[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 58 (Monday, April 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2241-H2243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATION OF APRIL 2008 AS NATIONAL CHILD
ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1097) expressing support for the designation of
the month of April 2008, as National Child Abuse Prevention Month to
provide attention to the tragic circumstances that face some of our
Nation's children on a daily basis and to underscore our commitment to
preventing child abuse and neglect so that all children can live in
safety and security, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1097
Whereas in 2006, an estimated 905,000 children were
determined to be victims of abuse or neglect out of an
estimated 6,100,000 children referred for investigations and
assessments;
Whereas the number of children who received an
investigation or assessment by Child Protective Services
increased by 333,000 from 2002 to 2006;
Whereas in 2006, an estimated 1,530 children died
tragically as a result of abuse or neglect;
Whereas some of the most vulnerable children in our Nation
are the most likely to be maltreated, with the youngest
suffering the highest rate of victimization and children with
disabilities also experiencing a high risk of maltreatment;
Whereas 91,278 of the victims of abuse and neglect had not
yet reached their first birthday, with more than 84 percent
being less than a month old;
Whereas children who are abused or neglected are at higher
risk in adulthood for health problems such as alcoholism,
depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide,
and certain chronic diseases;
Whereas a National Institute of Justice study indicated
abuse or neglect during childhood increased the likelihood of
arrest as a juvenile by 59 percent and adult criminal
behavior by 28 percent;
Whereas it is estimated that approximately one-third of
abused and neglected children grow up to victimize their own
children;
Whereas 25 percent of children maltreated in 2006 had prior
history of victimization.
Whereas child abuse and neglect can have long-term economic
and societal costs;
Whereas community-based services to overburdened families
are far less costly than the emotional and physical damage
inflicted on children or the costs of child protective
services, law enforcement, courts, foster care, health care,
and the treatment of adults recovering from child abuse;
Whereas the annual estimated cost to the United States for
not preventing child abuse and neglect is approximately
$104,000,000,000, according to a 2008 report by Prevent Child
Abuse America;
Whereas child protection agencies are unable to provide
important follow-up services such as counseling or case
management to 40 percent of the abused and neglected children
on their caseloads; and
Whereas it is appropriate to designate the month of April
2008, as National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
(1) expresses support for the designation of National Child
Abuse Prevention Month;
(2) should increase public awareness of child abuse and
neglect prevention and should continue to work with the
States to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect;
and
(3) should recognize that child abuse and neglect
prevention programs reduce child maltreatment, strengthen
families, reduce mental illness, deter criminal behavior, and
contribute to children's positive emotional, academic,
social, and cognitive development.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms.
Foxx) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may insert materials relevant to H. Res. 1097 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WOOLSEY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, a child's safety should never be put in
jeopardy. That's why I rise in support of H. Res. 1097, authored by
Congressman Courtney from Connecticut.
H. Res. 1097 is a bill to designate this month as National Child
Abuse Prevention Month. We need to shine a light on the tragic
circumstances, Mr. Speaker, that face some of our Nation's children on
a daily basis. As people across the country recognize this month as
National Child Abuse Prevention Month and promote awareness activities
in order to reduce the cases of child maltreatment, this resolution
moves us one step closer to securing the safety and well-being of all
children.
The latest data shows us that in the year 2006, approximately 1,530
children died, died in the United States of America, due to
maltreatment, and an additional 905,000 children were victims of abuse
and neglect. Even more disturbing, Mr. Speaker, is that our most
vulnerable children are at greatest risk. Approximately 90,000 victims
of child abuse and neglect in the year 2000 were less than 1 year old.
More than 84 percent of those child abuse victims were less than 1
month old.
These facts are appalling. We must work together to bring attention
to this important issue and begin to
[[Page H2242]]
strengthen our families and our communities and to keep our children
safe. We need to emphasize the need for more prevention programs
because prevention works by reducing risk factors, by promoting
protective factors and by fostering a commitment for social change.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Courtney for introducing
this important bill. It is my hope and it is my goal that all of my
colleagues will join me in supporting H. Res. 1097 so that together we
can reduce child abuse and neglect by increasing public awareness.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1097,
expressing support for the designation of the month of April, 2008, as
National Child Abuse Prevention Month to bring attention to the tragic
circumstances that face some of our Nation's children on a daily basis
and to underscore our commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect
so that all children can live in safety and security.
Child abuse comes in many forms, physical abuse, neglect, sexual
abuse and emotional abuse. Too often, these forms of abuse are found in
combination with one another. Approximately 905,000 children were found
to be victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006. Nearly 80 percent of
the perpetrators were parents of the victims.
