H.R. 5865 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Veterans' Affairs, 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, Oct 28, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProgram to compensate thalidomide injury survivors
Thalidomide is a drug that caused severe birth defects when given to pregnant women decades ago, though it's still used today to treat certain diseases under strict rules. This bill creates a compensation program where people injured by thalidomide exposure can petition the Department of Health and Human Services for $150,000 if they can show a health professional documented their injury. People have until May 31, 2034 to apply, and must have been a U.S. citizen or permanent resident both when exposed and when they submit their petition.
How it affects you
If you were injured by thalidomide exposure and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you could receive $150,000 plus potentially additional compensation for ongoing medical needs. The money wouldn't count against you if you receive means-tested federal assistance programs like Medicaid or SNAP, and it's also excluded from federal income taxes. This mainly affects a specific group of people harmed by the drug decades ago.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Oct 28, 2025)
Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025
This bill establishes a program to compensate individuals injured by exposure to thalidomide. (Thalidomide is a medication previously used to treat nausea in pregnant women until the 1960s when it was discovered thalidomide causes severe, life-threatening birth defects. Thalidomide is still used to treat multiple myeloma and leprosy, with federal restrictions to prevent use during pregnancy.)
Specifically, individuals seeking compensation may submit a petition to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by May 31, 2034, with documentation from a health professional of an injury caused by exposure to thalidomide. HHS must provide $150,000 to individuals showing such injury, as determined by an expert panel. Eligible individuals must have been a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of exposure and at the time the petition was submitted.
HHS may pay individuals compensated under the program additional compensation for ongoing medical or other needs as funds allow after HHS' annual review of the program, as required by the bill.
Compensation provided under the bill may not be considered when calculating income or assets under any federal program designed to provide assistance exclusively to low-income individuals (i.e., means-tested programs), including certain programs and funds specified in the bill. Compensation under the program is also excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5865
A BILL
Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-2) · Introduced Oct 28, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Oct 28, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.”
Sections
Sections · 7
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Findings; purposeNo change
- Sec. 3Thalidomide Survivors Compensation ProgramNo change
- Sec. 4Annual review of ProgramNo change
- Sec. 5Additional compensationNo change
- Sec. 6Compensation under Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Program excludable from income taxNo change
- Sec. 7Definition of means-tested welfare programNo change