Congressman Van Drew kept his word!
We have an actual bill, with a number – H.R. 5865, that includes the word “compensation”. No, we didn’t get what we wanted, but the choices were: 1) Wait for a new administration, 2) find a new sponsor, 3) start all over when all of us are aging, and 4) receive nothing at all. We chose to receive what we can now, not lose momentum and continue the fight. Adding a review clause (suggested by Katherine Falcone) for additional income annually was a big part of this decision. Our thanks go out to her for helping us navigate a complicated legislation process.
We can be proud of our persistence, hard work, and dedication to this important quest for justice.
We deserve it and don’t want to risk losing everything.
NOW THAT WE HAVE A BILL NUMBER…
We Need Your Help!
This is the moment when every voice matters.
We need to “socialize” our cause—be seen, be heard, and bring H.R. 5865 directly to our representatives.
TAKE ACTION!
- Contact your Representative and Senators and ask them to support H.R. 5865.
- Encourage family and friends to reach out to Congress on your behalf.
- Write, call, and visit your legislators’ district offices.
- Share our story on social media and in your community.
The more legislators who know us, the more support we will gain.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. And right now—we need everyone squeaking!!! It’s everyone’s responsibility to get the word out.
Here’s a link to the H.R. 5865 – Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025 on Congress.gov