[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 299--RECOGNIZING, AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE 
 THE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF, THE SOCIAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mr. DeWine, Ms. Murkowski, 
Mr. Akaka, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Dorgan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 299

       Whereas each year in the United States approximately 
     3,000,000 reports of suspected or known child abuse and 
     neglect, involving 5,000,000 children, are made to child 
     protective service agencies;
       Whereas 588,000 children are unable to live safely with 
     their families and are placed in foster homes and 
     institutions;
       Whereas it is estimated that every year in the United 
     States more than 1,200 children, 85 percent of whom are under 
     the age of 6 years, of whom 44 percent are under the age of 1 
     year, lose their lives as a direct result of abuse and 
     neglect;
       Whereas this tragic social problem results in human and 
     economic costs through 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 7, 2004, during Child Abuse 
     Prevention Month, to focus public awareness on child abuse 
     and neglect: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate 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 victimized 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 abused and neglected 
     children; and
       (2) the Senate--
       (A) supports the goals and ideas of the Day of Hope, which 
     will be observed on April 7, 2004, as part of Child Abuse 
     Prevention Month; and
       (B) commends the individuals working on behalf of abused 
     and neglected children throughout the United States.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am submitting a resolution 
declaring Wednesday, April 7, 2004, 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 colleagues Senators Specter, DeWine, Murkowski, 
Inhofe, Allen, Dorgan, and Akaka who are original cosponsors of the 
resolution.
  This resolution is similar to one I submitted last year, S. Res. 52, 
which passed the Senate by unanimous consent on March 26, 2004. It 
expresses the sense of Congress that we must break the cycle of child 
abuse and neglect by mobilizing all our resources including the faith 
community, non-profit organizations and volunteers.
  The resolution also recognizes Childhelp USA, one of our oldest 
national organizations dedicated to meeting the needs of abused and 
neglected children. Childhelp and many other non-profits or faith-based 
organizations nationwide are performing a vital service to these 
children that they would not have otherwise, and they are to be 
commended for their efforts.
  More than 3 million children are reported as suspected victims of 
child abuse and neglect each year. That is 3 million children too many. 
And, it is estimated that more than 1,200 children lose their lives as 
a direct result of abuse and neglect every year. That is not 
acceptable. We must do something to change these disturbing statistics.
  I know first-hand the importance of having help when it is needed. 
The National Day of Hope Resolution calls on each of us to renew our 
duty and responsibility to the vulnerable children and families caught 
in the cycle of child abuse and neglect.
  While we are encouraged by the efforts of many organizations 
nationwide, more needs to be done. That is why we urge our colleagues 
to act quickly on this resolution so we can move another step closer to 
erasing the horror of child abuse from our nation's history.

                          ____________________