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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Victims of North Carolina's decades-long forced sterilization program would receive $50,000 each under a bill filed Wednesday that would make the state the first to compensate people who lost their child-bearing abilities under the once-common practice.

"I am very elated at this milestone because it is a milestone," said Rep. Larry Womble, D-Forsyth, who has led the fight for compensation for more than 10 years. "All the eyes of the world are on North Carolina as to what we're going to do, finally. I feel very confident; I feel very hopeful; and I feel very positive that the legislators are going to do the right thing."

Womble wasn't at the Legislature Wednesday when the bill was filed because he's at home in Winston-Salem, where he's recovering from injuries suffered in a car wreck in December that killed another man. He said in a telephone interview that he's especially pleased that the bill's sponsors include Democrats, Republicans, blacks, white, men and women.


The bill's House sponsors include Speaker Thom Tillis, which is unusual because the leader of the...