# 119-hr-5865: Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025

119-hr-5865, Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5865
- As of: 2026-07-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5865
- Congress: 119
- Title: Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-10-28
- Sponsor: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-11

## Summary

**This bill would create the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Program to provide a one-time $150,000 payment to U.S. thalidomide survivors.** It would also exclude those payments from federal income tax and from counts of income or assets for means-tested welfare programs, and it sets a petition deadline of May 31, 2034. - Survivors: People harmed by thalidomide who were U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents at the time of exposure and at petition filing could submit one petition. If the Secretary of Health and Human Services finds the petition meets the criteria, the petitioner would receive $150,000. - Households on federal benefits: Payments under the program would not count as income or assets for a long list of means-tested programs, including SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, energy and utility help, and education or job training supports. - Administration and oversight: HHS would establish the program within a year, use an expert panel to review petitions, report annually to Congress on outcomes and funding, and may pay additional amounts after review subject to available appropriations for fiscal years 2028 through 2034 as the Secretary certifies necessary funds.

## Provisions PRIA read

- One-time $150,000 for thalidomide survivors: benefit, high. If enacted, HHS would set up a new program within 1 year. You could file one petition with medical proof of thalidomide exposure and injury. You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of exposure and when you file. The deadline to file would be May 31, 2034. An expert panel…
- Program payments would be tax-free: benefit, high. If enacted, money you receive from this program would not be taxable income. The exclusion would apply to amounts received after the enactment date, in tax years ending after that date.
- Funding and yearly reviews of program: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would review the program within 1 year of launch and every year after. Within 60 days of each review, it would publish a report to Congress. The report would cover how many people were paid, how funds were used, if payments are adequate, and recommended changes. Congress could fund…
- Possible extra payments after review: benefit, medium. If enacted, after each yearly review and if money is available, HHS could make extra payments to people who already got compensation. These payments could help with ongoing medical or other needs. These extra payments would also not count in means-tested benefit tests.
- Program payments won't affect other benefits: benefit, medium. If enacted, program payments would not count as income or assets for means-tested aid. This could protect Medicaid, SNAP, housing help, and similar programs. Special rules would apply to the refundable parts of the earned income and child tax credits, to Affordable Care Act premium and cost-sharing…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5301: PIPES Act of 2025
- 119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act
- 119-hr-4317: PBM Reform Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5061: Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5865 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5865)

## Related
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-5301: PIPES Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5301)
- [119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-137)
- [119-hr-4317: PBM Reform Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4317)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-5061: Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5061)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5865 (as of 2026-07-11).