[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6141-6142]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 518--DESIGNATING THE THIRD WEEK OF APRIL 2008 AS 
            ``NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. DODD submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              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.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with 
my colleague, Senator Alexander, to proclaim the third week of April as 
``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.''
  First recognized by our late colleague, Senator Paul Wellstone, 
Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week is one step the Senate can take 
each year to raise public awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome, represents 
one of the most devastating forms of child abuse in this country. This 
form of abuse not only results in severe injury and lifelong disability 
in some cases, it results in the deaths of hundreds of children each 
year.
  In recognition of the need to eliminate child abuse and to raise 
awareness

[[Page 6142]]

about the issue, the month of April has been designated ``National 
Child Abuse Prevention Month,'' an annual tradition that was initiated 
in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter. As we focus more closely on 
the prevention of child abuse this month, awareness and prevention of 
Shaken Baby Syndrome should be an important component of these efforts.
  The facts demonstrate the need for our efforts: Based on the most 
recent statistics available, about 1530 children died of abuse in 2006. 
While each of those deaths is a tragedy, it is estimated that 300 of 
those children were victims of an inflicted head injury. Nearly all of 
those children were under 5 years of age, and two-thirds had not 
reached their first birthday. The total annual cost of child abuse and 
neglect in the United States is estimated to be $103.8 billion a year.
  However, there is good news: Programs that educate new parents about 
the danger of shaking and how they can protect their child have been 
shown to be remarkably effective. Eleven years ago, a pilot project to 
educate parents before they left the hospital began in Buffalo, New 
York. Since that time, the incidence of inflicted head injury is 50 
percent lower in the Buffalo area. Today, New York and eight other 
States require hospitals to provide parents with education that gives 
them the knowledge to keep their children safe, and regional and local 
programs have begun in other States. Since Texas began in 1998, several 
states now require that licensed child care providers be trained about 
the causes, consequence and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, 
important knowledge when more than 8 million children under age 5 are 
in child care during the work week. In Wisconsin, Illinois and New 
York, education programs are being designed for middle-school and high-
school students: tomorrow's parents, tonight's babysitters.
  While awareness of the vulnerability of young children to inflicted 
brain injuries is important, we are learning that effective education 
programs work best when they enlist the support of parents and other 
caregivers, and give them the knowledge and techniques they need to 
keep young children safe.
  I, like many of my colleagues, am a parent. My children are still 
young and my parenting memories are perhaps more fresh than those of 
some other members. The overwhelming majority of my memories are ones I 
will cherish for a lifetime. But, I also recall exhaustion, anxiety and 
moments of frustration and anger. While national surveys show such 
moments are a normal part of being a parent, they are rarely spoken of.
  Education and awareness can give every parent the opportunity to 
learn how to cope with frustrating moments, and to keep their children 
safe. Understanding this, last year I introduced the Shaken Baby 
Syndrome Awareness Act of 2007. This initiative provides for the 
creation of a public health campaign, including the development of a 
National Action Plan to identify effective, evidence-based strategies 
for prevention and awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome, and establishment 
of a cross-disciplinary advisory council to help coordinate national 
efforts. Through this legislation I hope to reduce the number of 
children injured or killed by abusive head trauma, and ultimately 
eliminate Shaken Baby Syndrome.
  With the support of the Centers for Disease Control, in 2008 
Pennsylvania and North Carolina will begin statewide initiatives to 
support the efforts of hospitals to educate new parents. This builds on 
the program that began 11 years ago in Buffalo, New York and it builds 
on the efforts of doctors, nurses, educators, child care providers, 
prevention organizations and parent advocates across America who have 
been working to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome and other inflicted abuse.
  I would like to recognize those efforts, and the efforts of many 
others, including those formed by parents and relatives of children who 
have been killed or injured by shaking, who work to increase awareness 
of how parents can help protect their children from this devastating 
form of child abuse. Among those who are working toward the end of 
preventing the tragedy of child abuse and who are supportive of this 
resolution are: Association of University Centers on Disabilities, 
Brain Injury Association of America, Child Welfare League of America, 
Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Children's Safety Network, 
Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Easter Seals, Hannah Rose 
Foundation, National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral 
Agencies, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, 
National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Child Abuse 
Coalition, National Exchange Club Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse 
America, Shaken Baby Prevention, Inc., Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention 
Plus, The Arc of the United States, The Center for Child Protection and 
Family Support, The National Association of Children's Hospitals and 
Related Institutions, The National Shaken Baby Coalition, United 
Cerebral Palsy, Voices for America's Children, D.C. Children's Trust 
Fund, and National Family Partnership. I would like to thank Senators 
Menendez, Casey, Bayh, Clinton, Schumer, Hatch, Murray for their 
support of this worthwhile initiative.
  I urge the Senate to adopt this resolution designating the third week 
of April 2008 as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week,'' and 
I urge members who take part in the many local and national activities 
and events recognizing the month of April as National Child Abuse 
Prevention Month to take the opportunity to visit a local hospital, 
child care center or school, learn what they are doing to help parents 
protect their children from injury and recognize those efforts.

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