[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 63 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 518.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 518) designating the third week of 
     April 2008, as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness 
     Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table and that there be no intervening action or debate, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 518) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 518

       Whereas the month of April has been designated ``National 
     Child Abuse Prevention Month'' as an annual tradition 
     initiated in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter;
       Whereas the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System 
     figures reveal that more than 900,000 children were victims 
     of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2006, causing 
     unspeakable pain and suffering for our most vulnerable 
     citizens;
       Whereas more than 4 children die as a result of abuse or 
     neglect in the United States each day;
       Whereas children younger than 1 year old accounted for 
     approximately 44 percent of all child abuse and neglect 
     fatalities in 2006, and children younger than 3 years old 
     accounted for approximately 78 percent of all child abuse and 
     neglect fatalities in 2006;
       Whereas abusive head trauma, including the trauma known as 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome, is recognized as the leading cause of 
     death among physically abused children;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision, 
     brain damage, paralysis, seizures, or death;
       Whereas 20 States have enacted statutes related to 
     preventing and increasing awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
       Whereas medical professionals believe that thousands of 
     additional cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and other forms of 
     abusive head trauma are being misdiagnosed or are undetected;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, 
     irreparable brain damage or death of an infant and may result 
     in extraordinary costs for medical care in only the first few 
     years of the life of the child;
       Whereas the most effective solution for preventing 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 to protect their children from injury can 
     significantly reduce the number of cases of Shaken Baby 
     Syndrome;
       Whereas education programs raise awareness and provide 
     critically important information about Shaken Baby Syndrome 
     to parents, caregivers, childcare providers, child protection 
     employees, law enforcement personnel, health care 
     professionals, and legal representatives;
       Whereas National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week and 
     efforts to prevent child abuse, including Shaken Baby 
     Syndrome, are supported by groups across the United States, 
     including groups formed by parents and relatives of children 
     who have been killed or injured by shaking, 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 the Senate previously designated the third week of 
     April 2007 as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness 
     Week''; and
       Whereas the Senate 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 2008 as ``National 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'';
       (2) commends hospitals, child care councils, schools, 
     community groups, and other organizations that are--
       (A) working to increase awareness of the danger of shaking 
     young children;
       (B) educating parents and caregivers on how they can help 
     protect children from injuries caused by abusive shaking; and
       (C) helping families cope effectively with the challenges 
     of child-rearing and other stresses in their lives; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to remember the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome; and
       (B) to participate in educational programs to help prevent 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome.

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