Secretary of State Jesse White is adding his voice to the push to end the statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes.

In the wake of the scandal surrounding former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert, he is applauding Attorney General Lisa Madigan's efforts on that front.

White released a statement saying "As a former school teacher and administrator in the Chicago public school system for 33 years, and as the founder of the Jesse White Tumbling Team in 1959, I know firsthand the importance of establishing trust in a mentoring relationship with children.

"To violate that trust in such a despicable and depraved manner is against all laws of human decency. An offender should not be able to get away with such a heinous crime just because a certain amount of time has passed."