Paris Hilton has testified to Congress that she was sexually abused and drugged during her time in a residential care facility.
Hilton, a longtime advocate for child welfare and facility regulation, appeared before the House Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday. The hearing focused on strengthening the child welfare system, and featured testimony from several expert witnesses including Hilton.
The heir spoke of his childhood in a youth housing facility, often referred to collectively as the “troubled youth industry.” The 43-year-old told the committee how he was ripped from his bed at home at the age of 16 and taken to the first of four facilities he will be in.
Hilton has previously revealed that her parents sent her to the facility after she started clubbing and partying at the age of 15.
“The program promised healing, growth and support, but it didn’t allow me to speak, move freely or even look out the window for two years,” Hilton told the panel.
“I was drugged and sexually abused by staff. I was violently controlled and dragged through the hallways, stripped naked and thrown into solitary confinement.
Hilton would deal with abuse at the facility by pretending to be someone else, he said The Independent last year.
“I’m so sick I’m living this Barbie doll fantasy,” Hilton said. “This is a character I put on as a mask to protect myself.”
On Wednesday, Hilton said she supported the committee’s bipartisan effort to reauthorize the child welfare reform act — Title IV-B of the Social Security Act — which expires in 2021.
The heir also urged lawmakers to pass the Institutional Child Abuse Act, which would create a federal task force on youth housing programs. The working group will make recommendations on how to improve the safety and care of children placed in residential programs.
Hilton told the committee that youth housing programs often care more about the benefits of child safety.
“It means they’re trying to spend as little money as possible, and the type of employees they’re hiring are people who aren’t vetted, people who aren’t around kids,” Hilton said.
Hilton had previously identified Utah’s Provo Canyon School, a youth residential facility, as one of the places he faced abuse. The school has faced numerous lawsuits, license threats and reports of abuse from some students,Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The school said they could not comment on Hilton’s allegations when they first came to light because they have since switched management.
“What we can say is that the school provides a structured environment that teaches life skills, provides behavioral health therapy, and continuing education for youth who come with existing and complex emotional, behavioral and psychiatric needs,” the school said in a statement. . statement 2021.
Hilton encouraged lawmakers to bring in legislation that would require the program to allow children to talk to parents or trusted adults.
“All outside contact was controlled, and they always had a staff member sitting next to me,” Hilton said of her time in the program.
“So, if I say something negative about the facility, they immediately hang up and then I’m punished, and physically beaten or thrown into solitary confinement.”
Lawmakers praised Hilton’s testimony during the hearing.
“Ms. Hilton, I want to thank you for your powerful and powerful testimony today, and the work you did to not only highlight the problems you have, but the problems other people face every day. “Basically,” said Deputy Mike Thompson.
“Miss Hilton, I am reading your story for the first time Vanity Fair. I don’t usually read that magazine, my wife does. He said to me, ‘You have to read this story. You won’t believe what happened to him,'” said Deputy Mike Kelly. “You told me what happened to you … it was incredible and opened up a new vision for all of us.”
Hilton also shared a moment with Representative Claudia Tenney: “”I love your jacket,” Hilton told the lawmaker. “The glitter is amazing.”
“I have a little bling here for today,” Tenney replied.
Hilton also appeared in Congress in 2021, where she advocated for lawmakers to adopt a “Bill of Rights” for children in residential facilities.
On Wednesday she said she hopes her testimony makes a difference in the lives of children like her.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be able to do this for children who don’t have a voice and to be the hero that I needed when I was a little girl scared in this place,” she said.