House Education Clears Bill To Regulate Juvenile Boot Camps

Wed. May 14, 2008


House Education and Labor Committee
Bill: H.R. 5876
Committee Vote: 27-16-5

by Michael Posner

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2008) – The House Education and Labor Committee agreed Wednesday to legislation ordering federal regulations to stop physical abuse of teenagers in therapeutic boarding schools, military-style boot camps or wilderness facilities.

By a 27-16 mostly party line roll call [Vote 5], the committee approved the bill (H.R. 5876) and sent it to the House. It was sponsored by House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., with 15 co-sponsors.

Committee hearings and a Government Accountability Office investigation found thousands of instances where teen-agers sent to the remedial facilities because of disciplinary or behavioral problems were allegedly abused during a period between 1994 and 2007. In some cases, the youths died.

“What we have learned is shocking, infuriating and heartbreaking,” Miller told his colleagues. He said the residential facilities hold tens of thousands of children.

Miller recounted stories about programs forcing the teenagers to stay in so-called stress positions for hours at a time or to undergo extreme physical activity without food, water or rest. Others were forced to stand with bags over their heads and nooses around their necks in mock hangings. Some with food allergies were forced to eat food that made them sick.

“We have heard from parents of children who died preventable deaths at the hands of untrained, uncaring staff members,” said Miller.

Abuses happened because of lack of monitoring or because of inadequate state laws or regulations. Some states have no regulations, he noted.

His bill has a two-tiered approach to the problem. The Department of Health and Human Services would be required to issue health and safety regulations with minimum standards of treatment at the facilities. The federal agency would monitor the facilities in the beginning, but after three years, the states would take over the supervision of the facilities using their own standards if they are at least as strong as the federal rules. States would receive federal grants to oversee the programs.

Republicans agreed there were abuses that needed remedial action but opposed the federal regulatory scheme as well as a provision that would allow parents or caregivers to file lawsuits in cases of abuse.

The legislation as introduced would cover only those non-governmental facilities that provide a residential environment to deal with emotional, behavioral or mental health problems. Drug or alcohol rehabilitation facilities also would be covered.

The bill that was approved was a substitute to Miller’s original measure. The substitute responded in part to a complaint by ranking member Howard McKeon, R-Calif. He said regulations should cover both public and private facilities.

The Miller substitute that went to the House would require both public and private facilities and programs to be covered once the states take over the supervision. His substitute also raised from $50 million to $200 million a year for FY09 through FY13 the total grants to the states.

A Republican substitute by McKeon requiring only state regulations without an initial federal regulatory effort was defeated on a 24-17 party line roll call [Vote 1]. McKeon argued there should not be two layers of regulations. His defeated plan also would have required states to write regulations within 18 months.

Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., proposed an amendment barring earmarks for specific programs but it was defeated 25-18 [Vote 2]. Another Price amendment to limit attorney fees to $1,000 an hour in private civil suits over abuse cases lost on a 25-17 roll call [Vote 3].

And an amendment introduced by Rep. Virginia Fox, R-N.C., was defeated on a 26-17 roll call [Vote 4] when she attempted to eliminate authority for private citizens to file federal law suits.


Bill: H.R. 5876 Vote: 1

McKeon amendment requiring only state regulations without an initial federal regulatory effort.

Tally: 17 Yes, 24 No, 7 Not Voting

Democrats (27)

N    Miller (D-Calif.)
N    Kildee (D-Mich.)
N    Payne (D-N.J.)
NV   Andrews (D-N.J.)
NV   Scott (D-Va.)
N    Woolsey (D-Calif.)
N    Hinojosa (D-Texas)
N    McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
N    Tierney (D-Mass.)
N    Kucinich (D-Ohio)
N    Wu (D-Ore.)
N    Holt (D-N.J.)
N    Davis (D-Calif.)
N    Davis (D-Ill.)
N    Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
N    Bishop (D-N.Y.)
N    Sanchez (D-Calif.)
N    Sarbanes (D-Md.)
N    Sestak (D-Pa.)
N    Loebsack (D-Iowa)
N    Hirono (D-Hawaii)
N    Altmire (D-Pa.)
NV   Yarmuth (D-Ky.)
N    Hare (D-Ill.)
N    Clarke (D-N.Y.)
N    Courtney (D-Conn.)
N    Shea-Porter (D-N.H.)

