Biden Signs Bill To Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Victims of Child Sex Abuse

What’s the story?

• President Biden signed a bill on Friday that eliminates the statute of limitations to file civil claims for people sexually abused as minors, known as the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act. 
• The act — introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and co-sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) — passed unanimously in the Senate in March and was passed by the House last week by voice vote. 
• By removing the statute of limitations, the bill puts an end to the time limit for victims to file civil claims related to crimes against them as minors, including forced labor, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation. Any of these crimes that already reached the statute of limitations will be able to be reported.
• Under the previous law, survivors had until age 28 or a decade after the violation or injury was discovered to file civil claims. No federal statute of limitations is in place for criminal claims regarding child sex abuse. 

What they’re saying?  

• Sen. Durbin made a statement after the House passed the bill, which said: 

“The science of trauma is clear: it often takes years for victims to come forward. Our bipartisan bill honors the basic notions of justice for survivors... By signing this legislation into law, we can finally help survivors have their day in court and a moment of healing–when they are ready.”

• During the House debate, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) argued that the previous statutes of limitations served to protect abusers, enabling them to exploit their power. He added: 

“Unfortunately, because survivors of child sexual abuse often delay reporting, any statutes of limitations may prevent survivors accessing justice and seeking damages in civil court.”

Do you support this bill? 

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: Flickr/The White House)