WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - Reality TV star Paris

Hilton called for greater federal oversight of youth care

programs at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing on

Wednesday as she described her traumatic experience in youth

care facilities.

Hilton, 43, the great-granddaughter of Hilton Hotels founder

Conrad Hilton, has spoken publicly about the emotional and

physical abuse she endured when she was placed in residential

youth treatment facilities as a teen.

In remarks to the committee on Wednesday, she described

being taken from her bed in the middle of the night at age 16

and transported across state lines to a residential facility

where she experienced physical and sexual abuse.

"This $23 billion industry sees this population (of

vulnerable children) as dollar signs and operates without

meaningful oversight," she said.

"There's no education in these places, there's mold and

blood on the walls," she added in response to lawmaker

questions. "It's horrifying what these places are like. They're

worse than some dog kennels."

Hilton said private equity firms that have

taken a greater stake in the industry

in recent years focus on maximizing profits, prompting them

to hire unqualified workers.

"They're caring more about profit than the safety of

children," she said.

Hilton first described her experience at a Utah facility -

which she said has left her with post-traumatic stress disorder

that she continues to suffer from - in 2021, and has been a

vocal advocate for greater oversight of the system.

"These programs promised 'healing, growth, and support,'

but instead did not allow me to speak, move freely, or even look

out of a window for two years," Hilton told the committee. "My

parents were completely deceived - lied to and manipulated by

this for-profit industry - so you can only imagine the

experience for youth who don't have anyone checking in on them."

Several lawmakers agreed that more federal oversight was

necessary.

"We must always be concerned about fraud and guard

against Wall Street vultures snatching public funds to line

their pockets," Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell said.

"We cannot allow the private equity octopus to reach its

tentacles into child services."