House Passes Reschenthaler Bill to Help Victims of Child Sex Abuse and Sex Trafficking Seek Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote S. 3103, the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act, the Senate companion to legislation introduced by Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27). S. 3103 now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
This bipartisan legislation will ensure that survivors of child sex abuse and sex trafficking can seek justice under the federal civil remedy statute without being barred by statutes of limitations. Specifically, it will enable survivors who are victims of more than a dozen federal child sex abuse offenses, including aggravated sexual abuse, sex trafficking, human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual exploitation and pornography, to seek civil damages in federal court regardless of how long it took to process and disclose the abuse they suffered.
“In many cases, it takes years for survivors to process the trauma of childhood sexual abuse,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “The statute of limitations should not prevent survivors from seeking civil justice in federal court. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House for passing this legislation to eliminate unnecessary barriers to justice and support survivors of child sex abuse and sex trafficking.”
“It often takes years – sometimes decades – to process the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, and statutes of limitations result in many individuals never seeing their day in court,” said Rep. Ross. “All survivors deserve access to justice – no matter how long it takes them to process the trauma they’ve experienced. Our bipartisan legislation will ensure our most vulnerable can seek the justice they deserve. I thank my colleagues for working with me to pass this important legislation, and I look forward to President Biden signing it into law soon.”
“We must not put an expiration date on justice,” said Rep. Swalwell. “While 86 percent of child sexual abuse goes unreported nationwide, the average survivor who chooses to report doesn’t come forward until the age of 52. The bipartisan Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act will help ensure survivors have their day in court no matter how long it takes to disclose the abuses they suffered.”
“Victims of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking have gone through unfathomable trauma. We must have zero tolerance for the perpetrators of these horrific crimes,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am proud that this vital legislation has been passed to ensure that the vile humans who take advantage of the most vulnerable do not get away unpunished.”
The Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act is endorsed by the following organizations: CHILD USA, RAINN, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV).
The full text of the bill can be viewed here.
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