FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12^th, 2012

Paulsen Holds Hearing on Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

Focused on legislation to examine and promote successful programs to reduce child fatalities from maltreatment

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03), Acting Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources, held a hearing today to examine a bipartisan proposal which addresses child fatalities due to neglect and abuse. The Protect our Kids Act is draft legislation, which establishes a commission to examine the issue of child deaths from maltreatment, reviews the effectiveness of current programs and policies, and recommends new ways to address the issue. During today’s hearing the committee heard from multiple witnesses, including former Minnesota 3^rd district Congressman Bill Frenzel. 

Rep. Paulsen and former Rep. Frenzel took time following the hearing to sit down and discuss the hearing and the work needed to address the unnecessary death of children due to abuse and neglect. View their conversation below:

View Rep. Paulsen and Rep. Frenzel’s conversation here.

Excerpts from Congressman Paulsen’s Opening Remarks: 

“The purpose of our hearing today is to discuss a proposal designed to reduce the number of children who die from abuse and neglect.”

“There are tragically too many examples, like Devin Drake, of why this is an important issue. Three-year-old Devin Drake was brought to Mercy Hospital in Minneapolis by his mother, Elizabeth Moorman, on August 30, 2011. She said that Devin had been completely normal until he collapsed at home just a few minutes earlier. 

“After questioning by medical staff and later police, her boyfriend, Anthony Urban, admitted to punching Devin the day before. He said the boy then fell off a stool and hit his head on the bathroom’s ceramic floor. Even though Devin had trouble standing up and was obviously seriously injured, neither his mother nor her boyfriend took him to the hospital...

“When Devin arrived at the hospital, medical staff realized his injuries were no accident. He was diagnosed with severe head trauma, punctured lungs, and a number of contusions…

“Nothing is more heartbreaking than when a child like Devin dies at the hands of someone who should have cared for him most. That’s why we’re here today, to review a proposal designed to reduce the number of these tragedies.

“Ultimately the real solutions will come through the incredible work done by local child welfare agencies, education providers, police, healthcare workers, and many others.

“While it won’t be the Federal government that solves this problem, we have a role to play. As the legislation before us suggests, we can bring together experts to review which of today’s practices work and don’t work, to highlight what additional steps hold the most promise, and ultimately to help local officials incorporate that knowledge into their best practices... 

“This legislation would have a very small cost, which we would make sure is fully paid for by other savings.  We believe it can move forward quickly through the House and hopefully the Senate.  Most importantly, we think it will help prevent future child abuse deaths.  While that will come too late for little Devin, we owe it to the many vulnerable children who might be saved in the years ahead to make any progress we can”

View Rep. Paulsen’s entire opening statement HERE. 

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

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