[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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