•HRES 1097 IH 
Whereas the number of children who received an investigation 
or assessment by Child Protective Services increased by 
333,000 from 2002 to 2006; 
Whereas in 2006, an estimated 1,530 children died tragically 
as a result of abuse or neglect; 
Whereas some of the most vulnerable children in our Nation 
are the most likely to be maltreated, with the youngest 
suffering the highest rate of victimization and children 
with disabilities also experiencing a high risk of maltreat-
ment; 
Whereas 91,278 of the victims of abuse and neglect had not 
yet reached their first birthday, with more than 84 per-
cent being less than a month old; 
Whereas children who are abused or neglected are at higher 
risk in adulthood for health problems such as alcoholism, 
depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, 
and certain chronic diseases; 
Whereas a National Institute of Justice study indicated abuse 
or neglect during childhood increased the likelihood of ar-
rest as a juvenile by 59 percent and adult criminal behav-
ior by 28 percent; 
Whereas it is estimated that approximately one-third of 
abused and neglected children grow up to victimize their 
own children; 
Whereas 25 percent of the children abused and neglected are 
likely to be maltreated again; 
Whereas child abuse and neglect can have long-term economic 
and societal costs; 
Whereas community-based services to overburdened families 
are far less costly than the emotional and physical dam-
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•HRES 1097 IH 
age inflicted on children or the costs of child protective 
services, law enforcement, courts, foster care, health care, 
and the treatment of adults recovering from child abuse; 
Whereas the annual estimated cost to the United States for 
not preventing child abuse and neglect is approximately 
$104,000,000,000, according to a 2008 report by Pre-
vent Child Abuse America; 
Whereas child protection agencies are unable to provide im-
portant follow-up services such as counseling or case 
management to 40 percent of the abused and neglected 
children on their caseloads; and 
Whereas it is appropriate to designate the month of April 
2008, as National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the United States House of Rep-
resentatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of Na-
tional Child Abuse Prevention Month; 
(2) should increase public awareness of child 
abuse and neglect prevention and should continue to 
work with the States to reduce the incidence of child 
abuse and neglect; and 
(3) should recognize that child abuse and ne-
glect prevention programs reduce child maltreat-
ment, strengthen families, reduce mental illness, 
deter criminal behavior, and contribute to children’s 
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•HRES 1097 IH 
positive emotional, academic, social, and cognitive 
development. 
Æ 
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