Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill creates a new program to pay people who were born with health problems because their mothers took the drug thalidomide while pregnant. Even though the drug was never officially sold in the U.S., doctors gave out millions of samples for testing in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Survivors who can prove they were harmed by the drug would receive a one-time payment of $150,000. An expert panel of doctors and lawyers would review each person's medical records to confirm they qualify for the money.
• The money from this program would be completely tax-free. It also would not count as income if the survivor applies for other government help like food stamps, housing assistance, or Social Security.
• The government would check the program every year to see if survivors need more help. If the $150,000 is not enough to cover their medical bills or daily needs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services could approve extra payments.
• To get the money, a person must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. They also must have been a citizen or resident when they were first exposed to the drug. Applications for the program would be accepted until May 2034.

Impact Analysis

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