[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5201-5206]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



ENCOURAGING GOVERNMENTS TO DISSEMINATE STATISTICS ON ABANDONED NEWBORN 
                                 BABIES

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 465) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that local, State, and Federal governments should 
collect and disseminate statistics on the number of newborn babies 
abandoned in public places.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 465

       Whereas April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which 
     provides Congress the opportunity to focus attention and 
     raise awareness of the problem of newborn babies abandoned in 
     public places;
       Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services reports 
     that, in 1998, 31,000 babies were delivered and abandoned in 
     hospitals by mothers;
       Whereas an unknown number of newborn babies are abandoned 
     in dumpsters, trash bins, alleys, warehouses, and bathrooms;
       Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services 
     conducted an informal survey of major newspapers and found 
     that, in 1998, 105 babies were found abandoned in public 
     places in the United States, of which 33 were found dead, and 
     that, in 1991, 65 babies were abandoned, of which 8 were 
     found dead;
       Whereas national statistics on the number of infants 
     abandoned in public places are not kept, though States are 
     required to submit data to the Department of Health and Human 
     Services on the number of children who enter foster care as a 
     result of abandonment in general;
       Whereas Texas is the only State to have enacted a law 
     designed to address this social problem, though 24 other 
     states are considering such legislation, including Alabama, 
     California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, 
     Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North 
     Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Connecticut, 
     Oregon, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Michigan, and 
     New Mexico; and
       Whereas there are innovative model programs in Houston, 
     Mobile, Minneapolis, and Syracuse that protect mothers who 
     take newborns to hospitals or some other safe haven rather 
     than dumping them in a trash bin or leaving them on a 
     doorstep: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That local, State, and Federal statistics should 
     be kept on the number of babies abandoned in public places.

                              {time}  1130

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 465, focusing our attention on 
the thousands of infants who are abandoned in this country every year.
  In November of 1996, two college freshmen, Brian Peterson and his 
girlfriend, Amy Grossberg, were charged in the death of their newborn 
son, found wrapped in plastic at a Dumpster near a Newark, Delaware 
motel.
  In June of 1998, the body of a 6-pound baby boy was found in a trash 
can at a Smyrna, Delaware car wash. The parents were never found.
  Today, two Virginia teens are fighting extradition to Delaware where 
their baby girl was found abandoned on the floor of a portable lavatory 
on a housing construction site in Bear, Delaware.
  This is my State of Delaware alone, the size of each of our 435 
congressional districts by population.
  Recently, a writer sorted through 1,000 newspaper articles on infant 
murders between 1990 and 1999 and found 700 cases in which the mother 
killed her child. Of course, these were the cases where the murder was 
committed, the mother was found, and the story was reported in the 
newspaper.
  According to child welfare experts, States include infant abandonment 
with the abandonment of children of other ages in their records, so 
there are no specific figures on the number of newborns abandoned each 
year. Therefore, it is fitting that this resolution calls on 
localities, States, and the Federal Government to keep statistics on 
the number of infants abandoned in public places each year. With this 
data, we will have the ability to better assess the scope of this 
problem and then take steps to address it.
  In fact, after 13 infants were found abandoned in the Houston area, 
Texas became the first State to pass a law protecting parents who leave 
newborns in safe places. In fact, State Representative Geanie Morrison, 
from Victoria, Texas, who was the sponsor of this legislation breaking 
the ice on this subject, is here with us in the gallery.
  Many States, including my State of Delaware, are considering similar 
legislation designed to reduce the number of infant deaths.
  For more than a decade, April has been recognized as Child Abuse 
Prevention Month. During April, public and private agencies, community 
organizations, volunteers, and concerned citizens unite to highlight 
the problem of child abuse and to educate the public about how it can 
be prevented. Therefore, it is only fitting that the House of 
Representatives pass this resolution to focus the national attention on 
the problem of infant abandonment.
  I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded they should not make 
references to visitors in the gallery.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I am honored to be sponsoring this resolution with my colleague, 
the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).
  Mr. Speaker, today's resolution, H. Res. 465, recognizes the 
necessity to keep statistics on the number of newborn babies abandoned 
in public places. This is a horrible and, unfortunately, an increasing 
situation. We need additional data so that we can better assess this 
growing problem so that we can strengthen our efforts to reduce it and 
prevent it entirely.
  Too often, Mr. Speaker, we turn on the evening news or wake up to the 
morning papers to find out that yet another baby has been abandoned in 
an alley, on a park bench, or some other

