[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK

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                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2001

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to establish 
the last week in April as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.
  This cause was presented to me by one of my constituents, Joyce 
Edson. Joyce's son, James, was shaken by his licensed child care 
provider between March and April of 1998. As a result, James was sent 
to the emergency room with a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, 
bilateral retinal hemorrages and a broken right femur. He was only five 
months old.
  While James survived this tragic period, he unfortunately still 
experiences periodic seizures, and is under the continual care of a 
pediatric neurologist and opthamologist.
  Mr. Speaker, many other children are not so lucky. Each day, more 
than three children in the United States die from abuse and neglect. 
Furthermore, over 3,000 babies under the age of one are diagnosed with 
Shaken Baby Syndrome annually, while thousands more are misdiagnosed or 
go completely undetected.
  Mr. Speaker, it saddens me that this situation even exists. However, 
I am hopeful with the designation of National Shaken Baby Syndrome 
Awareness Week, Congress can increase the knowledge of and ultimately 
prevent this dreadful occurrence.

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