Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
Survivors’ Rights Restitution Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 46 Democratic cosponsors · See all 46 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Survivors' Rights Restitution Act of 2026 sets up a program to give financial compensation to certain survivors of sexual violence. It creates a special office within the United States Court of Federal Claims to handle these claims through an informal process. The program is managed by the Attorney General and pays awards using a newly established federal fund. Petitioners must meet specific criteria regarding sexual abuse or federal rights violations related to Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, or other federal offenses. The bill also establishes minimum payout amounts, protections from taxes on the awards, and rules for attorneys' fees.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The legislation directly benefits survivors of sexual violence, sex trafficking, and abuse, who are disproportionately women.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Restitution payments are explicitly excluded from calculations determining eligibility for means-tested benefits.
- Scored +4
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?
The legislation provides targeted restitution and legal recourse for survivors of sexual violence, predominantly women.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill creates a new federal restitution program, fund, and administrative office funded by the Treasury.
- Scored -1
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The establishment of a permanent restitution fund with mandatory outlays increases government fiscal commitments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Financial Support for Survivors: Under Section 5(f), the bill establishes a minimum payment amount of $123,000 for eligible petitioners after considering economic and noneconomic losses, providing tangible financial help to survivors.
-
Tax-Free and Benefit-Protected Payments: Under Section 5(h), any payments made to claimants are excluded from gross income calculations and will not count against an individual's eligibility for means-tested benefits, ensuring recipients keep the full value of their compensation.
-
Trauma-Informed Expertise: Under Section 4(c)(2), the appointments for special adjudicators require that at least four individuals be licensed mental health professionals with clinical experience in trauma-informed care for sexual assault, abuse, or trafficking survivors.
-
Streamlined Legal Process: Under Section 4(d)(2), the rules for the court proceedings are designed to be less adversarial, expeditious, and informal, which can reduce the stress of the legal process for survivors.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Single Petition Limit: Under Section 3(d), individuals or those acting on behalf of a deceased individual are restricted to submitting not more than one petition under this Act, which could limit options if new information or circumstances arise later.
-
Strict Information Restrictions: Under Section 4(d)(4)(A), information submitted to a special adjudicator or the court cannot be disclosed to anyone who is not a party to the proceeding without express written consent, which might create hurdles for public transparency or outside oversight.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The legislation directly benefits survivors of sexual violence, sex trafficking, and abuse, who are disproportionately women. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Restitution payments are explicitly excluded from calculations determining eligibility for means-tested benefits. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Trauma-informed adjudication and support provisions assist survivors managing psychological injuries and trauma. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adult survivors of sexual abuse or trafficking are eligible for financial restitution under the program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The legislation provides targeted restitution and legal recourse for survivors of sexual violence, predominantly women. Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill establishes an administrative restitution process outside traditional adversarial courts for victims of sexual violence. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing guaranteed minimum compensation of $123,000 exempt from means-tested benefit calculations helps lift survivors out of financial distress.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill establishes a specialized, trauma-informed adjudication process with rights to representation, evidence presentation, and judicial review. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes a new federal Office of Special Adjudicators and a dedicated Treasury fund administered by the Attorney General. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The chief special adjudicator is required to report annually to Congress on petitions, dispositions, and award types.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill creates a new federal restitution program, fund, and administrative office funded by the Treasury. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The establishment of a permanent restitution fund with mandatory outlays increases government fiscal commitments.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The program mandates the appointment of licensed mental health professionals specializing in trauma-informed care.
- 10/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 44 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Brendan BoyleDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Becca BalintDemocrat · Vermont
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
J. CorreaDemocrat · California
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Sydney Kamlager-DoveDemocrat · California
Teresa Leger FernandezDemocrat · New Mexico
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kweisi MfumeDemocrat · Maryland
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Christian MenefeeDemocrat · Texas
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida
James WalkinshawDemocrat · Virginia