[[Page 5202]]

 public place. Too often these babies are sick, injured, suffering from 
exposure, if indeed they are lucky enough to be alive at all.
  When the baby does live, communities are very generous. They respond 
with offers of help for the abandoned baby in the form of clothing and 
in the form of financial resources. Truly, it is a heart-warming 
response. While this generosity responds to the immediate problems of 
the newborn child, it absolutely does not respond to the cause of the 
problem.
  Mr. Speaker, our current data on the number of abandoned babies comes 
from newspaper accounts and other media reports. In order to truly 
understand this problem and improve our efforts to address it, we need 
to have all levels of government, local, State, and Federal keep 
statistics on the number of babies abandoned in public places. It is my 
hope that this resolution, H. Res. 465, will both encourage our Nation 
to collect this much-needed data and also invigorate our efforts to 
make the abandonment of babies a thing of the past.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Camp).
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I too want to commend Representative Morrison from the State of 
Texas for her leadership on this issue.
  We have read horrifying stories in the news about babies being 
abandoned at birth in public places. One child was found in a river, 
another in a garbage Dumpster. These are all sad, heartbreaking 
stories. But States and communities have been responding to this crisis 
both with new laws and new programs to ensure that these babies have a 
chance at life; programs that allow parents, with no questions asked, 
to deliver their children, their babies, to a hospital instead of 
hiding the baby away or leaving the child to die.
  What we lack is accurate data on how many babies are abandoned in 
public places. We have a pretty good handle on how many babies are left 
in hospitals. Almost 31,000 are abandoned in hospitals annually. But we 
can only guess at how many babies are abandoned in alleys or bathrooms 
or other public places. We think it is around 105, but we just do not 
know.
  This legislation today calls on government at every level to collect 
and publicize statistics in this area so we can respond with the right 
solution. One solution, a permanent and loving solution, is adoption. I 
and many Members of the Congress have continually worked on a 
bipartisan basis to make adoption easier.
  The Committee on Ways and Means, since 1994, has adopted a number of 
provisions, tax credits for adoption, ending discrimination in 
adoption, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which either says 
families should be reunited or a loving permanent family should be 
found to end languishing in foster care. We have a number of provisions 
to make a real choice for families.
  Stories of abandoned babies dying alone break everyone's heart, but 
it brings even more tears to the eyes of those couples in my hometown 
of Midland, Michigan or towns like Richmond, Virginia or Omaha, 
Nebraska families waiting and waiting to adopt a new baby.
  Let us get the data, let us work for a solution, and let us make sure 
not one baby is abandoned to die.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), who is and has been facing this problem in her 
home State by organizing a successful billboard campaign that is 
showing results, and she has introduced H. Res. 4222 here in the House 
so that she can take her efforts national.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) for yielding me this time, and I thank her for 
her leadership, as well as that of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. 
Castle).
  I am rising in support of this resolution in commemoration of Child 
Abuse Month. I think this is an important first step. What this does is 
it lays the ground work for us then to pass legislation, such as H.R. 
4222, that will require a reporting system so that this information can 
be calculated and give us the basis upon which we will be able to make 
the kind of legitimate laws that we should make.
  This is a serious issue, and let me congratulate and express my 
appreciation for the leadership our State Representative Morrison has 
taken in the State of Texas. But let me also say that when we pass 
legislation, there must be action behind legislation. I am very 
gratified for the action and community organization of my community in 
Houston, Texas.
  Let me share with my colleagues some of the horror that we 
experienced from December 1998 through 1999. We saw 13 babies abandoned 
over a 9-month period in greater Houston. It was this tragedy that 
caused me to gather individuals from Houston in my congressional office 
in the early spring of 1999. These members, Annette Emery, Regenia 
Hicks, Peter Durkin, Marianne Ehrlich, George Ford, Louella Steller, 
Dr. Christine Dobson, representing the Baylor College of Medicine, the 
Harris County Children's Protective Services, Planned Parenthood, and 
the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services came 
together to say that we must take the hard coldness of legislation and 
make it real.
  These individuals organized and determined what we should do to try 
to save the lives of babies. I am very proud of their work. Their work 
included not only their own efforts but included the help of the 
University of Houston, Texas Women's University, the City of Houston 
Health Department, Memorial Herman Hospital, Office of Dr. Janice 
Beale, Bayou City Medical Center, Healthy Family Initiatives, Texas 
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Harris County 
Children's Protective Services, Communities in Schools, Depelchin 
Children's Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Head Start 
Education Services, Houston Advocates for Mental Health in Children, 
and an entire community of individuals whose names I will further 
submit into the Record.
  We felt we must get the word out on the legislation in Texas that 
allowed individuals who felt themselves lonely, who felt themselves 
frustrated, who felt themselves fearful and were pregnant to come 
forward and to talk about what they could do. And so we had this 
campaign that shared the information in Spanish and English and other 
languages, with an 800 number, that said to those young people that 
were fearful and pregnant that they did not have to abandon their 
babies; that they can save lives.
  The legislation, H.R. 4222, which I have introduced, will help us 
further save lives because we will organize a Department of Justice 
task force to collect this data and to instruct us appropriately on how 
we, as a Federal Government, can help the States who are looking at 
legislation, along with the State of Texas that has passed legislation, 
to ensure that we save babies' lives.
  I can only say that this is momentum. Let us not let this momentum 
fall. Let us create not only the momentum but let us also create the 
spirit to save the lives of these babies before they are lost.
  I am sure my colleagues can understand how tragic it is for those who 
follow this and who have worked on this to find that one baby was 
discovered with ants on its face, that one baby was found in a 
Dumpster. One of the young women was a student in one of the high 
schools that I represent, a 15 year old, that was ultimately prosecuted 
in a criminal prosecution. I would imagine that if we had had the 
opportunity to provide her with some comfort, with an 800 number, with 
someplace to call, she would have been able to do something other than 
to lose that baby and to cause that baby a loss of life.
  Let me thank, Mr. Speaker, the following additional community groups: 
Metropolitan One Church, Eller Media Company, Planned Parenthood, 
Family Assistance Center, Covenant House, C.R.A.F.T.Y., which is 
Christian Reform Alliance for Today's Youth,

