[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2316-H2319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE SOCIAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND 
     SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 113) recognizing the social problem of child abuse 
and neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance public awareness of the 
problem, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 113

       Whereas approximately 3,000,000 reports of suspected or 
     known child abuse and neglect involving 5,000,000 American 
     children are made to child protective service agencies each 
     year;
       Whereas 556,000 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 1,200 children, 85 
     percent of whom are under the age of 6 years and 44 percent 
     of whom are under the age of 1 year, lose their lives as a 
     direct result of abuse and neglect every year in the United 
     States;
       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 2, 2003, 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 House of Representatives that--
       (A) all Americans should keep the victims of child abuse 
     and neglect in their thoughts and prayers;
       (B) all Americans should seek to break the cycle of child 
     abuse and neglect and to give these victimized children hope 
     for the future; and
       (C) the faith community, nonprofit organizations, and 
     volunteers across the United States should recommit 
     themselves and mobilize their resources to assist these 
     abused and neglected children; and
       (2) the House of Representatives--
       (A) supports the goals and ideals of the ``Day of Hope'', 
     which was initiated by Childhelp USA; and
       (B) commends Childhelp USA for all of its efforts on behalf 
     of abused and neglected children throughout the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 113.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 113 offered 
by my colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
  House Resolution 113 recognizes the social problem of child abuse and 
neglect and supports efforts to enhance public awareness of child 
maltreatment. The resolution is timely and appropriate, as next week 
begins National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  Every year, approximately 3 million reports of possible child abuse 
and neglect are made to child protective services. According to the 
most recent report, it is estimated that 63 percent of

[[Page H2317]]

victims suffered neglect, 19 percent were physically abused, and 10 
percent were sexually abused in the year of 2000. Unfortunately, Mr. 
Speaker, 1,200 children died in that same year due to child 
maltreatment.
  Child abuse and neglect have tragic social repercussions. Human and 
economic costs related to crime and delinquency, drug and alcohol 
abuse, domestic violence, and welfare dependency affect all citizens; 
and all citizens should seek to break this cycle and give victimized 
children hope for a brighter future.
  This resolution also commends Child Help USA for its efforts on 
behalf of abused and neglected children throughout the United States. 
Child Help USA is one of the Nation's oldest and largest nonprofit 
organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse 
and neglect.
  Mr. Speaker, their mission is to meet the physical, emotional, 
educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children.
  Child Help USA has also created a National Day of Hope to be observed 
on April 2, 2003, to focus public awareness on child maltreatment.

