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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Children are essential to the continued prosperity |
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and vitality of the Lone Star State, and the observance of National |
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Child Abuse Prevention Month in April 2019 serves as an opportunity |
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to focus public attention on the importance of protecting the most |
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vulnerable members of our society; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 66,000 cases of child abuse and neglect |
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were confirmed in Texas in 2018, and 20,681 children were removed |
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from their homes as a result of this treatment; tragically, 211 |
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children lost their lives due to abuse and neglect last year, and |
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many of these victims were three years old or younger; and |
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WHEREAS, The short-term and long-term costs of child abuse |
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are substantial; in 2018, the cost to address child maltreatment in |
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Texas totaled more than $55 billion; these expenses included |
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medical treatment, foster care, law enforcement, mental health |
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care, and special education, as well as the financial toll caused by |
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juvenile delinquency and lost productivity; and |
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WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect also carry enormous |
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emotional and societal costs, as many victims suffer from mental |
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illness, substance abuse, developmental delays, teen pregnancy, |
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academic underachievement, criminal behavior, unemployment, |
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poverty, and chronic disease; and |
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WHEREAS, Every child deserves to grow up in a secure, stable, |
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and nurturing home, and it is the responsibility of all Texans to |
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help ensure the safety and well-being of children in the Lone Star |
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State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 2019 as National Child Abuse |
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Prevention Month in Texas and encourage all citizens to work |
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together to protect the welfare of children throughout the state; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for TexProtects as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |