[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5540 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5540 To amend title 28, United States Code, to adjust the penalty for unjust conviction and imprisonment, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 19, 2025 Ms. Waters introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 28, United States Code, to adjust the penalty for unjust conviction and imprisonment, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for Exonerees Act''. SEC. 2. PENALTY FOR UNJUST CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT. Section 2513 of title 28, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (e), by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting ``$70,000''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(f) The amount of damages awarded under subsection (e) shall be adjusted for inflation annually, based on the Consumer Price Index.''. <all>