necessary to 
safeguard the future placement of children currently in abusive 
situations.
  This bill also provides an additional $10 million, increasing the 
total to $20 million for child protective services workers; training 
court appointed special advocates and child advocacy centers. These 
child advocacy centers will provide a centralized facility that unites 
all child examination and treatment services in one place. No longer 
will it be necessary to go from location to location in order to meet 
the needs of abused children.
  Child abuse represents a present and future threat to the well being 
of our society. Through affirmative and prospective steps like the one 
we are taking today, we could minimize this threat. I support H.R. 764 
because it is time we in Congress enact legislation that addresses 
future problems. H.R. 764 does this, and should serve as a precedent 
for future bipartisan cooperation in Congress to meet the present and 
future needs of the Nation.

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