It's summer - time for some reruns...

A reminder about the SBS Prevention Act of 2008

April 28, 2007
SBS Prevention Act of 2007 - Support
By geolith

The Shaken Baby Prevention Act of 2007 was introduced in Congress this week: Senate bill S.1204 (Dodd) on Wednesday -House bill HR 2052 (Lowey) on Thursday. It's a first: a national awareness and education initiative to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome and other inflicted head trauma.

Some suggestions for garnering support:

- email and call your Senators and your Representative. Ask them to "cosponsor" those bills [not just to "vote" for it if it gets to the floor: the more cosponsors, the speedier a bill goes from committee to the floor].

- engage local and state elected officials. Ask them to contact federal legislators and urge support.

- begin some "buzz": visit websites of the local papers in your area and write a letter to the editor to let people know why it's a good idea; contact journalists who cover SBS cases; post to blogs read by parents; if you have educated a group about SBS, ask them to write their legislators and tell them why they should support prevention education.

- email friends and relatives, especially in other states, asking that they email their federal legislators and ask for support.

And please email Senator Dodd and Congresswoman Lowey thanking them for their initiative.
Dodd: http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3128&cat=Opinion
Lowey: http://www.house.gov/lowey/get_address.htm

Contact info for federal legislators:
www.congress.org
http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

For the text of the bills
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html search [shaken]

[110th]H.R.2052 : To enhance Federal efforts focused on public awareness and education about the risks and dangers associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 4/26/2007) Cosponsors (33)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce
Latest Major Action: 4/26/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[110th]S.1204 : A bill to enhance Federal efforts focused on public awareness and education about the risks and dangers associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 4/25/2007) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

From their joint announcement of introduction

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and the Chairman of its Children and Families Subcommittee, today introduced the Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2007.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) describes the trauma resulting from the violent shaking or abusive impact to the head of an infant or young child. SBS is a form of child abuse affecting between 1,200 and 1,600 children every year, of which between one-quarter and one-third will die and another one-third will suffer permanent, severe disabilities. Senator Dodd’s legislation would establish a national public health campaign to raise awareness about SBS, encourage prevention programs and provide preventative support for parents and caregivers, and provide support to families affected by abusive head trauma incidents. Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Young children are America’s most vulnerable citizens, and it is our responsibility to do everything in our power to protect them,” said Dodd. “Shaken Baby Syndrome is completely preventable, and I am hopeful that by educating parents, caregivers and the general public about the dangers of shaking a child, we will be able to eliminate this form of cruel and senseless abuse from our society.”

“Shaken Baby Syndrome tears apart families and impacts the lives of thousands of young children each year," Lowey said. "However, with better education for parents and other caregivers, we can dramatically curb this horrible form of abuse.”

Posted on: Sat, Apr 28 2007 5:32 AM