Survivors’ stories ‘made an impact’ on senators weighing changes to Pa.’s statutes of limitations

HARRISBURG (PA)
Patriot News

Oct. 2, 2019

By Jan Murphy

Sexual abuse survivors and advocates pushing for reforms to Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims for over a decade are tired of waiting.

They want action. They made that clear in their testimony offered at a state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the issue on Wednesday. Offering their personal stories of abuse in emotion-packed testimony, they implored senators to have the courage to make those reforms.

As the daylong hearing neared its end from at-times tearful survivors, committee Chairwoman Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne County, made no promises to them about what the committee will do.

“But I can promise you have made an impact,” Baker said, to one panel of survivors following their testimony about their encounters with sexually abused by a doctor, a friend and clergy.

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