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 unspeak-
able 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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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 fatali-
ties 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 addi-
tional 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 pro-
grams may avert enormous medical and disability costs 
and immeasurable amounts of grief for many families; 
Whereas prevention programs have demonstrated that edu-
cating 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 Syn-
drome 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 pre-
venting and increasing awareness of Shaken Baby Syn-
drome; 
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe the third week of 
April 2009 as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Aware-
ness Week; and 
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect chil-
dren from abuse and neglect: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Shak-
en Baby Syndrome Awareness Week’’; 
(2) commends hospitals, child care councils, 
schools, community groups, and other organizations 
that are— 
(A) working to increase awareness of the 
danger of shaking young children; 
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(B) educating parents and caregivers on 
how they can help protect children from injuries 
caused by abusive shaking; and 
(C) helping families cope effectively with 
the challenges of child-rearing and other 
stresses in their lives; and 
(3) encourages the people of the United 
States— 
(A) to remember the victims of Shaken 
Baby Syndrome; and 
(B) to participate in educational programs 
to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. 
Æ 
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