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107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 59

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of National

Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 8, 2001

Mr. MCKEON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Government Reform

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness

Week.

Whereas more than 1,000,000 children were abused or neglected in the United States during the most recent year

for which Government data is available regarding child

abuse and neglect;

Whereas more than 3 children die from abuse or neglect each

day in the United States;

Whereas, in 1998, 37.9 percent of all fatalities of children

under the age of 1 were caused by child abuse or neglect,

and 77.5 percent of all fatalities of children under the

age of 5 were caused by child abuse or neglect;
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Whereas head trauma, including the trauma known as shaken baby syndrome, is the leading cause of death of

abused children;

Whereas shaken baby syndrome is the loss of vision, brain

damage, paralysis, seizures, or death that is caused by

severely or violently shaking a baby;

Whereas an estimated 3,000 babies, usually younger than 1

year of age, are diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome

every year, with thousands more misdiagnosed or undetected;

Whereas shaken baby syndrome often results in permanent,

irreparable brain damage or death;

Whereas the medical costs associated with caring for a baby

suffering from shaken baby syndrome often exceed

$1,000,000 in the first few years of the life of the baby;

Whereas the most effective method for ending the occurrence

of shaken baby syndrome is to prevent the abuse which

causes it;

Whereas educational and prevention programs regarding

shaken baby syndrome may prevent enormous medical

costs and unquantifiable grief at minimal cost;

Whereas programs to prevent shaken baby syndrome 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 the month of April has been designated as National

Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual tradition initiated by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979;
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Whereas the last full week in April is an appropriate week

to designate as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week;

Whereas child abuse prevention programs and the establishment of National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness

Week are supported by the Shaken Baby Alliance, Children’s Defense Fund, National Children’s Alliance,

American Humane Association, Prevent Child Abuse

America, National Exchange Club Foundation, Child

Welfare League of America, National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, Center for

Child Protection and Family Support, Inc., American

Academy of Pediatrics, and American Medical Association; and

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

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) a National Shaken Baby Syndrome Aware4 ness Week should be established to raise awareness

5 regarding shaken baby syndrome; and

6 (2) the President should issue a proclamation

7 calling upon the people of the United States to ob8 serve such a week with appropriate programs and

9 activities regarding the prevention of shaken baby

10 syndrome.

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