Leaders in the N.C. General Assembly say that it is too early to evaluate the prospects of proposed legislation that would give reparations to people who were sterilized under a state-sponsored eugenics program.

North Carolina is one step closer to compensating victims of its forced-sterilization program.

The state House approved legislation Tuesday to compensate living survivors $50,000 each. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Between 1933 and 1974, thousands of people were forced to have surgeries that left them unable to have children.

House Speaker Thom Tillis argued in favor of the legislation, saying he felt it was necessary to compensate people who were harmed by the power of the state.

It is impossible to overstate the historical significance of the action taken today in the North Carolina House of Representatives, said Tillis. North Carolina is poised to become the first state in the nation to compensate victims of a state-operated eugenics program, and that is a distinction to be proud of. Todays vote has been long overdue, and I congratulate everyone who had a role in this process. Todays vote puts North Carolina on the doorstep of history.

The state has verified 132 victims, of those, 118 are still alive. But the state believes there may be up to 2,000 living victims.

View original post here:

NC House passes eugenics compensation legislation