                              {time}  1030

  National Day of Hope is a time for all Americans to remember the 
young victims of abuse and neglect by keeping them in their thoughts 
and prayers and encouraging community involvement to ensure that all 
appropriate resources are available to assist the abused and neglected 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is important and timely in that it draws 
attention to the need for more public awareness of the problem of child 
abuse and neglect and supports the goals and ideals of the National Day 
of Hope.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for 
bringing this resolution forward and urge my colleagues to vote in 
support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 113, 
recognizing the social problems of child abuse and neglect and to bring 
attention to this issue. I also want to commend the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for introducing such a timely and important 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, today we call attention to the important fact that in 
the year 2000 about 879,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect 
in this country. Of this number, approximately 1,200 children died of 
abuse or neglect, and 44 percent of those children were under the age 
of 1 year. It is indeed a disturbing thought that an adult would want 
to hurt an innocent, helpless child; yet it still occurs daily in our 
country.
  By the United States Congress taking a moment to bring this issue to 
the floor, we are not only acknowledging that there is a problem, but 
expressing a concern to help a child in need. I am pleased to report 
that in the past 7 years, the State of Illinois, my State, has seen a 
significant drop in its number of abuse cases. There was a 39 percent 
decrease in the number of cases of children that were victims of sexual 
abuse, as well as a 45 percent decrease in child abuse and neglect 
cases.
  However, there is always the correlation between the state of the 
economy and violence. As the economy worsens and the number of 
unemployed rises, it is likely that we will see the number of crimes 
also increase. We will see the level of frustration increase. We will 
see an increase in the number of individuals who will take out their 
anger and frustration on whoever and whatever is closest to them. 
Oftentimes, these are innocent children.
  We must ensure that crimes towards one's child are prevented as much 
as crimes towards one's neighbor. The National Institute of Justice 
reported that maltreatment in childhood increases the likelihood of 
arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent and as an adult by 38 percent. 
Therefore, we need to intervene today and every day to keep our 
children safe and protected before we severely pay for it tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, I again commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Hayworth) for this thoughtful and timely legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), the distinguished author of this 
legislation.
  (Mr. HAYWORTH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, let me also, at the outset, begin with a 
personal note: how pleased I am to have my neighbor from Nevada here 
managing this legislation on the floor of the House, the first such 
opportunity he has had. I predict he will have many more opportunities 
to serve his home State of Nevada and this Nation with great 
distinction.
  Let me also take time at the outset to thank my friend, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Davis), on the other side of the aisle for his 
support of this resolution, House Resolution 113, a resolution that 
recognizes the scope of child abuse and neglect and declares support 
for efforts to raise public awareness of this tragic problem.
  Mr. Speaker, in many ways this House Chamber becomes America's town 
hall. We are able to focus the collective attention of our Nation on 
vital concerns of the day. While war rages around the globe, while our 
men and women in harm's way are doing their best to liberate another 
nation, it is worth noting that here at home we have serious problems; 
and, indeed, these problems extend to the youngest among us.
  Mr. Speaker, homicide is the only major cause of childhood death that 
has increased over the last 30 years. Think about that for just a 
minute. In the last 3 decades, while we have made such tremendous 
strides against childhood disease, a cause of death so brutal as the 
premeditated taking of another's life continues to be on the rise among 
our youngest. Mr. Speaker, the tragic fact is, murders of children 5 
years old and younger are most often committed by family members 
through beatings or suffocation.
  While we welcome the strides my friend, the gentleman from Illinois, 
talked about in his home State, Mr. Speaker, I am compelled to come to 
the floor and talk about the challenges my home State of Arizona 
confronts. An average of 89 reports of alleged child abuse and neglect 
are made to Arizona's Child Protective Services each day. Of the over 
17,000 reports of alleged maltreatment received from April 1 of 2002 to 
September 30 of that same year, 60 percent alleged neglect, 32 percent 
physical abuse, 6 percent sexual abuse, and 2 percent emotional abuse.
  My friend, the gentleman from Illinois, touched on it earlier; but it 
bears repeating: sadly, parents who abuse all too often raise children 
who become abusers when they become parents. Maltreated children are at 
a higher risk of arrest at a younger age, with more significant and 
repeated criminal involvement. They can be expected to commit nearly 
twice as many crimes as children raised in a healthier environment.
  We come to this floor today to recognize this social ill, but to go 
beyond that, not only to draw the scrutiny of our Nation, Mr. Speaker, 
to this problem, not only to talk about the width and breadth of the 
challenge we confront, that approximately 3 million cases of suspected 
or known child abuse and neglect involving 5 million American children 
are made each year, but also the sobering speculation and belief among 
many who study this problem that the actual incidence of abuse and 
neglect is estimated to be three times greater than the number actually 
reported to authorities. Mr. Speaker, we move beyond mere statistics to 
the very real human equation of the desperation confronted by the 
youngest among us.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses the sense of 
Congress that all Americans should keep victims of child abuse and 
neglect in their thoughts and prayers and urges the faith community, 
nonprofit organizations, and individual volunteers to recommit and 
mobilize their resources to assist the victims.
  Mr. Speaker, we might also make a personal appeal to those parents 
who, for reasons of rage or helplessness or, sadly, convenience, reach 
out almost

