IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 59
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of National
Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 8, 2001
Mr. MCKEON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Government Reform
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establish-
ment of National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness
Week.
Whereas more than 1,000,000 children were abused or ne-
glected in the United States during the most recent year
for which Government data is available regarding child
abuse and neglect;
Whereas more than 3 children die from abuse or neglect each
day in the United States;
Whereas, in 1998, 37.9 percent of all fatalities of children
under the age of 1 were caused by child abuse or neglect,
and 77.5 percent of all fatalities of children under the
age of 5 were caused by child abuse or neglect;
•HCON 59 IH
Whereas head trauma, including the trauma known as shak-
en baby syndrome, is the leading cause of death of
abused children;
Whereas shaken baby syndrome is the loss of vision, brain
damage, paralysis, seizures, or death that is caused by
severely or violently shaking a baby;
Whereas an estimated 3,000 babies, usually younger than 1
year of age, are diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome
every year, with thousands more misdiagnosed or unde-
tected;
Whereas shaken baby syndrome often results in permanent,
irreparable brain damage or death;
Whereas the medical costs associated with caring for a baby
suffering from shaken baby syndrome often exceed
$1,000,000 in the first few years of the life of the baby;
Whereas the most effective method for ending the occurrence
of shaken baby syndrome is to prevent the abuse which
causes it;
Whereas educational and prevention programs regarding
shaken baby syndrome may prevent enormous medical
costs and unquantifiable grief at minimal cost;
Whereas programs to prevent shaken baby syndrome have
been shown to raise awareness and provide critically im-
portant information about shaken baby syndrome to par-
ents, caregivers, day care workers, child protection em-
ployees, law enforcement personnel, health care profes-
sionals, and legal representatives;
Whereas the month of April has been designated as National
Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual tradition initi-
ated by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979;
•HCON 59 IH
Whereas the last full week in April is an appropriate week
to designate as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Aware-
ness Week;
Whereas child abuse prevention programs and the establish-
ment of National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness
Week are supported by the Shaken Baby Alliance, Chil-
dren’s Defense Fund, National Children’s Alliance,
American Humane Association, Prevent Child Abuse
America, National Exchange Club Foundation, Child
Welfare League of America, National Association of Chil-
dren’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, Center for
Child Protection and Family Support, Inc., American
Academy of Pediatrics, and American Medical Associa-
tion; and
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to protect chil-
dren from abuse and neglect: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) a National Shaken Baby Syndrome Aware-
ness Week should be established to raise awareness
regarding shaken baby syndrome; and
(2) the President should issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to ob-
serve such a week with appropriate programs and
activities regarding the prevention of shaken baby
syndrome.
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