[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7467 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7467
To amend title 18, United States Code, to create a civil cause of
action for certain crimes and to eliminate the statute of limitations
for civil actions relating to certain crimes, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2026
Ms. Leger Fernandez introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to create a civil cause of
action for certain crimes and to eliminate the statute of limitations
for civil actions relating to certain crimes, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Virginia's Law''.
SEC. 2. CIVIL REMEDIES.
(a) Sexual Abuse.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 109A of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 2249. Civil remedy
``(a) An individual who is a victim of a violation of this chapter
may bring a civil action against the perpetrator (or whoever knowingly
benefits, or attempts or conspires to benefit, financially or by
receiving anything of value from participation in a venture which that
person knew or should have known has engaged in an act in violation of
this chapter) in any district court of the United States that has
jurisdiction to hear a criminal prosecution arising out of the same
conduct or occurrence and may recover damages and reasonable attorneys
fees.
``(b)(1) Any civil action filed under subsection (a) shall be
stayed during the pendency of any criminal action arising out of the
same occurrence in which the claimant is the victim.
``(2) In this subsection, the term `criminal action' includes
investigation and prosecution and is pending until final adjudication
in the trial court.
``(c)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no action may be maintained
under subsection (a) unless it is commenced not later than the later
of--
``(A) 10 years after the cause of action arose; or
``(B) 10 years after the victim reaches 18 years of age, if
the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged offense.
``(2) There shall be no time limit for the filing of a complaint
commencing an action under this section relating to an alleged
violation of section 2241, 2242, or 2243.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
109A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``2249. Civil remedy.''.
(b) Transportation for Illegal Sexual Activity and Related
Crimes.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 117 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 2430. Civil remedy
``(a) An individual who is a victim of a violation of this chapter
may bring a civil action against the perpetrator (or whoever knowingly
benefits, or attempts or conspires to benefit, financially or by
receiving anything of value from participation in a venture which that
person knew or should have known has engaged in an act in violation of
this chapter) in any district court of the United States that has
jurisdiction to hear a criminal prosecution arising out of the same
conduct or occurrence and may recover damages and reasonable attorneys
fees.
``(b)(1) Any civil action filed under subsection (a) shall be
stayed during the pendency of any criminal action arising out of the
same occurrence in which the claimant is the victim.
``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a `criminal action'--
``(A) includes investigation and prosecution; and
``(B) is pending until final adjudication in the trial
court.
``(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no action may be
maintained under subsection (a) unless it is commenced not later than
the later of--
``(A) 10 years after the cause of action arose; or
``(B) 10 years after the victim reaches 18 years of age, if
the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged offense.
``(2) There shall be no time limit for the filing of a complaint
commencing an action under this section relating to an alleged
violation of section 2421, 2422, or 2423.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
117 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``2430. Civil remedy.''.
SEC. 3. ELIMINATION OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
Section 1595 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``an appropriate
district court of the United States'' and inserting ``any
district court of the United States that has jurisdiction to
hear a criminal prosecution arising out of the same conduct or
occurrence''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting
the margins accordingly;
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (B), as so
redesignated, by striking ``(c) No action'' and
inserting the following:
``(c)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no action''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) There shall be no time limit for the filing of a complaint
commencing an action under this section relating to an alleged
violation of section 1589, 1590, or 1591.''.
SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), this Act and the
amendments made by this Act shall apply to--
(1) any claim or action that, as of the date of enactment
of this Act, would not have been barred under section 1595(c)
of title 18, United States Code, as in effect on the day before
the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) any claim or action arising on or after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(b) 1-Year Look Back Period.--
(1) Covered action defined.--In this subsection, the term
``covered action''--
(A) means--
(i) a civil action that could have been
brought on the day before the date of enactment
of this Act under section 2249 or 2430 of title
18, United States Code, as added by this Act,
if that section had been in effect on that day;
and
(ii) a civil action under section 1595 of
title 18, United States Code, relating to an
alleged violation of section 1589, 1590, or
1591 of that title that was barred under
section 1595(c) of that title as in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of this
Act; and
(B) includes a civil action described in
subparagraph (A)(ii) that was dismissed before the date
of enactment of this Act on the basis of the time limit
imposed on commencing an action under section 1595(c)
of title 18, United States Code, as in effect on the
day before the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Filing period.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, a covered action may be commenced during the 1-year period
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
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