Senate committee to review child abuse protections

Published Nov. 21, 2011 8:48 p.m. ET

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The Senate has scheduled the first congressional hearing in the wake of the Penn State child abuse scandal.

Three senators announced Monday that a Dec. 13 hearing will examine how well the nation is protecting children from abuse and neglect.

Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey requested the hearing by a panel of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski says she hopes it will shed light on prevention and deterrence of child sexual abuse.

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is accused of molesting eight boys over a 15-year period beginning in the mid-1990s. He's denied sexual contact with children but acknowledged showering with boys and embracing them. Authorities have said some assaults happened on campus and were reported to administrators but not to police.