[[Page 5203]]

AAMA, AVANCE, Harris County Child Abuse Task Force, City of Houston 
Fire Department, New Generation Maternity Home, Lyndon Baines Johnson 
Hospital, Northwest Cypress United Methodist, Interfaith Ministries, 
Saleah, Inc., Justice for Children, Ultimate Care Rehabilitation and 
Wellness Center, Judge Berta Mejia, the New Generation Maternity Home, 
Texas Children's Hospital, Tilson Newborns, Victoria Waters, and Eller 
Media.
  Mr. Speaker, I am eager to indicate that these individuals have all 
been part of this effort because it is a community effort. And it is 
important that this resolution be noted as an instruction so that we 
can move forward to pass legislation to help the communities who are 
seeking to do something and to be on the map to save lives.
  I believe this is an important first step, and I look forward to 
moving collectively and in a bipartisan way.
  Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for this opportunity to speak on this 
important resolution that will help focus attention upon the growing 
problem of baby abandonments in this country.
  In recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, I feel that 
it is imperative that we raise awareness of this tragic situation.
  As a Chair and founder of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I have 
been active in the battle to end this growing tragedy.
  Just last week I spoke at a Luncheon by Childhelp along with 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize the ``Day of Hope.'' 
This day, like this resolution, was meant to recognize the plight of 
abused children everywhere.
  I am particularly aware of the abuse children are experiencing in our 
country because in my hometown of Houston, Texas, we have experienced a 
rash of newborns abandoned in public places.
  Thus, I supported the formation of the Baby Abandonment Task Force 
and the enactment of H.R. 3423 that is the first state law implemented 
to combat this problem.
  H.R. 3423, the Texas law, came into effect on September 1, 1999.
  The Texas law amends the Penal Code to allow this affirmative defense 
if the person abandoning the child voluntarily delivers the child to an 
emergency medical services provider as defined under the Texas Family 
Code.
  The Texas legislation further outlines the guidelines by which the 
EMT must provide for the abandoned child and indicated that the EMT 
must contact CPS within 24 hours. There is also a hotline in effect for 
desperate mothers to call.
  The Texas law took effect September 1, 1999. Since that time, 
according to the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory 
Services.
  This resolution, like my bill which I will be introducing this week 
recognizes that there is no comprehensive study in place to track the 
number of newborns abandoned across the nation.
  Although HHS conducted an informal study on newborns abandoned in 
1998, this study was only an estimate taken from newspaper reports. For 
FY 1998 there were 105 newborns abandoned in public places and 31,000 
in hospitals (boarder babies).
  Consequently, it is imperative that we have an accurate study in 
place to truly understand how to prevent this abandonments in the 
future.
  First, what people must understand when interpreting these statistics 
is that there is a difference between babies abandoned outside of a 
hospital and those babies delivered at the hospital, but left by the 
parent(s). The latter are called ``boarder babies.''
  According to HHS, from 1991 to 1998, ``boarder babies'' increased 
38%, to 13,400 from 9,700. Abandoned babies, those being treated but 
unlikely to go home with their biological parents--grew 46%, to 17,400 
in 1998 from 11,900 in 1991. From this limited study, we do know that 
about two thirds of these babies were exposed to drugs.
  All states are experiencing this problem of newborn abandonments.
  It started Dec. 23, 1998 when a baby boy was found in a hospital 
restroom. From then, the numbers catapulted. Five other babies were 
abandoned in the next two months. Between May and September of last 
