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Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 27, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care Government Budget and Spending

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Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1698, the Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act.

In the early 20th century, over 30 States enacted eugenics and compulsory sterilization laws, resulting in the involuntary sterilization of over 60,000 Americans. These horrendous and discriminatory laws targeted low-income individuals, particularly single mothers, African Americans, children from large families, and people with disabilities.

Recently, two States with the most aggressive eugenics programs, Virginia and North Carolina, passed State legislation to provide compensation to the living victims of these programs. In 2013, North Carolina set aside $10 million for compensation payments; and, as of January 2015, the State had awarded approximately $20,000 to each of the 220 victims. Last year, Virginia passed a bill awarding $25,000 to each of its surviving eugenics victims.

While these payments are intended to compensate individuals for past wrongs, they may also have the unintended effect of causing victims to lose eligibility for Federal benefits determined by income thresholds.

Under current law, victims who receive eugenics compensation could be denied Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, unemployment, or disability benefits should the payments raise their incomes above program eligibility levels.

Most eugenics victims were poor and disadvantaged in the early 20th century, and many remain so today. As such, they rely on these important Federal benefits programs to make ends meet.

S. 1698 would ensure that State eugenics payments are treated like other medical compensation payments and not included in eligibility determination for Federal benefits. This would guarantee that eugenics victims receive all benefits they rightfully deserve.

We cannot undo the mistakes of the past, but we can do everything in our power to ensure that eugenics victims are not subjected to unfair treatment yet again. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1698.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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