[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ENHANCING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND 
                                NEGLECT

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further action on S. Res. 299, 
and the Senate now proceed to its 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. 299) recognizing, and supporting 
     efforts to enhance the public awareness of the social problem 
     of child abuse and neglect.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. NICKLES. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table en 
bloc, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 299) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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.

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