Congress settles GM bailout takings claim, waives statute of limits

What it does

This bill waives the statute of limitations for a specific lawsuit (Campbell v. United States, filed July 9, 2015) in which accident victims from General Motors vehicles claim the U.S. government violated their constitutional property rights when it acquired GM's assets during the 2009 bailout. The bill requires the government to pay eligible claimants 2.5 times their allowed bankruptcy claim amount, plus interest from 2009 and attorney fees, with no offsets.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a targeted waiver of the statute of limitations for one named lawsuit and a mandatory payment obligation to resolve a constitutional takings claim. It is a settlement mechanism, not a general legal reform.

What the text implies

• The bill applies only to claimants who filed proofs of claim in the Motors Liquidation Company bankruptcy (2009) AND filed the Campbell complaint by July 9, 2015—a narrow class, not all GM accident victims.
• The 2.5× multiplier and 3.5% interest are fixed by statute, removing negotiation and judicial discretion in settlement valuation.
• The 60-day deadline for settlement submission creates pressure on the Attorney General to settle or report to Congress, potentially signaling legislative intent to force settlement.
• Payments flow from the Treasury under 31 U.S.C. § 1304 (the permanent indefinite appropriation for judgments and settlements), not a new appropriation—no budget impact vote required.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Accident victims harmed by defective GM vehicles gain access to a legal remedy that was previously foreclosed by the statute of limitations. The bill restores their constitutional claim for just compensation and ensures they receive payment from the Treasury, not from a bankrupt company.

Who stands to gain

• accident victims and their heirs (eligible claimants)
• plaintiff counsel (court-approved fees and costs)

Named in the bill

General Motors Corporation, NGMCO, Inc., U.S. Treasury, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Motors Liquidation Company, Campbell v. United States (No. 15–717), Attorney General, Congress

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Sep 11, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Sep 11, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.