[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 60 (Friday, May 4, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E732-E733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORT OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH AND THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S 
                           MEMORIAL FLAG DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 3, 2001

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise my 
colleagues that every day in the United States, three children die from 
physical abuse or chronic neglect. Additionally, I remind my fellow 
House Members that ten children die each day as a result of firearm 
use. It is important for us to remember the lives of children lost due 
to physical abuse, and to commemorate those youth who have died as a 
result of violence. As a mother, the issue of child abuse and neglect 
evokes strong and negative emotions within me. My maternal instincts 
and my sworn duty as a Member of the House dictate that I wage a 
vigorous fight to protect our society's most vulnerable segment, our 
children.
  Unfortunately, child abuse has many faces. Mistreatment occurs in a 
variety of ways such as physical, emotional, sexual abuse or by 
neglect. In 1997, almost 300,000 children in the United States were 
subjected to abuse, and over half a million more were found by child 
protective services to be neglected. Unreported cases of maltreatment 
are estimated to be as high as three million a year. Abusive behavior 
threatens and imperils entire families. An alarming and startling 
statistic is that in approximately 60 to 75 percent of families in 
which a woman is battered, the children are also battered. The effects 
of abuse reverberate throughout the lives of victims. Studies indicate 
that abused children are 53 percent more likely to be arrested as a 
juvenile offender and are 38 percent more likely to commit a violent 
crime. Furthermore, children who are abused or neglected are far more 
likely to abuse their own children later in life.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's issues, I am 
committed to combating this pervasive and horrific problem in order to 
protect the lives of children and strengthen

[[Page E733]]

women and families. Mr. Speaker, that is why it is crucial for there to 
be safe havens for children. Ideally our communities, schools and homes 
should be places of refuge for them. Today, more and more of our 
children are victims of abuse, and far too many children live in fear; 
a fear that is compounded by the prospect of violence occurring in 
their own classroom and homes.
  Mr. Speaker, violence is learned behavior. Our children witness 
aggressive behavior, anger, and hatred to others as a matter of routine 
and often to a parent as a matter of course. Is there any wonder then, 
why children demonstrate anti-social behavior that they learn from 
those closest to them when they commit violent acts? For this reason, 
it is important to learn the signs and patterns that lead to violent 
behavior and address them before lives are lost. I am saddened and 
appalled by the extent of youth violence that has proliferated into an 
epidemic. The consequences of abuse are now being equated with the 
impact of war. The fact of the matter is, violence and neglect are more 
devastating than polio, AIDS, or motor vehicle crashes. The problem of 
violence in the United States is especially acute because we have the 
highest youth homicide and suicide rates among the 26 wealthiest 
nations. I am committed to protecting the lives of our children by: 
Introducing H.R. 233, the ``Child Safety-Lock Act''--meaningful gun 
control legislation designed to limit children's access to firearms; 
encouraging collaboration and coordination among education, mental 
health, social service, and juvenile justice agencies; creating 
legislation that will re-establish and strengthen the mandate of 
juvenile judges to use discretion and creativity in sentencing children 
and adolescents; and by supporting any legislation that brings us 
closer to an end to youth violence and protects the interests of our 
children.
  Violence of any kind weakens families and especially hurts our 
children. Regardless of its form, youth violence and violence against 
children must be stopped. Tragically, children die as we contemplate 
recommendations. We must act quickly and responsibly to reestablish 
safe havens in our communities. Our children and our nation deserve 
nothing less.

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