[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E559]]



                      CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today I commemorate April as the 
Child Abuse Prevention month and to inform my colleagues of a quiet but 
devastating situation that continues to plague our nation: that of 
child abuse and neglect. In this time of prosperity we are leaving 
needy children behind.
  More than 1 million children are reported abused and neglected in 
this country each year. This is an amazing statistic, especially when 
most cases of neglect and abuse are not reported.
  In Virginia, according to the American Humane Association's Children 
Division in 1997, there were 11,792 confirmed reports of maltreatment 
to children.
  The situation, as it exists right now, simply cannot go on. These 
children need and deserve our help, and Congress can and must step in 
if we are to begin to better tackle this public health epidemic and 
national tragedy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support vital 
federal programs that seek to address this problem through improved 
preventive and early intervention services.
  The effects of child abuse are felt by communities as a whole and 
need to be addressed by the entire community. All citizens should 
become more aware of the negative effects of child abuse and its 
prevention within the community. All citizens should become involved in 
supporting vulnerable and at risk parents to raise their children in a 
safe nurturing environment. This is why it is important to recognize 
April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  All citizens, community agencies, religious organizations, medical 
facilities, and businesses should increase their participation in our 
efforts to prevent child abuse, thereby strengthening the communities 
in which we live.
  Child maltreatment has ramifications far beyond the actual physical 
and psychological harm done to the child. It also affects school 
readiness, juvenile crime and poor health outcomes. We simply must do 
more.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that I can count on my colleagues to recognize 
this month as Child Abuse Prevention Month and give strong support of 
these and other measures so that we can seek to put an end to what can 
only be called a national epidemic.

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