year, seven more babies were dumped.
  In Indianapolis, at least 17 babies have been abandoned in Indiana 
since 1990, not counting those in hospitals and in Florida, just last 
month; a newborn was found outside a church in Volusia County and 
others in West Palm Beach and Tampa.
  Programs exist to address baby abandonment in the states of Alabama 
and Minnesota also. Laws are being debated in 14 other states 
including: Georgia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, 
Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, 
Oregon, Wisconsin and here in Washington, D.C.
  Anyone trying to address this problem would know that the problem 
lies in the absence of any official reporting mechanism for nationwide 
abandonment newborns.
  My proposed legislation will authorize a study to be conducted that 
would gather information from law enforcement agencies and social 
services agencies about the incidences of babies, defined as children 
newborn to age 1, that have been abandoned or discarded by any mother 
(teen or older).
  This information would be kept by the U.S. Department of Justice and 
the information would define the best approach the federal government 
can utilize to stop this abandonment of babies and save lives--save our 
precious children.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority whip of the House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my unqualified support for 
this resolution.
  Tales of babies being left to die in dumpsters and alleys are almost 
too horrifying to believe, but they are true. Steps must be taken to 
combat the crisis.
  The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 
30,000 babies are abandoned in hospitals by their mothers every year. 
This is troubling, but these babies are the lucky ones because they 
have a chance to live and are eventually adopted.
  Babies left in hospitals get the care they need during their first 
crucial hours and days. The little ones left in trash bins and on 
street corners do not often live past their first day. Today, there are 
no reliable statistics that accurately detail how many such tragedies 
occur.
  April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is a time when we all 
need to think more seriously about child abuse and neglect and consider 
new ways to combat it.

                              {time}  1145

  One essential tool is data. We must know how bad the problem is 
before we can stop it. This resolution simply states that this Congress 
holds that local, State, and Federal governments should chronicle 
statistics regarding abandonment of newborn babies.
  Mr. Speaker, we must do everything in our power to make the world 
more welcoming to newborn babies. We must do everything in our power to 
learn what circumstances precipitate the unthinkable acts that hurt and 
kill our children. And finally, as individuals, as communities and as 
legislators, we must do everything in our power to protect these 
vulnerable lives and afford them the opportunity to thrive in secure 
and permanent homes and to become productive members of our society.
  I applaud the efforts made thus far on this issue in Texas, including 
the work of my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), 
and State Representative Genie Morrison, who is here visiting the 
Capitol today.
  I just urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and 
other efforts to confront child abuse and abandonment.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy).
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of 
House Resolution 465.
  Several weeks ago in New York, I went to a funeral and it was a 
funeral of a baby that was abandoned; and it was probably one of the 
saddest events that I have had to participate in.
  When we think about these children being left in Dumpsters, garbage 
bags, we have to do everything that we possibly can to make sure this 
does not happen.
  In my State of New York, we have legislation right now that is 
looking to make sure that these women that are going to abandon their 
child can find a safe haven.

