A bill to prevent child abuse in youth treatment centers is scheduled to be voted on in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night. The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act has already passed the Senate and has support from celebrity-turned-advocate Paris Hilton.
“For years, I’ve been carrying the pain I’ve been through in silence,” Paris Hilton said outside the Capitol on Monday night with members of Congress.
Now, Hilton is talking about her teenage years and what she calls “boarding schools that fostered emotional growth.”
“I endured abuse that no child should ever endure: physical, sexual, emotional, and profoundly isolating abuse,” Hilton said.
“When I heard about it, I was horrified,” Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter said.
Congressman Carter is one of the members of Congress who has worked with Hilton over the past two years on legislation to prevent child abuse in residential treatment centers.
“Thousands of children are herded into seemingly safe facilities, but end up being dehumanized,” Carter said.
Hilton and lawmakers say more than 200,000 foster children and children with disabilities nationwide are in residential treatment programs that lack adequate supervision.
“She has been relentless in pushing this bill forward,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act aims to improve transparency. We need to gather information about what is happening in these facilities and make recommendations regarding best practices.
The Senate unanimously passed the bill last week.
“All 100 people gave a thumbs up,” Merkley said.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) says it will help get answers about how these centers operate.
“Where are these institutions? What are the best practices? What are the worst practices? How do we end those worst practices?” Merkley asked.
Merkley hopes this is a step toward protecting children.
“No child in need should end up in harm’s way,” Merkley said.