III

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 300

Designating the week of April 23–30, 2000, as ‘‘National Shaken Baby

Syndrome Awareness Week’’.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 27, 2000

Mr. WELLSTONE submitted the following resolution; which was considered and

agreed to

RESOLUTION

Designating the week of April 23–30, 2000, as ‘‘National

Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week’’.

Whereas the month of April has been designated National

Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual tradition initiated by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979;

Whereas the most recent Government figures show that over

1,000,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in

1997, causing unspeakable pain and suffering to our

most vulnerable citizens;

Whereas among the children who are victims of abuse and

neglect, more than 3 children die each day in this country;
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Whereas the rate of child fatalities has risen by 37 percent

between 1985 and 1997, with children aged 3 and younger accounting for 77 percent of the fatalities;

Whereas head trauma is the leading cause of death of abused

children, including the trauma known as Shaken Baby

Syndrome;

Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome, which results from a caregiver losing control and shaking a baby usually less than

1 year of age, and can cause loss of vision, brain damage,

paralysis, seizures, or death, is a totally preventable form

of child abuse;

Whereas an estimated 3,000 children are diagnosed with

Shaken Baby Syndrome every year, with thousands more

misdiagnosed and undetected;

Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent,

irreparable brain damage or death to an infant, and more

than $1,000,000 in medical costs in just the first few

years of life to care for a single, disabled child;

Whereas the most effective solution to ending Shaken Baby

Syndrome is to prevent such abuse, and it is clear that

the minimal costs of educational and prevention programs may prevent the enormous medical and disability

costs and untold grief for many families;

Whereas prevention programs have been shown to raise

awareness and provide critically important information

about Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents, caregivers,

day-care workers, child protection employees, law enforcement personnel, health care professionals, and legal representatives;

Whereas prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome is supported

by groups such as the Shaken Baby Alliance, an organi-
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zation which began with 3 mothers of children who had

been diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome, and whose

mission is to educate the general public and professionals

about Shaken Baby Syndrome and to increase support

for victims and victim families in the health care and

criminal justice systems;

Whereas child abuse prevention programs and ‘‘National

Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week’’ are supported

by the Shaken Baby Alliance, Children’s Defense Fund,

American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Welfare League

of America, Prevent Child Abuse America, Brain Injury

Association, National Child Abuse Coalition, National

Exchange Club Foundation, and many other organizations including the National Basketball Association which

is sponsoring a series of ‘‘NBA Child Abuse Prevention

Awareness Night 2000’’ events to generate public awareness about the issue of child abuse and neglect during

National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2000;

Whereas a year 2000 survey by Prevent Child Abuse America

shows that 1⁄2 of all Americans believe child abuse and

neglect is the most important issue facing this country

compared to other public health issues; and

Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect children from abuse and neglect: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate designates the week of

2 April 23–30, 2000, as ‘‘National Shaken Baby Syndrome

3 Awareness Week’’.

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