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The bill provides a targeted, faster federal compensation pathway and immediate funding for many people harmed by the Gold King Mine spill, but it restricts who can qualify, limits types and amounts of recoverable damages, and shifts costs to taxpayers while narrowing later legal challenges.
Homeowners, farmers, ranchers, recreation businesses, and other persons injured by the Gold King Mine spill can receive monetary compensation for documented property, business income, livestock relocation, and crop losses.
Claimants get a faster administrative decision process (claims decided within 180 days), enabling quicker resolution and payments than many court cases.
Claimants retain choice of forum: they may pursue the administrative remedy under this Act, an FTCA suit, or other civil actions, preserving options for recovery.
Homeowners, farmers, businesses and others who did not file an FTCA claim by August 5, 2017 are ineligible, barring potentially eligible people from recovery.
Acceptance of an administrative payment requires a release of all claims against the United States, which bars claimants from pursuing larger future recoveries for the same harm.
The Act excludes emotional‑distress damages, punitive damages, and pre- and post-judgment interest, reducing non-economic and enhanced compensation relative to some court awards.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Jeff Hurd · Last progress February 13, 2025
Provides a one-time federal claims process and up to $3.3 million in Treasury funds to compensate eligible homeowners, farmers, livestock grazers, and small businesses for certain uncompensated economic losses from the August 5, 2015 Gold King Mine spill. Payments are final releases of covered claims against the United States; claimants must have filed a written claim by August 5, 2017 and accept payment (with perjury certification) to receive compensation.