[[Page H2318]]

reflexively to strike a child. Mr. Speaker, in this place at this time 
we would ask those parents and those adults to stop and think. Indeed, 
Mr. Speaker, this resolution urges Americans to seek to break the cycle 
of child abuse and neglect and to give these victimized children hope 
for the future.
  As was noted earlier, the upcoming month of April is distinguished as 
Child Abuse Prevention Month. The nonprofit organization Childhelp USA, 
which I am honored by the fact that it is headquartered in the Fifth 
Congressional District of Arizona, has initiated the National Day of 
Hope to focus public awareness of child abuse and neglect. As my 
colleagues mentioned earlier, this year National Day of Hope is 
scheduled for Wednesday, April 2.
  This resolution also commends Childhelp USA for its efforts on behalf 
of children and its embracing of the goals of the National Day of Hope.
  Lost among all the platitudes about children representing our future 
is this stunning fact that we cannot ignore: millions of American 
children are abused and neglected each year. This brutal behavior is so 
devastating that not only those children, but also our society, are 
victimized.
  The challenge we confront demands the attention and compassionate 
action of every American. That is why I would urge Members' support for 
this resolution today.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I first would like to extend my 
commendation to the sponsor of this resolution, my good friend, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), who also happens to be the co-
chair of our Congressional Native American Caucus. I am very moved by 
the leadership and the initiative that this gentleman has taken to 
bring this resolution to the floor for consideration by the Members of 
this Chamber.
  I also would like to thank my good friend, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis), as co-manager of this legislation, and the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for his management of this proposed 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 113 to 
recognize the social problems of child abuse and neglect and support 
efforts to enhance public awareness of the problem. Currently, much of 
the world is focused on the current global events, and as a Nation we 
support our troops overseas and pray for their safe return home.
  I would also like to express my gratitude to our Committee on Armed 
Services for their diligence and bravery, as well as to their family 
members who continue to remain stalwart in support of them.
  Mr. Speaker, as we continue to keep abreast of these global events, 
we must also remember that we have a generation of children who need 
our support and our protection. Each year, child protective service 
agencies receive approximately 3 million reports of suspected or known 
child abuse and neglect. Many of these children are removed from their 
unsafe home conditions and placed in foster care; tragically, some die 
as a result of abuse and neglect.
  Mr. Speaker, our children require our assistance. They need us to 
defend their right to provide safe havens for them to grow and 
flourish. There has been a recognition for the need to get out into the 
public and educate families regarding parenting skills aimed at 
rehabilitating the family and preventing out-of-home placement of 
children.
  We have seen a struggle between old, traditional views of 
childrearing and modern society's views. As a society, it has been 
important for us to recognize that child abuse and neglect occurs in 
our community and that we as a collective unit are charged with 
preventing such abuses. We cannot continue to ignore the problems our 
children face. Now is the time for us to act to stand up for our 
children's rights, to report abuse that we see take place, and to get 
involved.
  With all the trials and tribulations that life holds, we owe it to 
our children to provide them a safe environment while they are young, 
one where they have the opportunity to grow, to learn, and to live 
without fear. We can achieve this goal by supporting this resolution 
and calling on all Americans to participate in breaking the cycle of 
child abuse and neglect and to give these victimized children hope for 
the future.
  Again, I am always impressed by the eloquence of my good friend, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), and I thank him for his 
initiative and efforts to bring this resolution to the floor. I ask my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I will just make two observances in closing. One is to follow up on 
the comments of Mr. Faleomavaega, that there is a tremendous need for 
parenting classes and parenting help, for many of our young parents, 
especially, who have children but not much opportunity to really know 
about parenting. That is one of the needs that exists and one of the 
program areas that we need to pay serious attention to.

