“Last week a very disturbing matter came to light in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Mark Foley, a member of Congress, resigned his position when it became public that he had sent despicable messages to minors who had served as Pages in the Congress.

 

I think it is important that Mr. Foley resigned his position, because his actions are a terrible reflection on an institution that is meant to serve the American people in every way.  Moreover, his actions should be thoroughly investigated and made known to the public, and Mr. Foley should be held criminally accountable if he violated any law whatsoever.  The more important consideration is the Page system, which must also be addressed to ensure that our Pages are safe while they are serving the country. 

 

We have some great young men and women who arrive in Washington, D.C. each year to take part in the unique learning experience as a Page in the U. S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.  They are bright and enthusiastic high school students, and they must pass rigorous academic and character standards to be accepted into this highly competitive program.  Bill Emerson was one such Page, serving in the House in the 1950's.  More recently, I am particularly proud of the Pages from Southern Missouri who have done an exemplary job at their duties.

 

Though our Pages are gifted, smart young leaders, they are still children.  As a mother and a member of Congress, I am exceedingly concerned that Mr. Foley had this kind of access and influence on a still-young and very impressionable group of students, often working late and studying long hours to keep up with their schoolwork, far from home.

 

While they are in Washington, D.C., the Pages live in a dormitory that is under constant
supervision of special staff.  They may not leave the Capitol complex grounds unless a written request has been authorized by the headmistress of the Page program.  The program poses the serious responsibility, and major challenge, of accounting for the whereabouts of every Page for every moment of the day.

 

Yet this is a challenge that must be met, and must be met well, so that situations such as the one with Mr. Foley and in 1983 with Rep. Dan Crane and Rep. Gerry Studds never, ever arise again.

 

Mr. Foley’s actions are more than an indiscretion, they are an assault on the values of our Congress and a betrayal of the trust of the American people.  In a time when the work we do in Congress is so critical to the future of our country, on Homeland Security, on prescription drug prices, on strengthening our economy, all of this work has been overshadowed by the shame of one man who put his personal desires ahead of the good of our country.

 

I take two points away from this sad scandal.  First, that the Page system must be closely guarded by the staff in the Congress who are qualified to watch over this program.  We clearly need a new system of oversight, and equal representation from each party on the board that oversees the Page program.  Capitol Police officers and Page program staff must pass rigorous background checks, but even these procedures must be revisited in light of the access Mr. Foley gained to Pages. Secondly, Mr. Foley must be held responsible for his conduct.  Member of Congress or not, no one (and I mean no one) is above the law.  Because he held a position of public trust, Mr. Foley
should be judged especially harshly.

 

There is a message for parents here, too.  It is so difficult in this technological age to protect our children from predators of many kinds in many places.  The Internet, in particular, poses unique challenges for parents.  We have to be able to know when our children’s Internet habits are endangering them and we must communicate to our children that this kind of threat exists. 

 

If only in this last effort, some good may yet come of this depravity.”