Press Release - Joint Statement from Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader John Boehner and Majority Whip Roy Blunt on the Congressman Mark Foley Ma

Joint Statement from Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader John Boehner and Majority Whip Roy Blunt on the Congressman Mark Foley Matter

Washington, D.C. - Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) today released the following joint statement on the Congressman Mark Foley matter:

"Members of Congress are given the trust of the American people who have elected them to office. They are expected to live up to the highest standard by those who send them to our nation's Capitol.

"The improper communications between Congressman Mark Foley and former House Congressional pages is unacceptable and abhorrent. It is an obscene breach of trust. His immediate resignation must now be followed by the full weight of the criminal justice system.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that the students in the Page Program are as safe in the nation's Capitol as they are in their own homes. While we have gone to great lengths to create a safe environment for House Pages, we must do more and we must also consider ways to protect them after they leave.

"We have asked the House Page Board to undertake a full review of the incident and propose additional safeguard measures. We have also asked for the creation of a toll-free telephone number for House Pages, parents, grandparents, and staff to confidentially report incidents of concern.

"In addition, we have asked the Committee on Standards to consider and recommend specific rules governing communications and contacts between Members and House Pages."

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