Paris Hilton Urges Congress to Pass Youth Welfare Reform Bill Before Session Ends
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Dec 17, 2024
- 3 min read
The Big Picture
Paris Hilton returned to Capitol Hill this week with an urgent message for lawmakers: Pass the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act before Congress adjourns for its holiday recess.
The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, seeks to increase oversight and improve protections for children in youth congregate care facilities. Hilton, who has shared her personal experience of abuse in such programs, is pushing for the House to take decisive action, calling the legislation a chance for “real, meaningful change.”
Why It Matters?
Youth residential treatment facilities, often referred to as congregate care programs, are meant to rehabilitate and support vulnerable children, including those with behavioral or mental health challenges. However, advocates say a lack of oversight has allowed widespread neglect, abuse, and mistreatment to occur within the system.
Hilton, a survivor of these facilities, is now one of the most visible voices demanding reform. Her advocacy highlights the importance of protecting children who often cannot speak out or defend themselves. If passed, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act would implement greater accountability and provide stricter guidelines for facilities to prevent harm.
Paris Hilton’s Plea
In an open letter addressed to all members of the House, Hilton shared her personal experience and the trauma she endured as a teenager:
“As a teenager, I was sent to youth residential treatment facilities where I endured abuse that no child should ever experience. I was physically restrained, sexually abused, isolated, overmedicated, and stripped of my dignity.”
“For years, I lived with the weight of that trauma, the nightmares, the shame,” Hilton wrote. “It wasn’t until I found my voice that I began to heal.”
Now 43, the media personality and advocate emphasized that her fight is for children who are still trapped in unsafe and harmful programs.
“I urge you to think about the children who can’t speak for themselves,” Hilton wrote, specifically addressing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and other lawmakers. “They’re relying on us, on you, to stand up for their safety and dignity.”
The Legislative Journey
Senate Milestone: Last week, the Senate unanimously passed the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, a significant step that Hilton celebrated as “one of the best moments” of her life.
House of Representatives: The bill now awaits a vote in the House. Lawmakers have just days left in the legislative session to take action before Congress breaks for the holidays.
Hilton stressed the bipartisan nature of the bill’s support, urging legislators to put politics aside. “It was proof that when we listen to survivors and put politics aside, we can create real, meaningful change,” she said.
The Stakes for Children
Survivors and advocates say the current lack of oversight has allowed abuse to persist for decades. Many children sent to congregate care facilities are vulnerable, often coming from troubled homes or struggling with mental health challenges. Reports of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as overmedication, are widespread, yet accountability remains limited.
Hilton’s advocacy shines a spotlight on these issues, underscoring the need for immediate reform. By passing the bill, she argues, lawmakers have an opportunity to protect the nation’s most vulnerable children and ensure their safety and dignity.
What’s Next?
As Congress’s 118th legislative session wraps up, the pressure is on the House of Representatives to bring the bill to a vote. Hilton’s message is clear: Action is needed now.
“Survivors like me have carried this fight for far too long,” she wrote in her letter. “Now, I ask you to carry it across the finish line. Let’s make this a moment that our country can be proud of — a moment when we chose to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
The Bottom Line
Paris Hilton’s return to Capitol Hill underscores the urgency of passing the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. With unanimous Senate approval already secured, the bill’s fate now rests in the hands of the House. Hilton’s plea is a powerful reminder that for countless children in residential care facilities, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
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