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Chairman Miller Statement on GAO
Referral to FBI in Death of Child at Missouri Residential Program
Thursday, October 25, 2007
 WASHINGTON,
DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House
Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today.
“I was informed today by the U.S.
Government Accountability Office that it has made a referral to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the death of 15-year-old
Roberto Reyes while he was attending the Thayer Learning Center in
Kidder, Missouri, in 2004.
“In light of the seriousness of
this case – in which neglect, if not outright abuse, likely
contributed to the death of a child – I urge the FBI to treat this
referral with urgency.
“Roberto Reyes was one of an untold
number of children who have died in residential treatment programs
around the country. Earlier this month, the GAO reported finding
thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect at these
programs, which include boot camps like Thayer, wilderness camps,
and other types of programs for troubled children.
“We must do everything we can to
end this nightmare of institutionalized child abuse. There is a
clear and urgent need for Congress to act to regulate these
programs, and that is what we intend to do.”
On October 10, the Education and
Labor Committee held a hearing on cases of child abuse and neglect
at residential treatment programs for children.
Click here for more information.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/edlabor_dem/rel102507b.html
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