Were glad to see that N.C. lawmakers, back for their short session, got to work immediately on righting a wrong done to thousands of North Carolinians with the states eugenics program the longest-running such program in the nation. A bipartisan group in the N.C. House filed a bill Wednesday to compensate victims. Primary sponsors included Rep. Larry Womble, D-Forsyth, Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, Rep. Earline Parmon, D-Forsyth, and House Majority Leader, Rep. Skip Stam, R-Wake. Rep. Martha Alexander, D-Mecklenburg, was a co-sponsor.

This action is long past due. It was shameful that the state conducted such a program. There were more than 7,600 victims of the program that ran from 1929 to 1974, including adults and children. Many were lied to about the operations; others were given explanations they were unable to understand. Currently, 132 individuals have been verified by the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation, of which 118 (about 90 percent) are living.

The bill reflects the recommendations of the Governors Eugenics Compensation Task Force, which filed its final report in January. It establishes a $10 million fund and a lump-sum, tax-free payment of $50,000 for all eligible recipients. Claims would have to be filed by Dec. 31, 2015.

Additionally, the bill provides continued funding for the Sterilization Victims Foundation, which serves as a clearinghouse for verification requests and will be empowered to advocate on behalf of verified victims. If the bill is signed into law, the state would become the first in the country to give money to living victims of sterilization.

We commend Rep. Womble, who was an early and persistent supporter of compensation legislation. There are some folks who doubted that this day would finally come, he said. Its taken too long, but we now stand ready to open the door and financially acknowledge the suffering the state brought to so many.

Hes right. Wednesdays bill is a first step. By the end of this session this bill should be law, and sterilization victims will be on the way to getting their justified compensation.

Fannie Flono

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Yes, yes, to compensating N.C. sterilization victims