Bill > HR5865

This bill establishes the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Program to provide financial support to individuals in the United States who were harmed by thalidomide exposure during the 1950s and 1960s. The program will offer $150,000 in compensation to eligible survivors who can provide medical documentation proving their exposure and resulting injuries, with a deadline for petitions of May 31, 2034. Only American citizens or permanent residents at the time of exposure are eligible, and individuals can submit only one petition. An expert panel of legal, medical, and thalidomide experts will review petitions, and the compensation will not be counted as income for means-tested welfare programs. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will conduct annual reviews of the program, submit reports to Congress, and potentially provide additional compensation based on survivors' ongoing medical needs. The bill also includes a provision to make the compensation tax-free and provides a comprehensive definition of means-tested welfare programs to ensure the compensation does not impact recipients' eligibility for other assistance programs. The legislation acknowledges the historical harm caused by thalidomide, which resulted in an estimated 10,000 birth defects worldwide, and aims to provide survivors with support to live with independence and dignity.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5865/all-info