Standing with survivors in Rochester, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced new legislation he says would stop abusers from escaping justice by running out the clock.
Schumer unveiled “Virginia’s Law” at the Willow Domestic Violence Center on Feb. 16. The bill would eliminate the federal statute of limitations for adult survivors bringing civil claims in sexual exploitation cases.
“Justice should not expire. No survivor should ever be told that the law failed them, and time mattered more than the truth. That’s why I’m proud to introduce Virginia’s Law to eliminate the federal statute of limitations barriers that have kept too many survivors from pursuing justice,” Schumer said. “Our law makes clear that abusers, and those who enabled them, cannot escape responsibility by running out the clock. It makes clear the law will empower survivors to pursue justice, and it recognizes something survivors have always known: time does not erase harm. Jeffrey Epstein depended on silence and fear, on a system that protected power instead of protecting people. Today, we are saying no more. The time for justice is now, and Congress must act.”
Under current federal law, adult survivors must bring civil claims within 10 years of the abuse. Schumer said that limit has allowed criminals like Jeffrey Epstein to avoid accountability.
The proposal would remove the federal statute of limitations for adult survivors filing civil claims. It would also create new causes of action without time limits and apply the changes extraterritorially, so abusers cannot avoid civil liability by taking victims outside the United States.
The bill honors Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s early accusers.
“This bill carries Virginia Giuffre’s name because she spoke when so many were told not to. The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have waited long enough. Virginia waited long enough. We can’t let abusers hide behind their power and the clock. Virginia’s story and the stories of so many other survivors in Rochester and beyond demand more than sympathy; they demand action. The time for justice is now,” Schumer added.
Local advocates backed the proposal.
“Virginia’s Law restores power to survivors by removing arbitrary time limits on civil justice,” said Meaghan de Chateauvieux, president and CEO of Willow Domestic Violence Center. “Accountability should not expire because trauma takes time to process. This legislation sends a clear message: when survivors are ready, the law will be ready.”
Melanie Blow, board vice president of the Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking, said, “We know victims of sexual violence rarely report their abuse when it happens. This is especially true for trafficking victims, who tend to fear law enforcement and face so much instability when they are free from their traffickers. Ten years is not enough time for someone to put their life back together and completely change their world view. Statutes of limitation ensure that most traffickers and sex-purchasers are above the law. We strive for a world where victims, not traffickers, are safe, and we see Virginia’s Law as an important tool to make that happen.”
Michelle Casey, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, said, “A vital component of that respect is the awareness that survivors do not heal on a legal timeline. Virginia’s Law removes arbitrary barriers that have prevented many from seeking accountability whaen they are finally ready. At Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York and RESTORE, we see every day how trauma impacts readiness to come forward – expanding access to civil justice is a critical step toward survivor autonomy, healing, and meaningful accountability.”
Schumer has pushed for years to release the Epstein files and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. He also delivered $325,000 in federal funding to the Willow Domestic Violence Center in 2023.
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