[[Page 5204]]

  I strongly support it certainly on the New York State level, and I 
would like to see it some day here on the Federal level. We should 
reach out to these women to make sure that we can save every single 
child that we can.
  So I stand in very strong support of House Resolution 465, and I 
encourage all my colleagues to support it also.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Foley).
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time, and I stand in strong support of the resolution as a cosponsor 
and as a concerned citizen for the depravity of leaving a child in a 
public place to die.
  It is sad when we wake up in the morning and read another instance 
where a mother or parent has decided to leave their child and walk away 
from their responsibility. So I hope we will consider this as a strong 
measure of trying to identify just how many times it is occurring.
  The Department of Health and Human Services conducted a survey in 
1998 and found 105 babies were found abandoned in public places in the 
United States, in which 33 were found dead. Sixty-five babies were 
abandoned in 1991, eight of which were found dead, which is not only 
alarming but it is frightening and sad that in a day and era when there 
are so many parents willing to adopt and in fact are going overseas to 
find children that these babies would be allowed to be placed in such 
an unsafe condition.
  But it also goes to the heart of another problem that we have to 
speak about, and that is unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, welfare 
dependencies. All of these are intertwined. We need to educate people 
about the consequences of unwanted and unplanned pregnancy.
  And, yes, I support Planned Parenthood because I think education is 
the only way we will stop some of these abuses and some of these 
problems. It is sad. Every life is precious. And I think both sides of 
the aisle agree, whether they are pro-choice or pro-life, that every 
life is viable and valuable and must be protected.
  This is a measure in which we can weigh how many are in fact being 
abandoned. But let us not just stop with the resolution. Let us start 
looking at education. Let us fundamentally change the way people look 
at children and childbearing and child raising. Let us make sure they 
recognize that responsibility.
  We all talk about laws and enactment of tougher penalties to get 
tough on criminals. Let us find a way to make certain those penalties 
include recognizing the responsibility every person bears, both male 
and female, when they conceive and bring a child into this world. And 
it does not just stop after the act of having fun. It means 9 months 
later they have to accept that responsibility.
  So I support this amendment and urge my colleagues its adoption.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I wanted to add to the comments made by my colleague 
from New York and my colleague from California and my colleague from 
Florida. Every life is special.
  I would hope that this is a day today that we catapult ourselves in a 
bipartisan manner to talk about children and hope. Just last week, we 
had a meeting with a group that emphasized hope for children.
  I want to say that we can do more litigation that is negative 
litigation, but we can do legislation that is positive. And so, I would 
hope that as we look to trying to be positive that we will have a 
bipartisan effort to support an action item, H.R. 4222, which answers 
some of the concerns that my colleagues have talked about, getting the 
numbers to come into the Federal Government on how babies are 
abandoned, not only by young people but the 20,000 babies that are 
abandoned in hospitals, what drives people to come to hospitals and 
walk away from their children, how do we make parents better parents, 
what kind of initiative should we have to do that, and what do we do 
when a teenager age 15 who comes from a different culture is pregnant 
and does not know where to turn.
  And so this legislation that I am looking forward to passing in the 
House will ask the questions of the prevalence of such incidents, the 
demographics of such children and their parents, the factors that 
influence the decision, and the circumstances of abandonment.
  My colleagues do not know the tears that we faced in the little girl 
that abandoned her baby in a high school dumpster. This is what we are 
facing. I believe that if we pass instructive legislation that will 
require these data to come into the Federal Government for us to assess 
that we will be able to make determinations that can collaborate with 
the efforts made by States.
  I join my colleagues in today standing up on behalf of children and 
saving their lives. Let us pass this resolution and further 
legislation.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Fowler).
  Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, which takes a sensible step toward finding a solution to a 
horrible problem.
  Recent high-profile cases of women and girls giving birth in hotel 
rooms without any support from their families or friends and then 
abandoning their babies in Dumpsters and public restrooms have made us 
all aware of the unfortunate reality of baby abandonment and 
infanticide.
  These horrific stories are not currently captured by national 
statistics. Only those instances where the mother abandons her baby in 
the hospital are kept in our records. The babies who are left elsewhere 
are forgotten in the statistics.
  This resolution would urge governments at all levels to keep track of 
those instances where babies are abandoned in public places. This 
resolution would also encourage State and local policymakers to seek 
solutions to these problems.
  Many States, including my home State of Florida, are currently 
contemplating such solutions. Ideas such as decriminalizing abandonment 
at certain safe havens such as fire stations can go a long way towards 
saving these children from possible death.
  As we go forward in celebrating Child Abuse Prevention Month, we 
should not forget those children who spend their first moments of life 
abandoned, neglected and abused. To that end, I urge my colleagues to 
support House Resolution 465.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gary Miller).
  Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
life-affirming resolution.
  When mothers abandon their own children, we have a problem in our 
society with how we value life. In California, and in the Los Angeles 
area specifically, the reports of abandoned babies have increased 
dramatically. This resolution will help us understand the full scope of 
the problem.
  In addition to gathering information on how prevalent this problem 
is, those of us in Washington need to take some concrete steps to make 
sure that the laws value life.
  We should support protection for mothers who take newborns to 
hospitals or some other safe haven rather than dumping them in a trash 
bin or leaving them on a doorstep. We should support the legislation of 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) and the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. DeMint) to encourage adoption; and Title 10 money should 
be used to value life by allowing for the women to be counseled on the 
option of adoption.
  We need to send a message loud and clear from this Chamber that life 
is valuable and that there are options beside abandoning a baby. Then 
we need to go home and instill respect for life in our families and in 
our communities.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to support life.