                              {time}  1045

  The other is, people often ask me, are these kind of resolutions of 
any value? Do they make any sense?
  I thought of a story that I heard the other day that a man was 
walking along the beach, and he saw a silver fish, and he picked it up 
and threw it in the water. Another fellow walking behind him says, I 
hate to bother you, he said, but can you tell me what you are doing? He 
said, well, I am throwing the silver fish back into the water. He said, 
I do not know why you are doing that. There are so many of them you 
could never throw them all in, and even if you did all of them in this 
particular area, there are beaches all over the world, and so you are 
kind of wasting your time. Do you really think it will make a 
difference?
  The man never answered. He just reached down, threw another fish into 
the water. Of course, when the fish fall into the water, they oxidate 
and continue to live, and he said it made a difference to that one, 
picked up another one, made a difference to that one.
  If we only make a difference in the life of one child with this 
resolution, we have made a difference to that one.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this resolution and thank my colleague from Arizona for introducing it.
  The problem of child abuse and neglect is one of the great social 
ills of our society and must be a major focus of our nation. The 
statistics are staggering. More than three children die each day as a 
result of abuse in the home, with 85% of the victims under the age of 
six. Approximately three million child abuse reports are made each 
year, and it is estimated that the actual incidence of abuse and 
neglect is estimated to be three times that of the number reported to 
authorities.
  We all know that the federal government is limited in our ability to 
combat this problem. It takes the individuals on the front lines in 
child protective services, law enforcement, and the volunteer community 
to break the cycle of abuse and neglect, ensuring that the most fragile 
and innocent among us are protected. We are fortunate that such 
individuals and organizations exist among us.
  In my home county of Fairfax, we are fortunate to have the Childhelp 
USA Children's Center of Virginia working to combat abuse. Last week, 
they entered into an agreement with the Fairfax County Police 
Department, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Fairfax/Falls 
Church Community Services Board, Office of the Commonwealth Attorney, 
Inova Fairfax Hospital for children, and Hispanics Against Child Abuse 
and Neglect to better integrate our efforts to prevent and respond to 
child abuse and neglect in Fairfax County. I commend this partnership 
for their commitment and for their efforts.
  We can never appropriately thank or recognize the individuals and 
organizations that make up this network for the services, compassion, 
and hope that they provide to children all across our great nation. We 
can, however, ensure that we work with them and help to provide the 
necessary resources to ensure that all children have the ability to 
hope, dream, and achieve their full potential. Together we can break 
the cycle of abuse that threatens the future of so many of our nation's 
children.
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Arizona 
for bringing this critical issue to the floor of the House, and I join 
him in calling for a Day of Hope during Child Abuse Month. Thank you 
for your commitment and dedication to addressing this issue that 
impacts over 5 million children in the United States.

[[Page H2319]]

