Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I am introducing the Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act, which would exclude payments from State eugenics compensation programs from consideration in determining eligibility for, or the amount of, Federal public benefits. My colleagues, Senator Richard Burr, Senator Tom Carper, Senator Tim Kaine, and Senator Mark Warner have agreed to cosponsor the bill. In addition, Congressman Patrick McHenry will introduce a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

A dark chapter in American history, eugenics and compulsory sterilization laws were implemented in the first decades of the 20th century by more than 30 States, leading to the forced sterilization of more than 60,000 disabled citizens. Only California and Virginia sterilized more citizens than North Carolina under these laws, though North Carolina was considered as having the most aggressive State-run program.

In 2013, North Carolina became the first State in the country to enact legislation to compensate living victims of these forced-sterilization laws. Most of the victims of the State-run eugenics program were poor and disadvantaged individuals and many remain so to this day. Therefore, concerns have been raised in both States that the compensation provided to the victims could unintentionally render them ineligible under Federal law to continue receiving Federal benefits that are subject to income thresholds. The bill introduced today would specifically exclude all payments from any State eugenics compensation program from being used in determining eligibility for, or the amount of, any public benefits from the Federal government.

The implementation of State-run eugenics and sterilization programs represent a dark and shameful chapter in our Nation's history. While North Carolina and Virginia have recently created State compensation programs to help victims recover from horrible wrongs that have been perpetrated against them in the past, Federal laws can unintentionally punish victims who receive eugenics compensation by preventing them from receiving Federal benefits. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that will not happen.

I wish to offer a special, much deserved thank you to my friend and former colleague, North Carolina State representative Larry Womble, who has provided extraordinary leadership in the decades-long fight for justice for the living victims of North Carolina's eugenics program.

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