[[Page 5205]]


  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint).
  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day when we have to come to the 
floor of the House and acknowledge that the number of babies abandoned 
in public places is growing.
  While some 30,000 babies each year are born in hospitals and then 
abandoned by their mothers, there are many, many more born in public 
places and then abandoned. These nameless children born around this 
country are never given a chance at life and a loving home.
  It is a sad commentary on our society that we do not hold life as 
more precious, more dear than to leave little children alone to face 
the world. Some miraculously live. Many die.
  Not only do we need better reporting of the number of baby 
abandonments which take place throughout the Nation's alleys, trash 
cans and bathrooms; but we need to do something about the root of the 
problem.
  These women who leave their babies in different places feel they have 
no place to go, that there is no future for them or their child, that 
they cannot care for their child.
  Mr. Speaker, as has already been referenced, I have a bill pending 
before the House of Representatives, H.R. 2511, the Adoption Awareness 
Act, which would help these women learn of the loving alternatives of 
adoption.
  Adoption is a wonderful option because it brings a positive end to 
what could be difficult circumstances. The birth mother can place her 
child in a loving family. The child receives a warm and welcome home. 
An adoptive couple gets to wear one of the greatest titles in America, 
parent.
  If these women only knew that for every abandoned baby there is a 
couple eagerly awaiting to give that child a home, maybe they would 
choose adoption. If these women only knew that they could get help in 
defraying the cost of medical care, maybe they would choose to give 
birth in a medical facility and make an adoption plan. If these women 
only knew that there may be unwanted pregnancies but there are no 
unwanted children, they might have made a different decision.
  I commend my colleague from Connecticut for introducing H. Res. 465 
because it is important for us to have a better grasp on how many 
babies are being abandoned all over this country so we can attempt to 
provide support and hope for these women in need.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, could I inquire as to the time remaining on 
either side.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hansen). The gentleman from Delaware 
(Mr. Castle) has 6 minutes remaining, and the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) has 9 minutes remaining.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan).
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 465 and compliment those that are responsible for bringing 
this issue to the floor today. It is extremely important.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add to the list of the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Foley) of parental responsibilities that could prevent 
these baby abandonments in the first place, and that is child support.
  Possibly, if the mother who is considering abandonment did not feel 
abandoned by the father of the child, then there would be a team effort 
to make this child's life a life that the mother could then support.

