Paris Hilton was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to advocate for little one welfare reform throughout a listening to earlier than the Home Methods and Means Committee.
“I’m right here to be the voice for the youngsters whose voices can’t be heard,” Hilton stated throughout ready testimony. “In case you are a toddler within the system, hear my phrases. I see you. I imagine you. I do know what you’re going by, and I gained’t quit on you.”
The truth TV star has been an advocate for safeguarding foster care kids in recent times and has detailed the alleged abuse she suffered as a young person at a number of residential therapy services.
“Whereas my expertise was not by the foster care system, I do know from private expertise the hurt that’s brought on by being positioned in youth residential therapy services,” Hilton stated. “These applications promise therapeutic, development and assist however as a substitute, didn’t permit me to talk, transfer freely and even look out a window for 2 years.”
Throughout her opening assertion, Hilton shared tales of kids she stated suffered abuse and even died whereas in some of these services.
“Why can’t we as a society see that these youngsters are hurting?” Hilton requested. “They want love and kindness, not beatings and restraints.”
In response to the Home Methods and Means Committee, there are presently 34,000 foster care youth residing in residential therapy services.
“From my very own expertise, it has triggered me extreme post-traumatic stress dysfunction and trauma that I’ll have for the remainder of my life,” Hilton stated.
The listening to was centered on strengthening little one welfare applications by the reauthorization of Title IV-B.
Since 2023, Hilton has additionally advocated for the Cease Institutional Little one Abuse Act. The laws, which has bipartisan assist, would create extra transparency inside youth services and supply pointers to states to forestall abuse.