Kay Granger: “April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and, unfortunately, child abuse is a very real problem in the United States. In…”

“April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and, unfortunately, child abuse is a very real problem in the United States. In 1999, 825,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect, a sad and preventable statistic, Mr. Speaker, 825,000 children we cannot afford to turn our backs on. Violence toward one child affects everyone. Keeping our children safe is a community responsibility because ultimately all of us pay the price for those who grow up in abusive homes by way of increased law enforcement, medical and drug treatment, remedial education, foster care and public assistance. Child abuse is preventable, and everyone must be involved: neighborhoods, schools, churches, the local government, and the media. Each of us can start by participating in the blue ribbon campaign. It is a tangible way to demonstrate one's concern about child abuse and neglect. So let us wear a ribbon and when someone asks, as I do, what is that ribbon for, instead of just saying that it signifies Child Abuse Prevention Month, let us say, this represents the children who were abused in my community last year. Would you wear one, too, so we will not forget? Let us remember that children are only 20 percent of our population today, but 100 percent of our future.”