                              {time}  1200

  For certain, H. Res. 465 will give us the information we need on a 
local, a State, and a national level to prevent baby abandonment. My 
State of California is also considering legislation in Sacramento on 
this issue because, as we learn the real numbers, we will learn the 
real reasons and the causes for child and baby abandonment and we will 
move on to prevention, so that indeed the harmful effects of baby 
abandonment will stop and will stop forever. I heartily ask all of my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 465 and support the end of baby 
abandonment. I thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) for 
letting me do this as his partner.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for 
her support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Callahan).
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, let me reemphasize how important it is 
that this resolution be brought to the floor today and how proud I am 
that those of you that are responsible have taken the initiative to 
bring it to the attention of the Congress.
  We have a program in Mobile that is quite unique. It is a program 
that already is in effect. It was started by a television reporter in 
my district. Jodi Brooks of WPMI-TV, Channel 15, helped develop a 
program that allows a woman with an unwanted newborn to take her baby 
to an area's hospital emergency room, hand it over to a doctor or a 
nurse and walk away, no questions asked. It is completely confidential. 
The district attorney's office has agreed not to prosecute anyone who 
uses this program as long as the baby is not harmed.
  If a newborn is left at the hospital, the Alabama Department of Human 
Services will seek protective custody and attempt to locate an 
appropriate resource within the community. The department will assess 
viable alternatives for placement, including appropriate relative 
resources. The newborn will be released from the hospital as soon as 
medical clearance is obtained and an appropriate home is found.
  As a result of the Secret Safe Place for Newborns program, many 
babies have already been served in Mobile, Alabama. Since the program 
began at the end of 1998, no dead babies have been found in Mobile or 
the surrounding areas. Moreover, at least four babies have been brought 
in by their mothers for adoption. I am really pleased that this program 
started in Mobile, Alabama, but even more pleased that it has spread 
now to other counties in Alabama and other cities and other States.
  In addition, many states are developing programs of their own. I 
congratulate Texas for having enacted a new law. What this will do is 
not a Federal unfunded program, it is simply a statistical gathering 
resource that will be available to encourage every area in this country 
to adopt such a program as this, because it is a viable alternative to 
a very horrible situation that is taking place in this country. Once 
again I rise in total support of this resolution. I urge its adoption 
today.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time. I thank my colleague for bringing this 
resolution to the floor. It is extremely important that we develop a 
system that responds to the real life needs of young women who have 
unwanted pregnancies and that the cost of inappropriate births not be 
borne by the child.
  So the kinds of things that are beginning to develop in America where 
people actually can bring children someplace where they will be safe, 
cared for and put up for adoption is really a wonderful turn of events. 
Ultimately we know very little about these babies that are so 
tragically either abandoned or even worse disposed of in Dumpsters, 
trash bins, alleys or warehouses.
  An informal survey of the Nation's newspapers conducted by the 
Department of Health and Human Services in 1998 discovered 105 cases of 
abandoned babies in public places. Thirty-three were found dead. This 
is simply a tragedy and so unnecessary. I am delighted that a number of 
cities have thought about how to deal with this problem. State 
Representative Geanie Morrison in Texas has really worked to bring this 
to the attention of the Texas legislature. Our own colleague, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), has created a task force in 
her district

[[Page 5206]]

in Houston, a billboard campaign and an 800 number so women can get 
support. I urge passage of this resolution.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The gentlewoman from California has been extremely positive in terms 
of her support as well as the support of everybody from that side of 
the aisle for this legislation. Everybody on this side of the aisle has 
supported this legislation. It is very simple. It just calls on local 
governments and States and the Federal Government to keep statistics on 
the number of infants abandoned in public places each year. We have 
heard a lot of stories as to why that should happen. It should happen. 
I would encourage everybody in the House of Representatives to not only 
support this legislation today but to make sure it is carried out in 
their home districts as well.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out the hypocrisy of H. 
Res. 465, a resolution to collect and distribute Statistics on Babies 
Abandoned in Public Places.
  This resolution to count the number of babies that have been 
abandoned in public places shamefully represents the fact that the 
Republican Majority is all talk and no action in helping the children 
of America. This resolution offers to count the number of children who 
are abandoned, but provides nothing toward preventing these devastating 
events from occurring.
  I am all for keeping good statistics on America's social problems, 
however I am more interested in providing funding to programs necessary 
to address these problems. Teenage pregnancy, parents' substance abuse 
and lack of access to mental health benefits are the most cited causes 
by researchers for abuse and neglect of children.
  Instead of increasing access to these services, this Congress has 
denied people access to these services. Last year, Congress reduced the 
Social Services Block Grant by $125 million. This program has been 
essential in providing funding for family planning services.
  HHS released a report last year that found parental substance abuse 
to be a problem in 26 percent of child welfare cases. Last year, the 
Majority House Appropriations bill responded to this report by reducing 
the funding to the SAMHSA Substance Abuse Block Grant by $115 million 
under the President's request.
  The Majority also refuses to act on bills that increase the 
affordability and accessibility of mental health benefits to Americans. 
I have a bill, the National Mental Health Parity Act of 1999, that 
would require parity for physical and mental private health benefits 
and increase mental health benefits in Medicare. The Majority has 
refused to act on it or any other item. This bill is just one of many 
that attempt to ensure that Americans receive adequate mental health 
benefits.
  I wish the Majority would stop providing resolutions that are nothing 
more than empty statements. It is time to help the American people and 
pass substantive legislation to prevent the tragedy of parents 
abandoning their children in public places. Congress could achieve this 
by increasing accessibility and affordability to family planning 
services, mental health benefits and counseling for substance abuse--
not through empty resolutions like the one offered here today.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hansen). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 465.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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