[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1362-H1364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL SHAKEN
BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 59) expressing the sense of
Congress regarding the establishment of National Shaken Baby Syndrome
Awareness Week, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 59
Whereas more than 1,000,000 children were abused or
neglected in the United States during the most recent year
for which Government data is available regarding child abuse
and neglect;
Whereas more than 3 children die from abuse or neglect each
day in the United States;
Whereas, in 1998, 37.9 percent of all fatalities of
children under the age of 1 were caused by child abuse or
neglect, and 77.5 percent of all fatalities of children under
the age of 5 were caused by child abuse or neglect;
Whereas head trauma, including the trauma known as shaken
baby syndrome, is the leading cause of death of abused
children;
Whereas shaken baby syndrome is the loss of vision, brain
damage, paralysis, seizures, or death that is caused by
severely or violently shaking a baby;
Whereas an estimated 3,000 babies, usually younger than 1
year of age, are diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome every
year, with thousands more misdiagnosed or undetected;
Whereas shaken baby syndrome often results in permanent,
irreparable brain damage or death;
Whereas the medical costs associated with caring for a baby
suffering from shaken baby syndrome often exceed $1,000,000
in the first few years of the life of the baby;
Whereas the most effective method for ending the occurrence
of shaken baby syndrome is to prevent the abuse which causes
it;
Whereas educational and prevention programs regarding
shaken baby syndrome may prevent enormous medical costs and
unquantifiable grief at minimal cost;
Whereas programs to prevent shaken baby syndrome have been
shown to raise awareness and provide critically important
information about shaken baby syndrome to parents,
caregivers, day care workers, child protection employees, law
enforcement personnel, health care professionals, and legal
representatives;
Whereas programs and techniques to prevent child abuse and
shaken baby syndrome are supported by the Shaken Baby
Alliance, Children's Defense Fund, National Children's
Alliance, American Humane Association, Prevent Child Abuse
America, National Exchange Club Foundation, Child Welfare
League of America, National Association of Children's
Hospitals and Related Institutions, Center for Child
Protection and Family Support, Inc., American Academy of
Pediatrics, and American Medical Association; and
Whereas increased awareness of shaken baby syndrome and of
the techniques to prevent it would help end the abuse that
causes shaken baby syndrome: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) strongly supports efforts to protect children from
abuse and neglect; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States to educate
themselves regarding shaken baby syndrome and the techniques
to prevent it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts).
General Leave
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H. Con. Res. 59, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House
Concurrent Resolution 59, legislation introduced by the gentleman from
California (Mr. McKeon), my esteemed colleague. This resolution
expresses the sense of Congress regarding the prevention of shaken baby
syndrome. Shaken baby syndrome is a medical term used to describe the
violent shaking and resulting injury sustained from shaking a young
child. Often there are no external signs of injury to a baby or young
child's body, but there is injury inside, particularly in the head or
behind the eyes. The term was first discussed in medical literature in
1972, but knowledge about the syndrome continues to develop today.
Shaken baby syndrome can occur when children are violently shaken,
either as part of a pattern of abuse, or simply because an adult or
young caretaker has momentarily succumbed to the challenges of
responding to a crying baby. Violent shaking is especially dangerous to
infants and young children because their neck muscles are
underdeveloped, and their brain tissue is exceptionally fragile. Their
small size further adds to the risk of injury. Vigorous shaking
repeatedly pitches the brain in different directions.
Shaken baby syndrome can have disastrous consequences for the victim,
the family, and society in total. If the child survives the syndrome,
medical bills can be enormous. The victim may require lifelong care for
injuries such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy. The child may
even require institutionalization or other types of long-term care.
Madam Speaker, this resolution expresses Congress' support to protect
children from abuse and neglect. I encourage all Members to support
this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support
of this resolution, a very important resolution which seeks to protect
the most innocent among us, children; children who are a few days to 5
years old. These children often need protection from parents and
caregivers who shake their babies beyond control. Shaken baby syndrome
is caused by vigorous shaking of an infant or young child by the arms,
legs, chest or shoulders. Forceful shaking will result in brain damage,
leading to mental retardation, speech and learning disabilities,
paralysis, seizures, hearing loss and even deafness. It may cause
bleeding around the brain and eyes, resulting in blindness.
An estimated 50,000 cases of shaken baby syndrome occur each year.
One shaken baby in four dies as a result of this abuse. Some studies
estimate that 15 percent of children's deaths are due to battering or
shaking. The average victim is 6 to 8 months old.
Madam Speaker, we ask ourselves why babies are being shaken, and how
can this resolution help. Crying is the most common trigger for shaking
a baby. The normal crying infant spends 2 to 3 hours each day crying.
