Swalwell, Ross, Reschenthaler, Salazar Legislation to Help Seek Justice for Child Sex Abuse Survivors to be Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act – a bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure that survivors of child sex abuse can seek justice under federal civil statutes without being barred by statutes of limitations -- passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Representative Eric Swalwell introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives along with Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), and Maria Salazar (FL-27).
Eighty- six percent of child sexual abuse goes unreported, and the average age child sex abuse is reported is 52. The Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act will enable survivors who were victims of over a dozen federal child sex abuse offenses to seek civil damages in federal court regardless of the time it takes to process and disclose the abuse.
“We must not put an expiration date on justice," said Swalwell. “There is simply no reason why accountability should ever be denied to our most vulnerable children after suffering such heinous abuses.”
“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 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.”
“In many cases, it takes years for survivors to process the trauma of childhood sexual abuse,” said 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.”
“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 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.”
Under current federal law, no statute of limitations bars the prosecution of criminal offenses involving child sex abuse. With the passage of the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act, the statute of limitations will no longer serve as an obstacle for survivors on the civil side, allowing children to seek accountability for lifetime medical and psychological harms that survivors suffer. I look forward to President Biden swiftly signing this bill into law to protect our children.
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