A resolution designating the third week of April 2008 as "National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week".

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleague, Senator Alexander, to proclaim the third week of April as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.''

First recognized by our late colleague, Senator Paul Wellstone, Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week is one step the Senate can take each year to raise public awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome, represents one of the most devastating forms of child abuse in this country. This form of abuse not only results in severe injury and lifelong disability in some cases, it results in the deaths of hundreds of children each year.

In recognition of the need to eliminate child abuse and to raise awareness about the issue, the month of April has been designated ``National Child Abuse Prevention Month,'' an annual tradition that was initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter. As we focus more closely on the prevention of child abuse this month, awareness and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome should be an important component of these efforts.

The facts demonstrate the need for our efforts: Based on the most recent statistics available, about 1530 children died of abuse in 2006. While each of those deaths is a tragedy, it is estimated that 300 of those children were victims of an inflicted head injury. Nearly all of those children were under 5 years of age, and two-thirds had not reached their first birthday. The total annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States is estimated to be $103.8 billion a year.

However, there is good news: Programs that educate new parents about the danger of shaking and how they can protect their child have been shown to be remarkably effective. Eleven years ago, a pilot project to educate parents before they left the hospital began in Buffalo, New York. Since that time, the incidence of inflicted head injury is 50 percent lower in the Buffalo area. Today, New York and eight other States require hospitals to provide parents with education that gives them the knowledge to keep their children safe, and regional and local programs have begun in other States. Since Texas began in 1998, several states now require that licensed child care providers bee ortant trained about the causes, consequence and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, important knowledge when more than 8 million children under age 5 are in child care during the work week. In Wisconsin, Illinois and New York, education programs are being designed for middle-school and high-school students: tomorrow's parents, tonight's babysitters.

While awareness of the vulnerability of young children to inflicted brain injuries is important, we are learning that effective education programs work best when they enlist the support of parents and other caregivers, and give them the knowledge and techniques they need to keep young children safe.

I, like many of my colleagues, am a parent. My children are still young and my parenting memories are perhaps more fresh than those of some other members. The overwhelming majority of my memories are ones I will cherish for a lifetime. But, I also recall exhaustion, anxiety and moments of frustration and anger. While national surveys show such moments are a normal part of being a parent, they are rarely spoken of.

Education and awareness can give every parent the opportunity to learn how to cope with frustrating moments, and to keep their children safe. Understanding this, last year I introduced the Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Act of 2007. This initiative provides for the creation of a public health campaign, including the development of a National Action Plan to identify effective, evidence-based strategies for prevention and awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome, and establishment of a cross-disciplinary advisory council to help coordinate national efforts. Through this legislation I hope to reduce the number of children injured or killed by abusive head trauma, and ultimately eliminate Shaken Baby Syndrome.

With the support of the Centers for Disease Control, in 2008 Pennsylvania and North Carolina will begin statewide initiatives to support the efforts of hospitals to educate new parents. This builds on the program that began 11 years ago in Buffalo, New York and it builds on the efforts of doctors, nurses, educators, child care providers, prevention organizations and parent advocates across America who have been working to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome and other inflicted abuse.

I would like to recognize those efforts, and the efforts of many others, including those formed by parents and relatives of children who have been killed or injured by shaking, who work to increase awareness of how parents can help protect their children from this devastating form of child abuse. Among those who are working toward the end of preventing the tragedy of child abuse and who are supportive of this resolution are: Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Brain Injury Association of America, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Children's Safety Network, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Easter Seals, Hannah Rose Foundation, National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, National Center for Learning Disabilities,

National Child Abuse Coalition, National Exchange Club Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse America, Shaken Baby Prevention, Inc., Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Plus, The Arc of the United States, The Center for Child Protection and Family Support, The National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, The National Shaken Baby Coalition, United Cerebral Palsy, Voices for America's Children, D.C. Children's Trust Fund, and National Family Partnership. I would like to thank Senators Menendez, Casey, Bayh, Clinton, Schumer, Hatch, Murray for their support of this worthwhile initiative.

I urge the Senate to adopt this resolution designating the third week of April 2008 as ``National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week,'' and I urge members who take part in the many local and national activities and events recognizing the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month to take the opportunity to visit a local hospital, child care center or school, learn what they are doing to help parents protect their children from injury and recognize those efforts.

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 518.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table and that there be no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.