Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, hosted a roundtable discussion with other members of Congress, advocates, and survivors of sexual assault. During the roundtable, the group discussed the need for policy reforms to remove barriers that impede survivors of sexual abuse and violence from seeking accountability and justice and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

“Survivors of sexual violence face a lifetime of healing and recovery—it takes time to process these horrific experiences and heal just enough to come forward and seek justice. It took me nearly four decades to share my own story as a survivor,” said Kuster. “Unfortunately, statutes of limitations often serve as barriers to survivors seeking justice and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Thank you to the advocates and survivors with us here today for participating in this important discussion about what steps Congress can take to end the scourge of sexual assault in our country, hold perpetrators accountable, and support survivors while they heal, recover, and seek justice.” 

Statutes of limitations for sex crimes vary by state and situation, and only 16 states have no statute of limitation for sex crimes. New Hampshire’s statute of limitations for felony sexual assaults is 6 years unless the victim is a minor, in which case charges can be filed until the victim turns 40. However, in 2020, the New Hampshire State Legislature successfully repealed the statute of limitations for civil cases involving sex crimes, although repealing the statute of limitations for criminal cases did not have the support to pass. 

Kuster founded the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence in 2017 and has championed legislative proposals and initiatives to address sexual violence, support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and improve law enforcement training.

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