US HOUSE of Representatives recogmises the need to
educate the public about child abuse
HRES 299 IH
110th CONGRESS1st Session H. RES. 299
Expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect and should continue to work with the
States to reduce the incidence of child abuse
and neglect through such programs as the Child Welfare Services and Promoting
Safe and Stable Families programs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2007
Mr.
MCDERMOTT (for himself and Mr. WELLER of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
Congress should increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect and should continue to work with the States to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect through such programs as the Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs.
Whereas child abuse and neglect continue to pose a serious threat to
our Nation's children;
Whereas according to the most recent annual estimates, 3,600,000 children were the subject
of child abuse and neglect investigations
in 2005, an increase of 462,000 children from 2001;
Whereas more than 899,000 children were found to be the victims
of abuse and neglect in 2005;
Whereas as of the end of 2005, approximately
513,000 children were unable to live safely with their families and instead were living in foster homes and institutions;
Whereas an estimated 1,460 children died because of abuse and neglect
in 2005;
Whereas more than 75 percent of the children who died because of abuse
and neglect in 2005 were under the age of 4;
Whereas studies have found that abused and neglected children tend to
be at least 25 percent more likely than the general population of children to experience problems such as delinquency, teen
pregnancy, low academic achievement, drug use, and mental illness;
Whereas a National Institute of Justice study indicated
abuse or neglect during childhood increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile
by 59 percent and adult criminal behavior by 28 percent;
Whereas studies have found that abusive parents often were
themselves the victims of child abuse
;
Whereas it is estimated that approximately 1/3 of abused and neglected children will eventually victimize their own
children;
Whereas child abuse
and neglect can have long-term economic and societal costs through the increased use of the juvenile and adult criminal justice
systems, the increased health care costs resulting from mental illness, substance abuse
, and domestic violence, and the loss of economic productivity due to unemployment and underemployment; and
Whereas
it is appropriate to designate the month of April, 2007 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is
the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect and should continue to work with the
States to reduce the incidence of child abuse
and neglect through such programs as the Child Welfare Services and Promoting
Safe and Stable Families programs.
