I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2052 
To enhance Federal efforts focused on public awareness and education about 
the risks and dangers associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 26, 2007 
Mrs. LOWEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To enhance Federal efforts focused on public awareness and 
education about the risks and dangers associated with 
Shaken Baby Syndrome. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Shaken Baby Syn-
drome Prevention Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Shaken Baby Syndrome is a term used to 
describe the constellation of symptoms, trauma, and 
medical conditions resulting from the violent shak-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:38 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2052.IH
H2052
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
ing, or abusive impact to the head, of an infant, tod-
dler or other young child. 
(2) Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of child 
abuse affecting between 1,200 and 1,600 children 
every year. 
(3) Children who are age 1 or younger ac-
counted for 41.9 percent of all child abuse and ne-
glect fatalities in 2005, and children who are age 4 
or younger accounted for 76.6 percent of all child 
abuse and neglect fatalities in 2005. 
(4) The most recent National Child Abuse and 
Neglect Data System figures reveal that almost 
900,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect 
in the United States in 2005. That abuse and ne-
glect caused unspeakable pain and suffering to the 
Nation’s most vulnerable citizens. 
(5) It is estimated that between one-quarter 
and one-third of Shaken Baby Syndrome victims die 
as a result of their injuries, while one-third suffer 
permanent, severe disabilities including paralysis, 
seizures, loss of hearing or vision, cognitive impair-
ments, and other disabilities, often resulting in a 
lifetime of extraordinary medical, educational, and 
care expenses. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:38 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2052.IH
H2052
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
(6) Shaken Baby Syndrome is preventable. Pre-
vention programs have demonstrated that educating 
new parents and other caregivers about the danger 
of shaking young children, healthy strategies for 
coping with infant crying, infant soothing skills, and 
how to protect children from injury can bring about 
a significant reduction in the number of cases of 
Shaken Baby Syndrome. 
(7) Efforts to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome 
are supported by child welfare and advocacy groups 
across the United States, including many groups 
formed by parents and relatives of children who have 
been killed or injured by the syndrome. 
(8) Education programs have been shown to 
raise awareness about Shaken Baby Syndrome and 
provide critically important information about the 
syndrome to caregivers, day care workers, child pro-
tection employees, law enforcement personnel, health 
care providers, and legal representatives. 
(9) Education programs can give parents 
healthy strategies for dealing with a crying infant 
and change the knowledge and behavior of parents 
of young children. 
SEC. 3. PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:38 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2052.IH
H2052
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of Health 
and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the 
‘‘Secretary’’), acting through the Director of the Na-
tional Center for Injury Prevention and Control of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
Director of the National Institute of Child Health 
and Human Development, the Director of the Ma-
ternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration, and the Direc-
tor of the Office of Child Abuse and Neglect in the 
Administration for Children and Families, shall de-
velop an effective national Shaken Baby Syndrome 
public health campaign. 
(2) INFORMATION.—The public health cam-
paign shall inform the general public, and new par-
ents, child care providers and other caregivers of 
young children, health care providers, and social 
workers, among others, about brain injuries and 
other harmful effects that may result from shaking, 
or abusive impact to the head, of infants and chil-
dren under age 5, and healthy strategies to cope 
with a crying infant and related frustrations, in 
order to help protect children from injury. 
(3) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the public 
health campaign, the Secretary shall also coordinate 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:38 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2052.IH
H2052
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
activities with providers of other support services to 
parents and other caregivers of young children. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the public 
health campaign, the Secretary shall carry out the 
activities described in paragraphs (2) through (4). 
(2) NATIONAL
ACTION
PLAN
AND
STRATE-
GIES.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) develop a National Action Plan and ef-
fective strategies to increase awareness of op-
portunities to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome 
through activities that comprehensively and sys-
tematically provide information and instruction 
about healthy strategies for parents and other 
caregivers concerning how to cope with a crying 
infant and related frustrations; and 
(B) coordinate the Plan and effective strat-
egies with evidence-based strategies and efforts 
that support families with infants and other 
young children, such as home visiting programs 
and respite child care efforts, which have a role 
to play in prevention of the syndrome. 
(3) COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAIN-
ING.—The Secretary shall carry out communication, 
education, and training about Shaken Baby Syn-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:38 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2052.IH
H2052
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS