[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6274]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

  (Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remind the House that 
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  The most recent data compiled by the National Committee to Prevent 
Child Abuse shows now that more than 3 million cases of child abuse and 
neglect are reported annually. That number is shocking considering that 
child abuse is preventable.
  Research shows substance abuse and the lack of parenting skills to be 
the main causes. We can respond by ensuring that alcohol and drug 
treatment programs and parenting classes are funded and accessible.
  Of course, our strongest weapons are knowledge, awareness and 
compassion. Every responsible adult can help by learning more about the 
problem, by supporting parents and children at risk in their 
communities, and by reporting incidents of abuse.
  A group of my constituents in Grand Island, Nebraska, has again this 
year made blue ribbons available to us to acknowledge Child Abuse 
Prevention Month. It is a small symbol of our commitment to fighting 
and ending the problem, and I hope all of my colleagues will wear 
theirs proudly.

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