H.R. 7467

[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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