HR 421

                                                 PRINTER'S NO.   2950
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
      HOUSE RESOLUTION
         No. 421
                                           Session of
                                             2026
INTRODUCED BY PUGH, PROBST, M. MACKENZIE, STAATS, HANBIDGE,
   ANDERSON, RIVERA, KAUFFMAN, DALEY, GALLAGHER, KAZEEM,
   OLSOMMER, CIRESI, COOPER AND MENTZER, FEBRUARY 27, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MARCH 2, 2026
                            A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of April 2026 as "Child Abuse Prevention
2    Month" in Pennsylvania.
3    WHEREAS, An estimated 546,159 children were victims of abuse
4 and neglect in the United States in 2023, the most recent year
5 for which there is national data; and
6    WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, there were 4,756 substantiated
7 cases of child abuse in 2024, with 60 children dying as a result
8 of abuse; and
9    WHEREAS, In 2024, 35,043 of the reports of child abuse in
10 this Commonwealth came from mandated reporters; and
11    WHEREAS, Child abuse crosses all racial, economic and
12 geographic boundaries and has reached epidemic proportions
13 across the nation and throughout this Commonwealth; and
14    WHEREAS, It is our responsibility as parents, friends,
15 neighbors, citizens and lawmakers to nurture and protect our
16 most precious resource, the children of this Commonwealth, so
17 that they are able to grow into healthy, well-adjusted and
1 productive adults; and
2    WHEREAS, Thousands of Pennsylvanians in schools, social
3 service agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout
4 this Commonwealth are working hard to nurture and support the
5 victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse; and
6    WHEREAS, In spite of the dedication and sacrifice of these
7 individuals, much more remains to be done to guarantee a
8 childhood free of abuse and victimization to every child in this
9 Commonwealth; and
10    WHEREAS, As our knowledge about the prevention and treatment
11 of child abuse grows, we must provide support, information and
12 guidance to families in which child abuse may happen; therefore
13 be it
14    RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
15 month of April 2026 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in
16 Pennsylvania; and be it further
17    RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives continue to do
18 its part in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for
19 all children in this Commonwealth so that they have the
20 opportunity to grow up to be healthy and productive citizens;
21 and be it further
22    RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the many
23 individuals and community groups and organizations who work
24 daily to treat and prevent child abuse in this Commonwealth and
25 urge all Pennsylvanians to do their part in preventing the
26 tragedy of child abuse.
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