IV
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 200
Expressing the sense of Congress in support of efforts to provide justice
for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 1, 1994
Mrs. SCHROEDER (for herself, Mrs. MORELLA, and Mr. REED) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress in support of efforts to
provide justice for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Whereas childhood sexual abuse is a deplorable violation of
the rights of some of our most vulnerable citizens, is un-
acceptable in a civilized society, and must be addressed
by appropriate legal sanctions;
Whereas the Congress has a substantial interest in the safety
and welfare of children in this country;
Whereas childhood sexual abuse is a pervasive national prob-
lem, with research indicating that between 11 and 62
percent of American females and between 3 and 22 per-
cent of American males are sexually abused during child-
hood;
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Whereas childhood sexual abuse inflicts devastating physical
and psychological injuries on its victims, often of a per-
manent nature;
Whereas traditional applications of statutes of limitations
have barred victims of childhood sexual abuse from ac-
cess to the courts to seek legal redress;
Whereas the operation of many State statutes of limitations
fosters the belief among perpetrators that society protects
them from any civil or criminal liability for sexually abus-
ing children, undermining society’s interest in deterring
sexual abuse;
Whereas the worst perpetrators often escape punishment be-
cause the trauma of childhood sexual abuse typically
causes effects such as denial, repression, and disassocia-
tion, which prevent the victim from remembering the
abuse or recognizing its injurious effects until many
years after the abuse has occurred;
Whereas fewer than half the States currently permit survi-
vors of childhood sexual abuse to bring civil suits within
a reasonable number of years after the survivor discovers
the connection between the abuse and the injuries it has
caused;
Whereas some States continue to apply a doctrine of parental
tort immunity that prevents survivors of incestuous child-
hood sexual abuse from bringing civil suits against the
abuser;
Whereas permitting survivors of childhood sexual abuse rea-
sonable access to the civil courts will permit such survi-
vors to obtain legal redress, punish and deter acts of
abuse, and signal society’s refusal to condone such abuse;
and
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Whereas the Congress will not tolerate the sexual abuse of
children, and is determined to ensure that those who sex-
ually abuse children are held accountable for their ac-
tions: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That—
(1) it is the sense of Congress that—
(A) unduly short State statutes of limita-
tions infringe upon the procedural due process
rights of adult survivors of childhood sexual
abuse who become aware of the harm of child-
hood sexual abuse later in life by denying them
access to the courts;
(B) the States and the District of Colum-
bia should enact comprehensive legislation that
affords victims of childhood sexual abuse access
to civil courts and should consider legislation al-
lowing criminal prosecution based on the evi-
dence offered by adult survivors of such abuse;
and
(C) the Attorney General should cooperate
with and assist adult survivors of childhood sex-
ual abuse, and gather data on State activities
in this area, including the need for Federal leg-
islation because of the States’ failure to act
with respect to such abuse; and
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(2) not later than 2 years after the date of the
adoption of this concurrent resolution, the Congress
commits itself to revisit the question of the adequacy
of State law to protect the rights of adult survivors
of childhood sexual abuse and to protect society’s in-
terest in deterring such abuse through the criminal
justice system.
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