[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S3395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 439--DESIGNATING THE THIRD WEEK OF APRIL 2006 AS 
            ``NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. 
Clinton, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
Durbin, and Mr. Coleman) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 439

       Whereas the month of April has been designated ``National 
     Child Abuse Prevention Month'' as an annual tradition that 
     was initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter;
       Whereas the most recent National Child Abuse and Neglect 
     Data System figures reveal that almost 900,000 children were 
     victims of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2002, 
     causing unspeakable pain and suffering to our most vulnerable 
     citizens;
       Whereas among the children who are victims of abuse and 
     neglect, nearly 4 children die in the United States each day;
       Whereas children aged 1 year or younger accounted for 41.2 
     percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2002, 
     and children aged 4 years or younger accounted for 76.1 
     percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2002;
       Whereas abusive head trauma, including the trauma known as 
     ``Shaken Baby Syndrome'', is recognized as the leading cause 
     of death of physically abused children;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision, 
     brain damage, paralysis, seizures, or death;
       Whereas a 2003 report in the Journal of the American 
     Medical Association estimated that, in the United States, an 
     average of 300 children will die each year, and 600 to 1,200 
     more will be injured, of whom \2/3\ will be babies or infants 
     under 1 year in age, as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome, 
     with many cases resulting in severe and permanent 
     disabilities;
       Whereas medical professionals believe that thousands of 
     additional cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are being 
     misdiagnosed or are not detected;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, 
     irreparable brain damage or death to an infant and may result 
     in more than $1,000,000 in medical costs to care for a 
     single, disabled child in just the first few years of life;
       Whereas the most effective solution for ending Shaken Baby 
     Syndrome is to prevent the abuse, and it is clear that the 
     minimal costs of education and prevention programs may 
     prevent enormous medical and disability costs and 
     immeasurable amounts of grief for many families;
       Whereas prevention programs have demonstrated that 
     educating new parents about the danger of shaking young 
     children and how they can help protect their child from 
     injury can bring about a significant reduction in the number 
     of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
       Whereas education programs have been shown to raise 
     awareness and provide critically important information about 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents, caregivers, daycare workers, 
     child protection employees, law enforcement personnel, health 
     care professionals, and legal representatives;
       Whereas efforts to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome are 
     supported by advocacy groups across the United States that 
     were formed by parents and relatives of children who have 
     been killed or injured by shaking, including the National 
     Shaken Baby Coalition, the Shaken Baby Association, the 
     Shaking Kills: Instead Parents Please Educate and Remember 
     Initiative (commonly known as the ``SKIPPER Initiative''), 
     the Shaken Baby Alliance, Shaken Baby Prevention, Inc., A 
     Voice for Gabbi, Don't Shake Jake, and the Kierra Harrison 
     Foundation, whose mission is to educate the general public 
     and professionals about Shaken Baby Syndrome and to increase 
     support for victims and the families of the victims in the 
     health care and criminal justice systems;
       Whereas child abuse prevention programs and ``National 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'' are supported by the 
     National Shaken Baby Coalition, the National Center on Shaken 
     Baby Syndrome, the Children's Defense Fund, the American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, the Child Welfare League of America, 
     Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Child Abuse 
     Coalition, the National Exchange Club Foundation, the 
     American Humane Association, the American Professional 
     Society on the Abuse of Children, the Arc of the United 
     States, the Association of University Centers on 
     Disabilities, Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Family 
     Partnership, Family Voices, National Alliance of Children's 
     Trust and Prevention Funds, United Cerebral Palsy, the 
     National Association of Children's Hospitals and related 
     institutions, Never Shake a Baby Arizona, Prevent Child Abuse 
     Arizona, the Center for Child Protection and Family Support, 
     and many other organizations;
       Whereas a 2000 survey by Prevent Child Abuse America shows 
     that approximately half of all citizens of the United States 
     believe that, of all the public health issues facing the 
     United States, child abuse and neglect is the most important 
     issue;
       Whereas Congress previously designated the third week of 
     April 2001 as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week 
     2001''; and
       Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect 
     children from abuse and neglect: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the third week of April 2006 as ``National 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'';
       (2) commends those hospitals, child care councils, schools, 
     and other organizations that are--
       (A) working to increase awareness of the danger of shaking 
     young children; and
       (B) educating parents and caregivers on how they can help 
     protect children from injuries caused by abusive shaking; and
       (3) encourages the citizens of the United States to--
       (A) remember the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome; and
       (B) participate in educational programs to help prevent 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome.

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