IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 284 
Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Child Abuse 
Prevention Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 1, 2025 
Mr. BARR (for himself, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, and Mr. MRVAN) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Child 
Abuse Prevention Month. 
Whereas children are fundamental to the success of our Na-
tion and will shape the future of the United States; 
Whereas elected representatives and leaders in our commu-
nities must be ever vigilant and proactive in support of 
evidence-based means to prevent child abuse and support 
families; 
Whereas adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic 
experiences that occur during childhood with lasting long- 
term effects and include experiences such as child abuse 
and neglect, witnessing violence, or growing up in a 
household with a family member with a substance use 
disorder; 
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•HRES 284 IH 
Whereas at least 5 of the top 10 leading causes of death are 
associated with ACEs; 
Whereas preventing ACEs could reduce many health condi-
tions, including up to 21,000,000 cases of depression, 
1,900,000 cases of heart disease, and 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 experience; 
Whereas preventing child abuse and neglect before they hap-
pen can reduce the costly lifetime economic burden asso-
ciated with child maltreatment; 
Whereas investments in primary prevention pay off as studies 
show that the total lifetime economic burden associated 
with treating the consequences of child maltreatment is 
approximately $2,000,000,000,000; 
Whereas economic adversity has been observed as an in-
creased risk for potential abuse of children; 
Whereas, in 2023, an estimated 7,782,600 children were re-
ferred to child protective services agencies, alleging mal-
treatment; 
Whereas, approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States 
has experienced child abuse or neglect annually; 
Whereas, in 2023, the National Center for Missing and Ex-
ploited Children’s CyberTipline received 36,210,368 re-
ports of suspected online child sexual abuse exploitation, 
a 12-percent increase from 2022; 
Whereas reports indicate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys 
experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday; 
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•HRES 284 IH 
Whereas 93 percent of child sexual abuse victims are abused 
by a person they know and trust; 
Whereas children who are sexually abused, when not provided 
appropriate treatment, often suffer from lifelong prob-
lems, 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 should be prioritized for purposes of prevention; 
Whereas Prevent Child Abuse America has a national net-
work of Chapters and Healthy Families America sites 
providing prevention services and family support in our 
local districts; 
Whereas by intervening to prevent adversity and build resil-
ience during a child’s most critical years of development, 
voluntary, evidence-based, home-visiting programs like 
Healthy Families America, the signature home-visiting 
program of Prevent Child Abuse America, have shown 
positive impact on reducing the recurrence of child abuse 
and neglect, decreased low-birthweight babies, improved 
school readiness for children, and increased high school 
graduation rates for parents; and 
Whereas Prevent Child Abuse America has a national net-
work of Chapters and Healthy Families America sites 
providing prevention services and family support in our 
local districts: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the goals and ideals of 
National Child Abuse Prevention Month; 
(2) recognizes child abuse and child sexual 
abuse is preventable and that a healthy and pros-
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