Republicans (21)

Y    McKeon (R-Calif.)
Y    Petri (R-Wis.)
NV   Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
Y    Castle (R-Del.)
Y    Souder (R-Ind.)
Y    Ehlers (R-Mich.)
Y    Biggert (R-Ill.)
Y    Platts (R-Pa.)
NV   Keller (R-Fla.)
Y    Wilson (R-S.C.)
Y    Kline (R-Minn.)
Y    McMorris (R-Wash.)
NV   Marchant (R-Texas)
Y    Price (R-Ga.)
Y    Fortuno (R-Puerto Rico)
NV   Boustany (R-La.)
Y    Foxx (R-N.C.)
Y    Kuhl (R-N.Y.)
Y    Bishop (R-Utah)
Y    Davis (R-Tenn.)
Y    Walberg (R-Mich.)


Bill: H.R. 5876 Vote: 2

Price amendment to bar earmarks for specific programs.

Tally: 18 Yes, 25 No, 5 Not Voting

Democrats (27)

N    Miller (D-Calif.)
N    Kildee (D-Mich.)
N    Payne (D-N.J.)
NV   Andrews (D-N.J.)
NV   Scott (D-Va.)
N    Woolsey (D-Calif.)
N    Hinojosa (D-Texas)
N    McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
N    Tierney (D-Mass.)
N    Kucinich (D-Ohio)
N    Wu (D-Ore.)
N    Holt (D-N.J.)
N    Davis (D-Calif.)
N    Davis (D-Ill.)
N    Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
N    Bishop (D-N.Y.)
N    Sanchez (D-Calif.)
N    Sarbanes (D-Md.)
N    Sestak (D-Pa.)
N    Loebsack (D-Iowa)
N    Hirono (D-Hawaii)
N    Altmire (D-Pa.)
N    Yarmuth (D-Ky.)
N    Hare (D-Ill.)
N    Clarke (D-N.Y.)
N    Courtney (D-Conn.)
N    Shea-Porter (D-N.H.)

Republicans (21)

Y    McKeon (R-Calif.)
Y    Petri (R-Wis.)
NV   Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
Y    Castle (R-Del.)
Y    Souder (R-Ind.)
Y    Ehlers (R-Mich.)
Y    Biggert (R-Ill.)
Y    Platts (R-Pa.)
NV   Keller (R-Fla.)
Y    Wilson (R-S.C.)
Y    Kline (R-Minn.)
Y    McMorris (R-Wash.)
NV   Marchant (R-Texas)
Y    Price (R-Ga.)
Y    Fortuno (R-Puerto Rico)
Y    Boustany (R-La.)
Y    Foxx (R-N.C.)
Y    Kuhl (R-N.Y.)
Y    Bishop (R-Utah)
Y    Davis (R-Tenn.)
Y    Walberg (R-Mich.)


Bill: H.R. 5876 Vote: 3

Price amendment to limit attorneys fees to $1,000 an hour.

Tally: 17 Yes, 25 No, 6 Not Voting

Democrats (27)

N    Miller (D-Calif.)
N    Kildee (D-Mich.)
N    Payne (D-N.J.)
NV   Andrews (D-N.J.)
NV   Scott (D-Va.)
N    Woolsey (D-Calif.)
N    Hinojosa (D-Texas)
N    McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
N    Tierney (D-Mass.)
N    Kucinich (D-Ohio)
N    Wu (D-Ore.)
N    Holt (D-N.J.)
N    Davis (D-Calif.)
N    Davis (D-Ill.)
N    Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
N    Bishop (D-N.Y.)
N    Sanchez (D-Calif.)
N    Sarbanes (D-Md.)
N    Sestak (D-Pa.)
N    Loebsack (D-Iowa)
N    Hirono (D-Hawaii)
N    Altmire (D-Pa.)
N    Yarmuth (D-Ky.)
N    Hare (D-Ill.)
N    Clarke (D-N.Y.)
N    Courtney (D-Conn.)
N    Shea-Porter (D-N.H.)

Republicans (21)

Y    McKeon (R-Calif.)
Y    Petri (R-Wis.)
NV   Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
Y    Castle (R-Del.)
NV   Souder (R-Ind.)
Y    Ehlers (R-Mich.)
Y    Biggert (R-Ill.)
Y    Platts (R-Pa.)
NV   Keller (R-Fla.)
Y    Wilson (R-S.C.)
Y    Kline (R-Minn.)
Y    McMorris (R-Wash.)
NV   Marchant (R-Texas)
Y    Price (R-Ga.)
Y    Fortuno (R-Puerto Rico)
Y    Boustany (R-La.)
Y    Foxx (R-N.C.)
Y    Kuhl (R-N.Y.)
Y    Bishop (R-Utah)
Y    Davis (R-Tenn.)
Y    Walberg (R-Mich.)


