Virginia’s Law

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7467 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 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 subsec