Crying becomes particularly problematic during the 6-week to 4-month
age bracket, an age period that coincides with the peak incidence of
shaken baby syndrome.
{time} 1445
The shaking of the infant is often repeated because the infant stops
crying but only because the infant has been injured by the shaking.
Shaking often occurs when a frustrated caregiver loses control with an
inconsolable crying baby. Parents and caregivers must be made aware of
how to deal with a crying infant and that shaking an infant is abusive
and criminal. By making Americans more aware of shaken baby syndrome,
we can save more of America's children. I urge my colleagues to support
this resolution and help save the babies.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).
Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor of this
legislation. This bill expresses the sense that Congress strongly
supports shaken
[[Page H1363]]
baby syndrome prevention and urges all Americans to educate themselves
about shaken baby syndrome and the techniques to prevent it.
First I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton),
the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, for his assistance
in bringing this bill to the floor and the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Platts) for managing the bill on the floor. I would also like to
thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority whip, for his
cosponsorship and his dedication to child advocacy. Also supporting
this cause are the Shaken Baby Alliance, the Childrens Defense Fund,
the National Childrens Alliance as well as many other children and
family organizations.
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 hemorrhages and a broken right femur. All of this and
he was only 5 months old. While James survived this tragic period, he
unfortunately has experienced periodic seizures up to 1 year after the
abuse. James is still currently under the continual care of a pediatric
neurologist and an ophthalmologist. The Edson family will not know
about learning disabilities or behavioral problems until he enters a
more structured environment such as kindergarten or the first grade.
Madam Speaker, many other children are not as lucky as James. Each
day, more than three children in the United States die from abuse and
neglect. Furthermore, over 3,000 babies under the age of 1 are
diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome annually while thousands more are
misdiagnosed or go completely undetected. Madam Speaker, it saddens me
that this situation even exists. However, I am hopeful with this
resolution, Congress can increase the knowledge of and ultimately
prevent this dreadful occurrence.
Therefore, I urge all my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 59.
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority whip.
Mr. DeLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution
which demonstrates the importance of National Shaken Baby Syndrome
Awareness Week. I also want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
McKeon) for bringing this issue to the House's attention during the
month that President Bush has proclaimed as National Child Abuse
Prevention Month and also thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Platts) for bringing it to the floor. It is my hope that the facts and
consequences of abuse will create a national consensus that underscores
the importance of prevention.
This issue requires that we answer several fundamental questions.
First, what do we know about children who are abused? Second, who are
the abusers? Third, what do we know about the way abuse hurts children
and its attendant costs to society? And, finally, what have we learned
about preventing child abuse?
Let us begin with abused children. The years before a child's 5th
birthday are the most dangerous age for children in the United States.
That is because more than three-quarters of the children who die from
abuse are preschoolers. We know that the leading cause of death among
infants is head trauma. It most often happens when abusers violently
shake a baby.
Now, let us talk about the perpetrators. Nearly 9 out of every 10
perpetrators are parents. Sadly, the most dangerous place for a child
to be is in a home with parents or those entrusted with their care when
those people intend to abuse children.
Next, we need to consider how abuse impacts children and ponder the
associated costs to society. The victims of child abuse suffer in many
ways. Some die. Other kids suffer brain damage. Many are haunted
through life by a familiar pattern of debilitating injuries. For the
young victims of shaken baby syndrome, approximately 15 to 30 percent
die while the rest of these children suffer from disabilities that last
their whole lives. Of the few SBS victims who escape without physical
injuries, many are destined to suffer more abuse from the people who
care for them. We find a consistent pattern of symptoms among abused
children: school failure, feelings of worthlessness, and the aggressive
behavior that too often culminates in criminal activity.
It is estimated that each child abuse case costs society $2,500
initially. And that expense only covers the short-term costs of abuse,
including the initial investigation and the short-term placement of the
child in a safe home. All told, this costs $3 billion every year. When
a child is hospitalized or placed in foster care, the costs soar
higher.
Finally, let us talk about our ability to prevent child abuse. We
know that it is very difficult to prevent very young children from
being abused by their parents. Half of the children killed by abusers
are from families who have never been investigated. Even among cases
that are under active investigation, abused children are left at risk
in dangerous homes. An unpopular body of evidence warns us that every
abusive family cannot be sufficiently changed to protect every child.
But that does not mean that we ought to abandon the goal of protecting
every child. Prevention is worth the risk. It is worth it even if some
programs fail. Prevention is worth it because we may still be able to
save additional lives through education, counseling, and home visits by
specially trained nurses.