Bill: H.R. 5876 Vote: 4

Fox amendment to eliminate authority for private citizens to file federal lawsuits.

Tally: 17 Yes, 26 No, 5 Not Voting

Democrats (27)

N    Miller (D-Calif.)
N    Kildee (D-Mich.)
N    Payne (D-N.J.)
NV   Andrews (D-N.J.)
NV   Scott (D-Va.)
N    Woolsey (D-Calif.)
N    Hinojosa (D-Texas)
N    McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
N    Tierney (D-Mass.)
N    Kucinich (D-Ohio)
N    Wu (D-Ore.)
N    Holt (D-N.J.)
N    Davis (D-Calif.)
N    Davis (D-Ill.)
N    Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
N    Bishop (D-N.Y.)
N    Sanchez (D-Calif.)
N    Sarbanes (D-Md.)
N    Sestak (D-Pa.)
N    Loebsack (D-Iowa)
N    Hirono (D-Hawaii)
N    Altmire (D-Pa.)
N    Yarmuth (D-Ky.)
N    Hare (D-Ill.)
N    Clarke (D-N.Y.)
N    Courtney (D-Conn.)
N    Shea-Porter (D-N.H.)

Republicans (21)

Y    McKeon (R-Calif.)
Y    Petri (R-Wis.)
NV   Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
Y    Castle (R-Del.)
Y    Souder (R-Ind.)
Y    Ehlers (R-Mich.)
Y    Biggert (R-Ill.)
N    Platts (R-Pa.)
NV   Keller (R-Fla.)
Y    Wilson (R-S.C.)
Y    Kline (R-Minn.)
Y    McMorris (R-Wash.)
NV   Marchant (R-Texas)
Y    Price (R-Ga.)
Y    Fortuno (R-Puerto Rico)
Y    Boustany (R-La.)
Y    Foxx (R-N.C.)
Y    Kuhl (R-N.Y.)
Y    Bishop (R-Utah)
Y    Davis (R-Tenn.)
Y    Walberg (R-Mich.)


Bill: H.R. 5876 Vote: 5

To approve H.R. 5876.

Tally: 27 Yes, 16 No, 5 Not Voting

Democrats (27)

Y    Miller (D-Calif.)
Y    Kildee (D-Mich.)
Y    Payne (D-N.J.)
NV   Andrews (D-N.J.)
NV   Scott (D-Va.)
Y    Woolsey (D-Calif.)
Y    Hinojosa (D-Texas)
Y    McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
Y    Tierney (D-Mass.)
Y    Kucinich (D-Ohio)
Y    Wu (D-Ore.)
Y    Holt (D-N.J.)
Y    Davis (D-Calif.)
Y    Davis (D-Ill.)
Y    Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
Y    Bishop (D-N.Y.)
Y    Sanchez (D-Calif.)
Y    Sarbanes (D-Md.)
Y    Sestak (D-Pa.)
Y    Loebsack (D-Iowa)
Y    Hirono (D-Hawaii)
Y    Altmire (D-Pa.)
Y    Yarmuth (D-Ky.)
Y    Hare (D-Ill.)
Y    Clarke (D-N.Y.)
Y    Courtney (D-Conn.)
Y    Shea-Porter (D-N.H.)

Republicans (21)

N    McKeon (R-Calif.)
N    Petri (R-Wis.)
NV   Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
N    Castle (R-Del.)
N    Souder (R-Ind.)
N    Ehlers (R-Mich.)
N    Biggert (R-Ill.)
Y    Platts (R-Pa.)
NV   Keller (R-Fla.)
N    Wilson (R-S.C.)
N    Kline (R-Minn.)
N    McMorris (R-Wash.)
NV   Marchant (R-Texas)
N    Price (R-Ga.)
Y    Fortuno (R-Puerto Rico)
N    Boustany (R-La.)
N    Foxx (R-N.C.)
N    Kuhl (R-N.Y.)
N    Bishop (R-Utah)
N    Davis (R-Tenn.)
N    Walberg (R-Mich.)

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