[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK

  On April 3, 2001, the Senate amended and passed S. Res. 55, as 
follows:

                               S. Res. 55

       Whereas the month of April has been designated National 
     Child Abuse Prevention Month as an annual tradition initiated 
     in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter;
       Whereas the most recent Government figures show that almost 
     1,000,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 1998, 
     causing unspeakable pain and suffering to our most vulnerable 
     citizens;
       Whereas among the children who are victims of abuse and 
     neglect, more than 3 children die each day in this country;
       Whereas the rate of child fatalities resulting from child 
     abuse and neglect in 1998 for children aged 1 and younger 
     accounted for 40 percent of the fatalities, and for children 
     aged 5 and younger accounted for 77.5 percent of the 
     fatalities;
       Whereas head trauma is the leading cause of death of abused 
     children, including the trauma known as Shaken Baby Syndrome;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome is a totally preventable form 
     of child abuse, caused by a caregiver losing control and 
     shaking a baby that is usually less than 1 year of age;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision, 
     brain damage, paralysis, seizures, or death;
       Whereas an estimated 3,000 children are diagnosed with 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome every year, with thousands more 
     misdiagnosed and undetected;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, 
     irreparable brain damage or death to an infant, and more than 
     $1,000,000 in medical costs to care for a single, disabled 
     child in just the first few years of life;
       Whereas the most effective solution for ending Shaken Baby 
     Syndrome is to prevent such abuse, and it is clear that the 
     minimal costs of education and prevention programs may 
     prevent enormous medical and disability costs and untold 
     grief for many families;
       Whereas prevention programs 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 prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome is supported by 
     groups such as the Shaken Baby Alliance, an organization 
     which began with 3 mothers of children who had been diagnosed 
     with Shaken Baby Syndrome, and whose mission is to educate 
     the general public and professionals about Shaken Baby 
     Syndrome and to increase support for victims and victim 
     families in the health care and criminal justice systems;
       Whereas child abuse prevention programs and ``National 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'' are supported by the 
     Shaken Baby Alliance, Children's Defense Fund, American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Child 
     Welfare League of America, Prevent Child Abuse America, Brain 
     Injury Association, National Child Abuse Coalition, National 
     Exchange Club Foundation, American Humane Association, Center 
     for Child Protection and Family Support, Inc., National 
     Association Of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, 
     and many other organizations including the National 
     Basketball Association, which is sponsoring a series of ``NBA 
     Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Night 2001'' events to 
     generate public awareness about the issue of child abuse and 
     neglect during National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2001;
       Whereas a year 2000 survey by Prevent Child Abuse America 
     shows that \1/2\ of all Americans believe child abuse and 
     neglect is the most important issue facing this country 
     compared to other public health issues; and
       Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect 
     children from abuse and neglect: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the third week of April, as ``National 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'' for the year 2001 and 
     all future years; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation urging 
     the people of the United States to remember the victims of 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome and participate in educational programs 
     to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

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