Dan Burton: “I wholeheartedly support H. Res. 113 for several reasons. Approximately 3 million cases of suspected or known child…”

“I wholeheartedly support H. Res. 113 for several reasons. Approximately 3 million cases of suspected or known child abuse and neglect involving 5 million American children occur each year. The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be 3 times greater than the number reported to authorities. This social problem results in human and economic costs due to its relationship to crime, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and welfare dependency. As a child growing up in Indiana, I personally experienced the horrors of child abuse in my own family. Children in abusive homes have very few options to improve their situations. I believe that the public needs to be better educated about the effects of abuse. It is important that children living in abusive homes know that there are people and organizations available to help them. Children shouldn't have to live in fear of abuse. The law should be there to protect them, and when it doesn't we should take steps to ensure their safety. H. Res. 113 recognizes the need for better public awareness of the tragedy of child abuse.”