To the United States Congress:

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the immediate passage of Ashley’s Law at the federal level, ensuring that victims of sexual abuse are fully protected under the law, regardless of age, disability, or circumstance.

Ashley was a bright and loving soul, full of joy, laughter, and resilience, even as she battled the devastating effects of Rett Syndrome, a rare disorder that progressively impairs motor skills and speech. Despite her immense challenges, Ashley lived with a spirit of kindness that touched everyone she encountered.

However, Ashley became the victim of severe sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather, one of her caregivers. Tragically, she passed away weeks prior to her abuser’s sentencing on April 5, 2024. At the time, Utah’s legal system allowed perpetrators to face lighter sentencing if their victims were over the age of 14 or had reached adulthood, to age 65 and over, regardless of their vulnerability or inability to defend themselves. 

In response to this injustice, Ashley’s family and advocates worked tirelessly to pass Ashley’s Law in Utah, closing the loophole that permitted lighter sentencing for such heinous crimes. The law will take effect on May 7, 2025, ensuring maximum sentencing for crimes like rape, object rape, and forcible sodomy committed against vulnerable adults.

Yet the problem extends far beyond Utah, and far beyond disability. Across the nation, victims of sexual assault are too often left exposed to lesser protections once they reach arbitrary legal ages. This must change.

Ashley’s life and spirit teach us that compassion, protection, and justice should extend to every victim, without exception. In her honor, we urge Congress to pass a federal version of Ashley’s Law that protects all victims of sexual assault; ensuring that perpetrators cannot escape full accountability based on the age of their victims.

As part of our broader effort to honor Ashley’s memory and bring awareness to this cause, we are producing a documentary titled Ashley’s Law: A Fight for Justice, which highlights Ashley’s story and the broader need for national reform.

To learn more, please visit: www.ashleyslawdocumentary.org

Congress has already demonstrated its commitment to protecting survivors through bipartisan legislation such as the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act of 2016, the Violence Against Women Act, and the newly enacted Take It Down Act. These laws prove that when our leaders act, justice moves forward. Ashley’s Law is the next vital step, closing dangerous gaps in sentencing and ensuring that all victims of sexual assault receive equal protection under the law, regardless of their age or abilities.

We call upon Congress to act without delay.

Protect the vulnerable.

Protect the survivors.

Pass Ashley’s Law nationally: for Ashley, and for justice that knows no limits.

Respectfully submitted,