[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 497--DESIGNATING THE THIRD WEEK OF APRIL 2010 AS 
            ``NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lieberman, and 
Mr. Bayh) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 497

       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 
     reports that 772,000 children were victims of abuse and 
     neglect in the United States in 2008, causing unspeakable 
     pain and suffering for our most vulnerable citizens;
       Whereas approximately 95,000 of those children were younger 
     than 1 year old;
       Whereas more than 4 children die each day in the United 
     States as a result of abuse or neglect;
       Whereas children younger than 1 year old accounted for over 
     40 percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2008, 
     and children younger than 4 years old accounted for nearly 80 
     percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2008;
       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 medical professionals believe that thousands of 
     additional cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and other forms of 
     abusive head trauma are being misdiagnosed or left 
     undetected;
       Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent and 
     irreparable brain damage or death of the infant and may 
     result in extraordinary costs for medical care during 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 
     avert 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 injured or killed by shaking, whose mission is 
     to educate the general public and professionals about Shaken 
     Baby Syndrome and to increase support for victims and their 
     families within the health care and criminal justice systems;
       Whereas 20 States have enacted legislation related to 
     preventing and increasing awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
       Whereas the Senate has designated the third week of April 
     as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'' each year 
     since 2005; 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 2010 as ``National 
     Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week'';
       (2) commends hospitals, childcare 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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