[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S15080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate has approved 
the Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act, which Senator DeWine 
and I recently introduced in the Senate. Our bipartisan legislation 
builds on the successful passage into law of the Crime Identification 
Technology Act of 1998, which Senator DeWine and I sponsored in the 
last Congress. Our bill also complements S. 249, the Missing, Exploited 
and Runaway Children Protection Act, which Senator Hatch and I worked 
together to steer to final passage just last month.
  Unfortunately, the number of abused or neglected children in this 
country nearly doubled between 1986 and 1993. Each day there are 9,000 
reports of child abuse in America and more than three million cases 
annually of abused or neglected children. In my home state of Vermont, 
2,309 children were reported to child protective services for child 
abuse or neglect investigations in 1997, the last year data is 
available. After investigation, 1,041 of these reports found 
substantiated cases of child maltreatment in Vermont.
  Each child behind these statistics is an American tragedy.
  But we can help. The Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act 
provides these abused or neglected children with the Federal assistance 
that they deserve. And our legislation can make a real difference in 
the lives of our nation's children without any additional cost to 
taxpayers.
  Our bipartisan legislation will make a difference by giving State and 
local officials the flexibility to use existing Department of Justice 
grant programs to prevent child abuse and neglect, investigate child 
abuse and neglect crimes and protect children who have suffered from 
abuse and neglect. The bill does this by making three changes to 
current law.
  First, the Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act amends the 
Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998 to make grant dollars 
available specifically to enhance the capability of criminal history 
information to agencies and workers for child welfare, child abuse and 
adoption purposes. Congress has authorized $250 million annually for 
grants under the Crime Identification Technology Act.
  Second, the Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act amends the 
Byrne Grant Program to permit funds to be used for enforcing child 
abuse and neglect laws, including laws protecting against child sexual 
abuse, and promoting programs designed to prevent child abuse and 
neglect. Congress has traditionally funded the Byrne Grant Program at 
about $500 million a year.
  Third, the Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act doubles the 
available funds, from $10 million to $20 million, for grants to each 
State for child abuse treatment and prevention from the Crime Victims 
Fund. This fund is financed through the collection of criminal fines, 
penalties and other assessments against persons convicted of crimes 
against the United States. In the 1998 fiscal year, the Crime Victims 
Fund held $363 million. To ensure that other crime victim programs 
support by the Fund are not reduced, the expansion of the child abuse 
treatment and prevention earmark applies only when the Fund exceeds 
$363 million in a fiscal year. This year, the Crime Victims Fund is 
expected to collect more than $1 billion due in part to large anti-
trust penalties.
  Despite the tireless efforts of concerned Vermonters, including the 
many dedicated workers and volunteers at Prevent Child Abuse in Vermont 
and the Vermont Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services, 
Vermont is below the national average for its ability to provide 
services to abused or neglected children. In 1997, 411 children found 
to be abused or neglected received no services, about 40 percent of 
investigated cases. Nationally, about 25 percent of all abused or 
neglected children received no services. Our legislation provides more 
resources to help Vermonters and other Americans provide services to 
all abused or neglected children.
  I want to thank the many advocates who support our bill and the 
companion legislation introduced by Representatives Pryce and Tubbs 
Jones, H.R. 764, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 
425-2 on October 5, 1999. These advocates include the diverse National 
Child Abuse Coalition: ACTION for Child Protection; Alliance for 
Children and Families; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Bar 
Association; American Dental Association; American Professional Society 
on the Abuse of Children; American Prosecutors Research Institute; 
American Psychological Association; Association of Junior Leagues 
International; Boy Scouts of America; Child Welfare League of America; 
Childhelp USA; Children's Defense Fund; General Federation of Women's 
Club; National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention Funds; 
National Association of Child Advocates; National Association of 
Counsel for Children; National Association of Social Workers; National 
Children's Alliance; National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse; 
National Council of Jewish Women; National Court Appointed Special 
Advocates Association; National Education Association; National 
Exchange Club Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse; National 
Network for Youth; National PTA; Parents Anonymous; and Parents United. 
In addition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and 
Prevent Child Abuse America have endorsed our bill and its House 
counterpart.
  I look forward to the House of Representatives passing the Child 
Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act for the sake of our nation's 
children.

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