[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S7596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SENATE RESOLUTION 132--RECOGNIZING THE SOCIAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE 
 AND NEGLECT, AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF IT

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. 
Lincoln, Mr. Warner, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Akaka, Ms. 
Landrieu, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
Lott, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Domenici, and Mr. Miller) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 132

       Whereas more than 3,000,000 American children are reported 
     as suspected victims of child abuse and neglect annually;
       Whereas more than 500,000 American children are unable to 
     live safely with their families and are placed in foster 
     homes and institutions;
       Whereas it is estimated that more than 1,000 children, 78 
     percent under the age of 5 and 38 percent under the age of 1, 
     lose their lives as a direct result of abuse and neglect 
     every year in America;
       Whereas this tragic social problem results in human and 
     economic costs due to its relationship to crime and 
     delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and 
     welfare dependency; and
       Whereas Childhelp USA has initiated a ``Day of Hope'' to be 
     observed on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, during Child Abuse 
     Prevention Month, to focus public awareness on this social 
     ill: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) all Americans should keep these victimized children in 
     their thoughts and prayers;
       (B) all Americans should seek to break this cycle of abuse 
     and neglect and to give these children hope for the future; 
     and
       (C) the faith community, nonprofit organizations, and 
     volunteers across America should recommit themselves and 
     mobilize their resources to assist these children; and
       (2) the Senate--
       (A) supports the goals and ideas of the ``Day of Hope''; 
     and
       (B) commends Childhelp USA for its efforts on behalf of 
     abused and neglected children everywhere.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing a Senate 
resolution declaring April 3, 2002, as a National Day of Hope dedicated 
to remembering the victims of child abuse and neglect and recognizing 
Childhelp USA for initiating such a day. I am pleased to be joined in 
this effort by my friend Senator Herb Kohl and 18 of our colleagues who 
are interested in enhancing public awareness of child abuse and 
neglect.
  For far too long, our Nation has been almost silent about the needs 
of some of its most vulnerable families and children--those caught in 
the vicious cycle of child abuse. I believe we must bring all elements 
of society together to address this problem--the faith community, non-
profit organizations and volunteers, as well as government--if our 
efforts are to be successful.
  Though I am encouraged by the statistics that show a continuing 
decline in the number of children who are maltreated, I believe we must 
do more to make sure that all children live in safe and loving homes.
  I urge my colleagues to act quickly on this resolution so we can move 
closer to erasing the horror of child abuse from our Nation's history.

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