Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025

Sponsored byRep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]NJ· Introduced 28 October 2025

Open on Congress.gov

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Introduced

Committee

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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.

28 October 2025·8 months ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 9 July 2026

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.

Timeline

11 actions

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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
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.
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
28 October 2025 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

0 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]NJ

Classification

Policy area

Health

Committees

Agriculture Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Education and Workforce Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Energy and Commerce Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Financial Services Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Judiciary Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Natural Resources Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Veterans' Affairs Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025
Ways and Means Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To28 Oct 2025

Track Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025 as it moves through Congress