The Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Act of 2025 aims to establish a program to provide financial compensation to individuals in the United States who were injured by exposure to thalidomide. The bill acknowledges that thalidomide caused widespread birth defects and deaths globally, and while not formally approved in the U.S., millions of samples were distributed, leaving an estimated 100 survivors still living with unreimbursed medical costs and lack of formal diagnosis recognition. The purpose is to ensure these survivors can live with independence and dignity, mirroring compensation efforts in 46 other countries. Under the proposed program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would establish the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Program within one year of enactment. To receive compensation, individuals must submit a petition with physician documentation proving thalidomide exposure and resulting injury. Eligibility is limited to American citizens or permanent residents at the time of submission and exposure, and petitions must be filed by May 31, 2034, with only one petition allowed per individual. An expert panel of legal, medical, and thalidomide experts and survivors will review petitions, and if approved, the individual will receive a payment of $150,000 . A crucial provision ensures that this compensation will not be considered income or assets for calculating eligibility for any means-tested welfare program, including a comprehensive list of federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance, and educational grants. Furthermore, the compensation received under this program will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The bill also mandates annual reviews of the program by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with reports submitted to Congress evaluating the program's effectiveness, recommending improvements, and detailing funds expended. Following these reviews, the Secretary may provide additional compensation to individuals to meet ongoing medical or other needs, subject to appropriations, further reinforcing the commitment to long-term support for thalidomide survivors.