WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. House Education Leaders today urged Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) to bring to the Senate floor the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act (H.R. 3839), which was approved by the House by an overwhelming margin of 411-5 on March 23, 2002. The bipartisan legislation promotes partnerships between child protective services and private and community-based organizations to ensure that assistance is provided in the most effective manner for children caught in abusive situations.

          The letter, signed by Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH), Select Education Subcommittee Chairman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle (R-DE), and Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-PA), encourages Daschle to make the bipartisan bill a priority and allow the full Senate to vote on this important issue. The GOP education leaders today released the following joint statement:

          “This year Congress has a unique opportunity to pass legislation to prevent child abuse and maltreatment. This legislation emphasizes the prevention of child abuse and neglect and family violence before it occurs. This bipartisan bill is the product of efforts made by members on both sides of the aisle to ensure that all children grow up in a safe and loving environment. The House acted in an expedient fashion. Today, we urge Senator Daschle to do the same.”

          On October 2, President Bush will host the first-ever White House Conference on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children. The conference will bring together members of the President’s Cabinet; federal, state and local officials; law enforcement personnel; and parents to focus on a wide range of topics related to H.R. 3839 and child abuse, including missing and exploited children; runaway and homeless youth; international child abduction; sex trafficking of children; child pornography; child safety and Internet safety, and corporate and community involvement.

September 18, 2002

Senator Tom Daschle
Senate Majority Leader
S-221 U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Daschle:

Five months ago, with the support of 201 Democrats, the House passed legislation to ensure that states have the necessary resources and flexibility for programs that focus on the prevention of child abuse and neglect and family violence. This bipartisan legislation -- the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act (H.R. 3839) - reauthorizes the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to promote partnerships between child protective services and private and community-based organizations to ensure that assistance is provided in the most effective manner for children caught in abusive situations.

On October 2^nd, the White House will host a conference on missing, exploited, and runaway children. This conference will focus on many of the issues that H.R. 3839 addresses - child abandonment, adoption, and protecting and treating abused and neglected children.

With nearly three million reports of possible child maltreatment made to child welfare agencies each year, this problem remains a serious one and deserves the full attention of Congress. The House has addressed this issue in a bipartisan fashion. How long will it take before Senate Democrats do the same?

We urge you to bring the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act to the Senate floor so that the full Senate can act promptly to help ensure that all children in America grow up in a healthy, loving environment.

Sincerely,