III

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 59

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 4, 2001

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and

Pensions

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the prevention

of shaken baby syndrome.

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;
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HCON 59 RFS

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;

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;
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HCON 59 RFS

Whereas programs and techniques to prevent child abuse and

shaken baby syndrome 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 increased awareness of shaken baby syndrome and

of the techniques to prevent it would help end the abuse

that causes shaken baby syndrome: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress—

3 (1) strongly supports efforts to protect children

4 from abuse and neglect; and

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States

6 to educate themselves regarding shaken baby syn7 drome and the techniques to prevent it.

Passed the House of Representatives April 3, 2001.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.