[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 35 (Friday, March 22, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING SOCIAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 132, and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 132) recognizing the social problem 
     of child abuse and neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance 
     public awareness of it.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and the preamble be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table; and that any statements relating thereto be printed in 
the Record.
  The resolution (S. Res. 132) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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.

                          ____________________