Last year, it was estimated that the total annual cost of child abuse
in the United States was nearly $104 billion. This represents more than
$33 billion in direct costs of child maltreatment, including judicial,
foster care, law enforcement and health system responses and $70
billion in indirect costs including long-term economic effects.
Each of us can make a difference in the prevention of child abuse by
understanding the causes of child abuse, by learning to identify the
warning signs that a child is being abused, by reporting any known or
suspected case of child abuse, by being a friend to a child or a parent
in need and by alerting others to the problem.
I want to thank the folks in Wilkes County who invited me to attend a
vigil at Our House in Wilkes County which provides services to abused
children there. Every year, the staff and volunteers of Our House hold
a vigil to raise awareness of this terrible problem in our area of the
country. I know that other counties in the Fifth District of North
Carolina, which I represent, also have worked to raise awareness. I
want to particularly commend them for doing it.
In 1974, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was first
enacted to create a focal point in the Federal Government to identify
and address issues of child abuse and neglect and to support effective
methods of prevention and treatment. Through this act, States receive
grants to help with their child protective service functions, improve
investigation and prosecution of child maltreatment and to assist
community-based family resource and support services.
Today, we recognize that child abuse and neglect are preventable
through the efforts of schools, neighbors, families and the community.
Child Abuse Prevention Month provides us all with an opportunity to
work together to keep children safe and to provide the support that
families need to stay together and raise children and youth to be
happy, secure and stable adults.
In 1983, April was first proclaimed as National Child Abuse
Prevention Month. Since that time, every April, child abuse and neglect
awareness activities are promoted across the country. That is why I
stand in support of this resolution, and I ask for my colleagues'
support.
I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he
may consume to the author of this great resolution, Mr. Courtney from
Connecticut, and a member of the committee.
Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congresswoman Woolsey for
her leadership by managing this resolution this afternoon and for
Congresswoman Foxx's strong support that she just articulated very
powerfully.
As Congresswomen Woolsey and Foxx stated, the statistics that the
resolution lays forth clearly show the grave seriousness of this
problem of child abuse all across America. In addition, though, just to
the horrible trauma to the victims of child abuse, which by itself
would be reason to fight this problem, society pays a huge price due to
the high incidence of alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating
disorders, and criminal behavior that has been clearly shown to occur
in the later lives of too many children who were abused and neglected.
Recent statistics, for example, show that 14 percent of all men in
prison in the United States were abused as children and 36 percent of
women in prison were abused as children. And it is easy sometimes to
get very discouraged about the numbers that just seem to suggest a
problem that is growing almost out of control. In Connecticut, the
State where I come from, for example, in between 1990 and 2003, the
incidence of reported child abuse actually doubled. But I would suggest
that perhaps we should look at those numbers in a different fashion,
because what is also happening out there is that as a country, we are
prepared, as never before in the past, to confront this issue. Mandated
reporting laws now require that doctors, mental health providers and
professionals in all arrays of professions that deal with families and
children are now required by law to report incidents of abuse which in
the past would have been swept under the rug. And that is one of the
reasons why the number of cases are going up.
In addition, I think we should also be encouraged by a smarter and
more effective approach that is being developed to fight child abuse,
the multidisciplinary teams that are pulling together police, social
workers, prosecutors, health care providers, nurse practitioners and
doctors who are now systematically working together to make sure,
number one, that complaints are dealt with accurately, but also that
victims are diagnosed, treated and interviewed in an organized fashion
so that there is more effective prosecution of cases.
If it seems as though I may be a little bit passionate about this
issue, it is because my wife, Audrey, has been a pediatric nurse
practitioner for 18 years in Connecticut, has worked at Saint Francis
Hospital at Hartford and Windham Hospital as part of the
multidisciplinary team, again, that is employing the best techniques
possible to make sure that complaints are handled intelligently,
swiftly and also in a comprehensive fashion so that prosecutions are
not lost or neglected due to the fact that we don't have systems in
place to make sure that the cases are handled in an effective manner.
This resolution, I think, adds to both of those positive trends by
putting the spotlight on this issue to make sure that we, as a country,
are prepared to confront the issue, to talk about it openly, to talk
about the numbers that are out there and the terrible consequences that
we face as a society when we don't deal with the issue.
So hopefully this year, like prior years, as Congresswoman Foxx
indicated, April will act as a month where awareness will continue to
grow, that we are going to continue to, as a society, deal with this
issue honestly and frankly so that, A, we will protect our children who
are our most valuable national treasure, and, B, that we will have
systems that are prepared to effectively prosecute and punish
perpetrators, and finally, that we are going to treat and care for
people who have been abused in such a terrible fashion, because it
helps not only them, but it helps American society.
