WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) -- Spectators became teary-eyed Thursday after a Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on a landmark proposal to allow child sexual abuse survivors to speak out against their perpetrators.
Dubbed "Trey's Law," the bipartisan legislation was introduced March 3 by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. It would void non-disclosure agreements in civil settlements that prevent survivors of child sexual abuse and trafficking from speaking about their experiences.
However, Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told the committee during the hearing that the bill would not be voted on and held over for further review, to which some sponsors expressed frustration.
Trey's Law was inspired by Elizabeth Phillips, Trey's sister, who was present at the hearing Thursday morning. Similar bills have passed in some states and are pending in others.
The bill was named after Trey Carlock, a 28-year-old Dallas resident who died by suicide after a retraumatizing civil litigation process against Kanakuk Ministries, a Christian sports camp based in Branson, Mo.
