Eugenics Program Payments to Be Decided in Senate

The House of Delegates on Thursday rejected an attempt to double the amount it would offer to people sterilized under Virginia’s eugenics program. The measure was asking for $50,000 rather than the House version of the proposed state budget that suggests $25,000 to people who can prove they were involuntarily sterilized at Central Virginia Training Center or other state institutions between 1927 and 1979. Media outlets report, the action means the original award amount faces a conference discussion with the Senate, which doesn’t support any money for sterilization victims. Virginia took away close to 7,500 people’s right to have children in 55 years; Advocates for the victims, plan to ask Gov. Terry McAuliffe to consider amending the budget when it reaches his desk. North Carolina agreed last year to compensate each victim of that state’s eugenics program $50,000.