Merkley, Cornyn, Tuberville Bipartisan Bill to Protect Kids from Institutional Abuse Unanimously Passes Senate

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation by Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Texas' U.S. Senator John Cornyn, and Alabama's U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville to provide much-needed analysis and evaluation of the troubled teen industry. The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act now awaits action in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The troubled teen industry has too many institutions that are operating irresponsibly. The result is that we've seen horrifying cases that can leave lasting scars: broken bones, psychological damage, sexual abuse, and even death," Merkley said. "This must change. And this study of the industry across the nation will be a huge first step in restoring accountability, ending abuse, and ensuring best practices. Every child deserves to receive the very best care."

"A lack of oversight and transparency in residential youth programs has allowed for the abuse of children in facilities across the country for far too long," Cornyn said. "I'm proud that the Senate unanimously passed this legislation to ensure the vulnerable children in these facilities are protected, and I want to thank the countless advocates who have bravely shared their stories to help end institutional child abuse."

"I dedicated my life to mentoring young people because they are the most precious commodity that we have. If we get everything else right, but neglect our young people, our country has no future. There's an old saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant. We need some more sunlight on these facilities so we can put a stop to the waste, and the fraud, and abuse in the system. I'm proud to support the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act and stand with our kids," Tuberville said.

Last year, Merkley, Cornyn, and Tuberville unveiled the bill with Paris Hilton, a youth residential care facility survivor and fierce advocate, and other abuse survivors during a Capitol Hill press conference. Hilton shared her two-year ordeal with the troubled teen industry, including strip searches, isolation, beatings, and restraints, and used her platform to speak out on behalf of thousands of survivors across the nation.

Their Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act:

• Implements urgent recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) including the development of robust information-sharing systems among states that also promote the dissemination of best practices for identifying and preventing institutional child abuse.
• Directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to consult with representatives from the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and other relevant federal agencies to -
  • Produce a comprehensive detailed map of the complex web of youth residential programs across the country.
  • Develop and publish recommendations to aggregate youth residential program data, develop and utilize risk assessment tools, and support the development and implementation of educational training resources for professional personnel in relevant fields.
  • Conduct a study on the use of restraints, seclusion, and other restrictive interventions in youth residential programs.
  • Assess the effectiveness of these interventions, identifying best practices for their use, and determining the impact they have on the mental health and well-being of youth.

The bipartisan bill is supported by 23 Senators and similar legislation in the House led by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) and Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-GA-01) has the support of 116 members. It has been endorsed by Century Foundation, Rights4Girls, First Focus Campaign for Children, Juvenile Justice Coalition, The Arc of the United States, Lives in the Balance, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Huntington, New Jersey Parents Caucus, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Neurodivergent Liberation Coalition, DGH Neurodivergent Consultancy, NeuroClastic, Medical Whistleblower Advocacy Network, Incarcerated Nation Network, AbleChild, We Warned Them, and other advocates.

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