I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5865 
To establish the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Program, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 28, 2025 
Mr. VAN DREW introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and 
Means, Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Edu-
cation and Workforce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, 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 
A BILL 
To establish the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation 
Program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Thalidomide Survivors 
Compensation Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Thalidomide caused an estimated more than 
10,000 birth defects and deaths worldwide during 
the 1950s and 1960s. 
(2) Thalidomide exposure in utero is known to 
cause limb deformities and internal organ malforma-
tions. 
(3) Although not formally approved in the 
United States, approximately 5 million thalidomide 
samples were distributed by over 1,200 physicians 
through informal clinical trials. 
(4) The number of U.S. individuals affected re-
mains undocumented, but research estimates ap-
proximately 100 thalidomide survivors are still living 
in the United States. 
(5) U.S. thalidomide survivors have faced dec-
ades of unreimbursed medical costs, limited accessi-
bility accommodations, and lack of formal diagnosis 
recognition. 
(6) 46 countries currently provide compensation 
or medical assistance to thalidomide survivors, in-
cluding direct payments, pensions, and adaptive liv-
ing support. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to allow 
our thalidomide survivors the ability to live the remainder 
of their lives with independence and dignity. 
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SEC. 3. THALIDOMIDE SURVIVORS COMPENSATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish a program 
to be known as the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation 
Program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Program’’) 
for the purpose of providing compensation to individuals 
injured by exposure to thalidomide. 
(b) PETITIONS.—Subject to subsection (c), to receive 
compensation under the Program, an individual shall sub-
mit to the Secretary a petition at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, which shall include documentation from a physi-
cian or other health professional showing that— 
(1) the individual was exposed to thalidomide; 
and 
(2) the individual suffered injury as a result of 
such exposure. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) DEADLINE
FOR
PETITIONS.—No petition 
may be submitted under the Program after May 31, 
2034. 
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(2) 1 PETITION
PER
INDIVIDUAL.—No indi-
vidual may submit more than 1 petition under the 
Program. 
(3) EXCLUSIVE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS, PER-
MANENT
RESIDENTS.—No petition may be sub-
mitted under the Program by an individual who— 
(A) is not an American citizen or perma-
nent resident at the time of such submission; or 
(B) was not an American citizen or perma-
nent resident at the time of the individual’s ex-
posure to thalidomide on which the petition is 
based. 
(d) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For any petition for which 
the expert panel described in paragraph (2) deter-
mines that the individual was exposed to thalidomide 
and suffered injury as a result of such exposure, the 
Secretary shall pay the individual $150,000. 
(2) EXPERT
PANEL.—The expert panel de-
scribed in this paragraph is a panel of legal, medical, 
and thalidomide experts and survivors, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary for the purpose of review-
ing petitions under the Program. 
(e) TREATMENT
OF
PAYMENTS
RECEIVED
FOR 
MEANS-TESTED
WELFARE
PROGRAMS.—Compensation 
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provided under this section to an individual may not be 
considered for the purpose of calculating such individual’s 
income or assets under any means-tested welfare program. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary, for each of fiscal years 
2028 through 2034, such sums as the Secretary certifies 
are necessary to carry out this section for each such fiscal 
year. 
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
establishment of the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation 
Program under section 3, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a comprehen-
sive review of all compensation provided under the Pro-
gram. 
(b) CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.—Not later than 60 
days after the completion of each review under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall make publicly available and submit 
to Congress a report, which shall include— 
(1) an evaluation of whether the objectives of 
this Act are being met; 
(2) recommendations for modifications, im-
provements, support, compensation, or expansions to 
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