On April 3, the House approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 59) expressing the sense of Congress to establish a National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week. The Senate approved a similar resolution (S. Res. 55) by unanimous consent the same day. Sponsored by Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), H. Con. Res. 59 states that “head trauma, including the trauma known as shaken baby syndrome, is the leading cause of death of abused children.”
The resolution also states that shaken baby syndrome is the “loss of vision, brain damage, paralysis, seizures, or death that is caused by severely or violently shaking a baby,” and that the “medical costs associated with this syndrome exceed $1 million in the first years of life.”
Saying that over 3,000 babies under the age of one are diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome, Rep. McKeon added: “It saddens me that this situation exists. However, I am hopeful with this resolution, Congress can increase the knowledge of and ultimately prevent this dreadful occurrence.”