Preventing child abuse is a pro-life policy. Some programs do cut
child abuse rates. These programs should be supported across our
society by Federal, State and local governments as well as private and
faith-based organizations. Only by combining our prayers and efforts
will we protect every possible young life. That goal is worthy of our
full commitment.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I reiterate my strong support
for this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
As the parent of two young children, I especially commend and
appreciate the efforts of the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon)
for introducing this important resolution and for his efforts to bring
it to the floor to raise the awareness of the public of the need to
protect our children.
Most of the time, shaken baby syndrome occurs because a parent or
caretaker is frustrated or angry with the child. Other times children
become victims when a parent or caretaker, not realizing how seriously
this behavior can harm, throws a child into the air vigorously or plays
too roughly or hits an infant too hard on the back. Anyone who takes
care of a baby or small child, parents, older siblings, baby-sitters,
child care professionals, grandparents and others, should be reminded
to never shake babies or small children. There are organizations in
each of our communities that can provide help to parents whose patience
has been strained by the burden of caring for an infant who cries
continually or who might need more help with parenting or coping
skills.
I want to add my words of thanks to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.
Burton), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scarborough), the gentleman
from California (Mr. Waxman), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis), the committee and subcommittee chairmen, and ranking members
for working expeditiously to bring this important resolution to the
floor. I urge all Members to lend their support to this resolution
which seeks to protect our Nation's most precious resource and our
Nation's most innocent citizens, our children.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res.
59, which expresses the sense of Congress that a National Shaken Baby
Syndrome Awareness Week should be established.
As a cosponsor of this resolution, I want to bring attention to a
problem that is often overlooked: Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). This
issue was brought to my attention by one of my constituents, Janet
Goree of Clearwater, Florida, whose granddaughter Kimberlin lost her
life as a result of SBS. While nothing can be done for Kimberlin, it is
my sincere hope that bringing the public's attention to this important
issue will prevent further tragedies.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a serious acquired traumatic brain
injury caused by ``shaking'' a child in order to stop them from
[[Page H1364]]
crying. SBS frequently occurs in children less than one year of age,
although there have been documented cases of SBS in children as old as
five years of age.
Madam Speaker, most individuals with experience dealing with small
children can relate to the frustration of not knowing how to meet the
needs of a consistently crying child. However, it is important that
everyone understands that infants cannot and should never be shaken as
a remedy to stop them from crying.
The typical causes of SBS is an adult holding a child by the arms or
trunk and shaking him or her back and forth with a repeated force. When
a child is shaken, delicate veins between the brain and skull are
ruptured and begin to bleed. Naturally, the pooling of blood between
the skull and the dura--a fibrous membrane that lies next to the
brain--causes the formation of subdural hematomas, which produces
pressure that, along with the natural swelling of the bruised brain,
causes damage to brain cells. Once brain cells are damaged, they can
never be regenerated or replaced.
The swelling and pressure associated with SBS also causes the brain
to push and squeeze down on the brainstem, which controls vital
functions such as breathing and heartbeat. If the swelling and pressure
are not alleviated, vital functions will cease and the child will die.
Previous studies have suggested that 15-30% of the children die, and it
is estimated that only 15% escape SBS without any type of permanent
damage.
Medications may be administered to reduce the swelling and surgical
methods may be used to relieve pressure on the brain, but an ounce of
prevention is always worth a pound of cure. Parents, child care
workers, and anyone who deals with small children should remember that
much less force is required to cause significant damage to a child's
brain than an adult's. Although no scientific studies have documented
the exact amount of force needed to cause SBS in humans, most medical
professionals recognize that shaking is often so violent that any
reasonable person would know it to be dangerous to a child.
I am pleased that individuals such as Janet Goree are taking action
to educate the public about the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The
Shaken Baby Alliance maintains a database of victim families willing to
offer support, as well as provides volunteers to run an electronic mail
support group for families as well as professionals. Information on the
Alliance can be found on their website at www.shakenbaby.com.
On Saturday, April 28, the Shaken Baby Alliance is sponsoring a
candlelight vigil on the West Front steps of the Capitol to remember
the lives of those children lost to SBS and shine a light on this
problem so that future tragedies can be prevented.
Madam Speaker, Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of child abuse. Like
any other form of abuse against children, it cannot be tolerated. I
hope that my colleagues will support H. Con. Res. 59, and join us in
efforts to educate the public about SBS, reminding our constituents to
``never, never, never shake a baby.''
Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
59, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as
amended, was agreed to.
The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read:
``Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the
prevention of shaken baby syndrome.''
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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