Reschenthaler works to expand path to justice for child sex abuse victims

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) on June 14 cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would remove any statutes of limitations for survivors of child sex abuse and sex trafficking seeking justice under federal law. 

“As a former district judge, I saw firsthand the long-term physical and mental toll childhood sexual abuse takes on survivors,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “By eliminating the statute of limitations to seek civil damages in federal court, we can ensure survivors of these heinous crimes receive the justice they deserve.” 

The Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2022, H.R. 8061, which Rep. Reschenthaler introduced with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC), would amend the United States Code to eliminate the statute of limitations for the filing of a civil claim for any person who, while a minor, was a victim of a violation of numerous sections of the code, according to the congressional record bill summary, including aggravated sexual abuse, sex trafficking, human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual exploitation and pornography. 

Under current federal law, no statute of limitations bars the prosecution of criminal offenses involving child sex abuse anytime while the child victim is alive or 10 years after the offense, whichever is later, although statutes of limitations remain an obstacle for survivors under the federal civil remedy statute of U.S. Code, according to information provided by Rep. Reschenthaler’s office. 

And while Congress increased the statute of limitations for federal civil child sex abuse claims until a victim reached age 28 or until 10 years from the discovery of the violation or injury, the statute of limitations still does not address the current state of research on delayed disclosure by victims, the information says. 

If enacted, H.R. 8061 would address delayed disclosure by eliminating all statutes of limitations on filing a federal civil suit.

H.R. 8061 has been endorsed by CHILD USA, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, RAINN, and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. 

The bill is companion legislation to S. 3103, introduced in October 2021 by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Their chamber passed S. 3103 in March by unanimous consent and sent it to the U.S. House of Representatives for action.