III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 679 

Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Child Abuse 

Prevention Month. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 8, 2024 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. CASEY, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Ms. HASSAN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Child 

Abuse Prevention Month. 

Whereas children are fundamental to the success of the 

United States and will shape the future of the United 

States; 

Whereas elected representatives and leaders in the communities of the United States must be ever vigilant and 

proactive in support of evidence-based means to prevent 

child abuse and neglect and support families; 

Whereas adverse childhood experiences (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘ACEs’’) are traumatic experiences that 

occur during childhood with lasting effects and include 

experiences of violence, abuse, or neglect; 


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•SRES 679 ATS 

Whereas at least 5 of the top 10 leading causes of death are 

associated with ACEs; 

Whereas preventing ACEs could reduce many health conditions, including— 

(1) up to 21,000,000 cases of depression; 

(2) up to 1,900,000 cases of heart disease; and 

(3) up to 2,500,000 cases of overweight and obesity; 

Whereas every child is filled with tremendous promise, and 

we all have a collective responsibility to prevent ACEs, 

foster the potential of every child, and promote positive 

childhood experiences; 

Whereas primary prevention of child abuse and neglect can 

reduce the lifetime economic burden associated with child 

maltreatment; 

Whereas, in 2022, an estimated 7,530,000 children were referred to child protective services agencies, alleging maltreatment; 

Whereas, in 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received nearly 

32,000,000 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation, which marked the highest number of reports 

ever received in 1 year; 

Whereas reports indicate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys 

experience sexual abuse before their eighteenth birthday, 

with more than 42,000,000 estimated child sexual abuse 

survivors in the United States; 

Whereas approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States 

experienced child abuse, neglect, or both between 2022 

and 2023; 


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•SRES 679 ATS 

Whereas 43 percent of children exposed to inappropriate sexual content on social media are under 13 years old, and 

1 in 5 are 9 years old or younger; 

Whereas 91 percent of child sexual abuse victims are abused 

by a person they know and trust; 

Whereas children who are sexually abused, especially when 

not provided appropriate treatment and support, often 

suffer lifelong consequences, such as physical and mental 

health challenges and higher risk of drug and alcohol 

misuse and suicide; 

Whereas education and awareness of possible signs of child 

abuse and neglect should be prioritized for purposes of 

prevention; 

Whereas by intervening to prevent adversity and build resilience during the most critical years of development of a 

child, voluntary, evidence-based, home-visiting programs 

have shown positive impact on— 

(1) reducing the recurrence of child abuse and neglect; 

(2) decreased low-birthweight babies; 

(3) improved school readiness for children; and 

(4) increased high school graduation rates: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for the goals and ideals of 

3 National Child Abuse Prevention Month; 

4 (2) recognizes child abuse and neglect and child 

5 sexual abuse are preventable and that a healthy and 

6 prosperous society depends on strong families and 

7 communities; 


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•SRES 679 ATS 

1 (3) supports efforts to increase the awareness 

2 of, and provide education for, the general public of 

3 the United States, with respect to preventing child 

4 abuse and neglect and building protective factors for 

5 families; 

6 (4) supports the efforts to help survivors of 

7 childhood sexual abuse heal; 

8 (5) supports justice for victims of childhood 

9 sexual abuse; and 

10 (6) recognizes the need for prevention, healing, 

11 and justice efforts related to childhood abuse and 

12 neglect and sexual abuse. 

Æ 


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