April 29, 2026
Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Luján, and Ms. Hassan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Expressing support for the designation of April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month
, and the goals and ideals of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Whereas children are fundamental to the success of the United States and will shape the future of the United States;
Whereas elected representatives and leaders in the communities of the United States must be ever vigilant and proactive in support of evidence-based means to prevent child abuse and neglect and to support families;
Whereas adverse childhood experiences (referred to in this preamble as ACEs
) are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood with lasting effects and include experiences of violence, abuse, or neglect;
Whereas at least 5 of the top 10 leading causes of death are associated with ACEs;
Whereas preventing ACEs could reduce many health conditions and long-term negative effects on life, opportunity, and well-being, including—
(1)
up to 21,000,000 cases of depression;
(2)
up to 1,900,000 cases of heart disease; and
(3)
up to 2,500,000 cases of overweight or obesity;
Whereas every child is filled with tremendous promise, and we all have a collective responsibility to prevent ACEs, foster the potential of every child, and promote positive childhood experiences;
Whereas preventing child abuse and neglect can reduce the costly lifetime economic burden associated with child maltreatment;
Whereas, in 2024, an estimated 7,693,000 children were referred to child protective services agencies, alleging maltreatment;
Whereas, each year, approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences child abuse, neglect, or both;
Whereas reports indicate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will become victims of child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday;
Whereas 93 percent of child sexual abuse victims are abused by a person they know and trust;
Whereas children who are sexually abused, especially when not provided appropriate treatment and support, often suffer lifelong consequences, such as physical and mental health challenges and higher risk of drug and alcohol misuse and suicide;
Whereas, in 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received nearly 20,500,000 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation;
Whereas education and awareness of possible signs of child abuse and neglect should be prioritized for purposes of prevention; and
Whereas, by intervening to prevent adversity and build resilience during the most critical years of development of a child, voluntary, evidence-based, home-visiting programs have shown positive impact on—
(1)
reducing the recurrence of child abuse and neglect;
(2)
decreasing the incidence of low-birthweight babies;
(3)
improved school readiness for children; and
(4)
increased high school graduation rates: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)
supports the designation of April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month
;
(2)
expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Child Abuse Prevention Month;
(3)
recognizes that child abuse and neglect and child sexual abuse are preventable and that a healthy and prosperous society depends on strong families and communities;
(4)
supports efforts to increase the awareness of, and provide education for, the general public of the United States, with respect to preventing child abuse and neglect and building protective factors for families;
(5)
supports the efforts to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse heal;
(6)
supports justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse; and
(7)
recognizes the need for prevention, healing, and justice efforts related to childhood abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.