New York, NY – Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Committee on Social Services, today released the following statement regarding the announcement that her bill A.648, the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) has enough votes to pass the New York State Assembly and will be taken up before the end of the 2022 Legislative Session ends on June 2, 2022. The ASA, like the Child Victims Act, will open a one-year window within which adult survivors of sexual assault can sue their abusers, and the institutions that harbored them, in civil court.

“Today is a watershed moment for survivors of sexual assault in New York and across the country. Today, New York State recognizes that ensuring justice for survivors of sexual assault is more important than maintaining arbitrary statutes of limitations that have for years shielded predators from justice.

When the Adult Survivors Act finally becomes law, the doors of justice will be flung wide open and countless victims of sexual assault who have been silenced by New York’s short statutes of limitations will finally have an opportunity to wrest their power from their abusers by naming them in court. It is my hope that this opportunity provides even the smallest measure of healing to the many who have been suffering silently under the weight of their abuse.

I am so grateful to the indefatigable survivors who have fearlessly led this coalition for years, including Marissa Hoechsetetter, Donna Hylton, E. Jean Carroll, Evelyn Yang, Drew Dixon, Carrie Otis, Allison Turkos, Asher Lovy, and the advocates at Safe Horizon, New York State Alliance Against Domestic Violence and so many more. Together with my partner in the State Senate, Brad Hoylman, we have built a survivor-led and centered movement that will not be stopped.

When the Adult Survivors Act finally becomes law survivors from across the country will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for justice, including survivors of Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Dr. Robert Hadden and even Donald Trump, who was accused of rape by E. Jean Carroll. Carroll has traveled to Albany to lobby for the ASA’s passage and has previously said she would use the ASA to sue Trump for rape in civil court once it becomes law.

It is my sincere hope that justice will prevail, predators will finally face their accusers and survivors will find some peace and power. Thank you to my colleagues in the New York State Assembly who have fought for and with survivors, and to Speaker Carl Heastie for his leadership on this and so many other issues.”