IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 485 

Expressing support for designation of the third week of April 2009 as 

‘‘National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 21, 2009 

Mrs. LOWEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of the third week of April 

2009 as ‘‘National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness 

Week’’. 

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 

reports that 794,000 children were victims of abuse and 

neglect in the United States in 2007, causing unspeakable pain and suffering for our most vulnerable citizens; 

Whereas over 95,000 of those children were younger than 1 

year old; 

Whereas more than 4 children die each day in the United 

States as a result of abuse or neglect; 


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•HRES 485 IH 

Whereas children younger than 1 year old accounted for over 

40 percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 

2007, and children younger than 4 years old accounted 

for nearly 76 percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2007; 

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 medical professionals believe that thousands of additional cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and other forms 

of abusive head trauma are being misdiagnosed or left 

undetected; 

Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent 

and irreparable brain damage or death of the infant and 

may result in extraordinary costs for medical care during 

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 avert 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 


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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 injured or killed by 

shaking, whose mission is to educate the general public 

and professionals about Shaken Baby Syndrome and to 

increase support for victims and their families within the 

health care and criminal justice systems; 

Whereas 20 States have enacted legislation related to preventing and increasing awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome; 

Whereas it would be appropriate to observe the third week of 

April 2009 as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week; and 

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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Shak3 en Baby Syndrome Awareness Week’’; 

4 (2) commends hospitals, child care councils, 

5 schools, community groups, and other organizations 

6 that are— 

7 (A) working to increase awareness of the 

8 danger of shaking young children; 


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1 (B) educating parents and caregivers on 

2 how they can help protect children from injuries 

3 caused by abusive shaking; and 

4 (C) helping families cope effectively with 

5 the challenges of child-rearing and other 

6 stresses in their lives; and 

7 (3) encourages the people of the United 

8 States— 

9 (A) to remember the victims of Shaken 

10 Baby Syndrome; and 

11 (B) to participate in educational programs 

12 to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. 

Æ 


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