  It is also my hope that this will be a year of action by this 
Congress in working to strengthen our nation's response to child abuse 
and foster care.
  Sadly, as is the case on the Mainland, child abuse and neglect are 
very serious and urgent problems in Puerto Rico. The twin evils of 
poverty and substance abuse have combined to conspire against our 
children and have placed too many of them at risk for abuse and 
neglect. In 2002, the Commonwealth received around 30,000 complaints of 
abuse and neglect and nearly 10,000 children went through our foster 
care system,
  Governor Calderon has made this issue a top priority, and, with an 
additional investment of $12 million in Commonwealth funds, and no 
additional support from the federal government, doubled the number of 
social workers in the Family Department, lowered caseloads to 31, and 
practically eliminated the backlog of complaints. A pilot program to 
reduce investigation time to less than 48 hours was implemented 
successfully and is being expanded, and a new inter-agency, multi-
service transitional housing center for foster children was 
inaugurated. We know this is not enough, but we think it is an 
excellent start, and the Commonwealth will be more aggressive in 
reaching out and partnering with the community based and church 
affiliated organizations on the island in order to succeed.
  In fact, some of the residential services offered to our foster 
children are being provided by a variety of community and faith based 
organizations throughout the Island, such as ``Ave Maria,'' in Bayamon, 
which is run by priests and shelters children from infancy to five 
years, and ``Aldea Juvenil,'' in San Lorenzo, a specialized facility 
for boys with behavioral problems that is run by a local pastor.
  Mr. Speaker, as you may know, on the mainland a child in need of 
foster care is entitled to federal/state assistance for foster care 
through the Title IV-E program. However, because of statutory 
restrictions, children in Puerto Rico do not have that same guaranteed 
access. Our children get care, but once the limit of federal support is 
reached, it is the Commonwealth alone providing the resources. Even 
when the Commonwealth has earned a performance bonus for its good work, 
if it means the so-called cap is exceeded, the Commonwealth is denied 
the bonus. Just last year a $200,000 adoption bonus payment was denied 
because of limitations on Title IV-E funds--a restriction that children 
on the mainland do not have to worry about.
  This resolution calls on us to give children hope for the future.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join with me this 
year in working to see that Puerto Rico's abused and neglected children 
are provided the same access to federal assistance during the darkest 
times of their lives--without the imposition of arbitrary limits that 
bear no relationship to their actual needs.
  If we are able to accomplish this goal, it will get one more positive 
step in making sure no child living under the laws of our land be left 
behind.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Arizona for 
bringing this important issue to the floor of this House and I join 
with him in urging the resolution's adoption.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today the House considered H. 
Res. 113, a resolution that recognizes the scope of child abuse and 
neglect and declares support for efforts to raise public awareness of 
this tragic problem. I wholeheartedly support H. Res. 113 for several 
reasons. Approximately 3 million cases of suspected or known child 
abuse and neglect involving 5 million American children occur each 
year. The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be 3 
times greater than then number reported to authorities. This social 
problem results in human and economic costs due to its relationship to 
crime, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and 
welfare dependency.
  As a child growing up in Indiana, I personally experienced the 
horrors of child abuse in my own family. Children in abusive homes have 
very few options to improve their situations. I believe that the public 
needs to be better educated about the effects of abuse. It is important 
that children living in abusive homes know that there are people and 
organizations available to help them. Children shouldn't have to live 
in fear of abuse. The law should be there to protect them, and when it 
doesn't we should take steps to ensure their safety.
  H. Res. 113 recognizes the need for better public awareness of the 
tragedy of child abuse. I urge my colleagues to continue to promote 
awareness of this tragic problem.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
113 offered by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. 
Hayworth. House Resolution 113 recognizes the social problem of child 
abuse and neglect and supports the goals and ideals of the National Day 
of Hope. I am pleased to have the opportunity today to speak on behalf 
of it.
  This resolution addresses an issue that, unfortunately, plagues many 
of our districts. Each year approximately 3 million reports of possible 
child abuse and neglect are made to child welfare agencies. As a 
result, about 556,000 children are unable to live safely with their 
families at home and are placed in foster care.
  Child abuse and neglect is a social problem that affects all 
Americans. The results of such abuse and neglect have great human and 
economic costs and are related to crime and delinquency, drug and 
alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and welfare dependency. Therefore, 
all Americans should strive to break the cycle of child abuse and 
neglect to give victimized children hope for the future.
  Childhelp USA is one of the Nation's oldest and largest nonprofit 
organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse 
and neglect. As part of their efforts to bring attention to this issue, 
Childhelp USA has initiated a National Day of Hope to be observed on 
April 2, 2003. A day that is appropriate and timely as April is 
designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  This day of hope is a reminder to all Americans that they should keep 
the victims of child maltreatment in their thoughts and prayers, and it 
encourages community efforts to mobilize resources to assist abused and 
neglected children.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is very simple and straightforward. It 
rightly recognizes the need for more public awareness of the problem of 
child maltreatment and supports the goals and ideals of the National 
Day of Hope.
  I commend the gentleman from Arizona for his leadership on this 
matter and urge my colleagues to vote in support of the resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I applaud all the speakers this morning. We 
have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Otter). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 113, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________