[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 54 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMEMORATING APRIL AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

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                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 11, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the importance of 
April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I have always 
believed that our children are our nation's greatest strength and 
resource.
  National Child Abuse Prevention Month is remembered as a time to 
reflect and renew our shared dedication and responsibility to protect 
every child in our country, no matter their social or economic 
background.
  As elected officials, 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.
  There is no crime greater that an individual can commit than the 
crimes of child abuse, in all of its forms.
  The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) established the 
first federal child protection legislation, and was signed into law by 
President Nixon on January 31, 1974.
  This marked the new precedent for the national response to child 
abuse and neglect.
  Then in 1983, President Reagan proclaimed the month of April as 
National Child Abuse Prevention month.
  In 1989, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect awarded nine 
grants to assist in developing and implementing community-based 
prevention strategies, in furtherance of that cause.
  In addition, these grants assisted in developing a coordinated 
multidisciplinary training program for professionals and community 
leaders to improve public awareness campaigns, and implement crisis 
intervention programs.
  In 1996, under the Clinton Administration's emphasis on collaboration 
and integration among child and family serving systems, a new grants 
program called the Community-Based Family Resource and Support (CBFRS), 
was created.
  These grants reflected the belief that public and private child abuse 
prevention and treatment programs must work together toward common 
goals.
  In 2005, there was a renewed commitment to make child abuse 
prevention a national priority.
  As a result, the Children's Bureau focused on making safe children 
and healthy families a new priority, a theme that was also adopted by 
the National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect.
  Mr. Speaker, children were not forgotten during the great debate over 
the Patient Protection Affordability Care Act, which included key 
provisions that created the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home 
Visiting Program.
  Thus far during my time in Congress, I have continually proposed 
amendments aimed to assist families and children across the nation.
  My amendment to HR 3700, which was passed in this chamber, directed 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of 
Labor to work together to produce an annual report on inter-agency 
strategies.
  These strategies would strengthen family economic empowerment by 
linking housing with essential supportive services, such as employment 
counseling and training, financial growth, childcare, transportation, 
meals, youth recreational activities and other responsive services.
  Once again, I thank my colleagues in the House for their efforts in 
protecting the children of this nation.
  Mr. Speaker, this important month serves to remind each and every one 
of us, that as Americans we have a solemn responsibility to educate, 
feed, and protect our children at all costs.

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