Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025

# Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would provide financial compensation to Americans who were harmed by thalidomide, a drug that caused severe birth defects when taken by pregnant women in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Thalidomide was never officially approved for use in the United States, but some people obtained it anyway and suffered tragic consequences—children were born with missing or underdeveloped limbs and other serious disabilities. The bill aims to compensate these survivors for their lifelong medical care, lost income, and other hardships. **Who It Affects:** The bill would directly benefit thalidomide survivors living in the U.S.—people now in their 60s and older who were exposed to the drug before birth. Indirectly, it could affect the federal budget and any companies or entities held responsible for distributing the drug.

Many other countries have already established compensation programs for thalidomide survivors, and this bill would bring the U.S. in line with those efforts. **Current Status:** As of now, HR 5865 is in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill was sponsored by Representative Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), and its exact provisions regarding compensation amounts and eligibility criteria are not yet detailed in available information.