So again, I applaud Congresswoman Woolsey for bringing this measure
out on the floor this afternoon and I urge unanimous passage when it
comes up for a vote later this evening.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of
this resolution, and I also thank Congresswoman Foxx for her support in
all of these bills that have come before us this afternoon.
It is so important that together on both sides of the aisle and that
we understand the urgency of the resolution like Congressman Courtney's
resolution today.
[[Page H2243]]
Child abuse should be something we talk about and think about every
day, every minute, every second. There should never be a time when we
don't worry about the little children in our country and in our world
and what adults do to them.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution
to make sure we bring it to the attention of those around the country,
not just this month, but every month following.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H.R. 1097, ``Expressing support for the designation of the month of
April 2008, as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, to provide
attention to the tragic circumstances that face some of our Nation's
children on a daily basis and to underscore our commitment to
preventing child abuse and neglect so that all children can live in
safety and security.'' I would like to thank my distinguished
colleague, Joe Courtney of Connecticut, for introducing this important
piece of legislation.
There is no greater crime that an individual can commit to a child
than the crime of child molestation and child abuse. The perpetrators
of this crime rob children of their innocence. Moreover, victims of
child molestation are profoundly affected for the rest of their lives.
As parents, elected officials and concerned citizens, we have an
obligation to condemn this violence, work for stronger enforcement of
the law and provide adequate funding for programs to assist children
who may have experienced such abuse.
The problem of violence against children and sexual exploitation of
children has been highlighted by recent events involving brutal acts of
violence against children. Some recent incidents you may remember
include: (1) the abduction, rape and killing of 9 year old Jessica
Lunford (who was buried alive); (2) the slaying of 13 year old Sarah
Lunde, both of whom were killed in Florida by career criminals and sex
offenders. In Philadelphia, four defendants were charged with the
stabbing and killing of a 15 year old girl, who they then threw into
the Schuykill River. All of these tragic events have underscored the
continuing epidemic of violence against children. Children who are
abused or neglected are at higher risk in adulthood for health problems
such as alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity,
suicide, and certain chronic diseases
Sadly, sexual abuse is often committed by a family member.
Approximately 91,000 of the victims of abuse and neglect had not yet
reached their first birthday, with more than 84 percent being less than
a month old. Incest is the most common form of child sexual abuse. It
is often perpetrated by adults that have been entrusted with caring for
a child--a family friend, babysitter, a teacher, day care worker, or
even religious leaders. At least one out of five adult women and one
out of ten adult men report having been sexually abused as children. In
Texas, there were more than 111,000 investigations of child abuse and
neglect by the Child Protective Services in Texas. Of those cases,
7,650 were sexual abuse.
In addition, the sexual victimization of children is overwhelming in
magnitude and largely unrecognized and underreported. Statistics show
that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys are sexually exploited before they
reach adulthood, yet less than 35 percent of the incidents are reported
to authorities. This problem is exacerbated by the number of children
who are solicited online--according to the Department of Justice I in 5
children (10 to 17 years old) receive unwanted sexual solicitations
online.
It is estimated that approximately one-third of abused and neglected
children grow up to victimize their own children. Child abuse and
neglect can have long-term economic and societal costs. Community-based
services to overburdened families are far less costly than the
emotional and physical damage inflicted on children or the costs of
child protective services, law enforcement, courts, foster care, health
care, and the treatment of adults recovering from child abuse. The
annual estimated cost to the United States for not preventing child
abuse and neglect is approximately $104 billion according to a 2008
report by Prevent Child Abuse America.
It will take more than just stronger enforcement of the law to
prevent child molestation and other forms of abuse against children. To
end this serious abuse of children, all segments of the community such
as parents, educators, religious leaders, and community leaders must
create a nurturing environment for children where they know that they
are loved and deserve to be protected from violence and sexual abuse
and feel comfortable in reporting.
Local law enforcement receives increased flexibility in how it
invests grants for child abuse victims, specifically by providing
access to criminal conviction records by child protective and child
welfare workers. This would enable workers to determine if troubled
children are victims of abuse. State law enforcement would also have
access to court child custody, visitation, protection, guardianships
and stay away orders. Police could use this information to establish
the validity of urgent complaints concerning children who may have been
kidnapped by an abusive ex-spouse.
I express my support for the designation of National Child Abuse
Prevention Month. I believe we should increase public awareness of
child abuse and neglect prevention and should continue to work to
reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect. We should recognize
that child abuse and neglect prevention programs reduce child
maltreatment, strengthen families, reduce mental illness, deter
criminal behavior, and contribute to children's positive emotional,
academic, social, and cognitive development.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1097, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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