Congress Weighs in During 'Critical Moment
in History' for Holocaust Survivors
Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Calls on Germany's
“Moral Responsibility” to Fund Care for Survivors
Key Negotiations Now Ongoing to Determine Millions
in Financial Aid for Victims of the Nazis
(Washington, DC) Today, Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a resolution urging the German Government to fulfill its moral responsibility to Holocaust Survivors and urgently provide the financial resources necessary to ensure that Survivors live in dignity and comfort in their remaining years. This resolution follows an exchange of correspondence between Members of Congress and the German Finance Ministry in December 2015, in which representatives of the German Government acknowledged that “recent experience has shown that the care financed by the German Government to date is insufficient” and that “it is imperative to expand these assistance measures quickly given the advanced age of many of the affected persons.” In 2014, as then-Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, Senators Nelson and Collins held a hearing to examine the special needs of America’s Holocaust Survivors.
As a result, the German Government is engaged in new round of negotiations with the Claims Conference to address these existing gaps in funding. This resolution is particularly timely as President Obama will be arriving in Germany on Sunday, the week before Yom Hashoah on May 5.
The Members of Congress are grateful for the advocacy of the Holocaust survivor community and their families who have been traveling to Washington throughout the years to advocate for the unmet needs of Survivors. This resolution affirms the commitment of Congress to ensuring those needs are addressed by urging the German Government to make a financial commitment that would ensure every Survivor may live out his or her life in dignity.
“Every year, as Survivors age, their needs grow,” said Congressman Deutch. “Tragically, more and more are falling into poverty and lack the funds to cover essential needs. Right now, we are facing a unique and critical moment in history with this high-level negotiation moving forward. Germany can make a major difference in the lives of so many Holocaust survivors who are struggling in their later years. I commend our close ally Germany for her longstanding commitment to survivors, something that I have relayed to Chancellor Merkel in person. This moment offers a dramatic opportunity for Germany to fulfill its moral obligation and commitment to the victims of the Nazis. This resolution demonstrates that the United States Congress is watching these negotiations carefully to ensure sufficient support for every single Survivor so they may live the remainder of their lives in dignity. As we prepare to observe Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, on May 5, we should honor the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished by ensuring that the urgent needs of Holocaust survivors – medical care, home care, and mental health care – are fully met. That is why we introduced this resolution.
“Today there are less than half a million survivors of humanity’s darkest period worldwide, and nearly half of those are living at or below the poverty level,” said Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen. “Holocaust survivors have lived through and experienced unconscionable evil, and now, as they live out the remainder of their days, they grapple with not only the physical ailments of old age, but the enduring emotional and psychological scars inflicted upon them. And while the German government has made a commitment over the years to provide justice for Holocaust victims, it has a moral obligation to do more to ensure that all survivors get the justice and care they need and deserve. They have seen the darkest in humanity, and for many years, I’ve worked to try to help my constituents, and all survivors, see the brightest of humanity by helping them get what has long been denied them and to get the peace of mind knowing that they can live out their days in dignity. I’m pleased to join my friend and colleague, Ted, in continuing to fight for Holocaust survivors worldwide, and I look forward to working with him and with the German government to find a fair resolution without delay.”
“The needs of Holocaust victims only continue to grow with age,” said Senator Nelson. “With thousands of victims currently living in poverty, Germany should be doing more to care for them.”
“Given the devastating emotional triggers that can be set off by institutional care, keeping aging Holocaust Survivors in their homes and ensuring access to requisite home care services is of paramount importance. Things that other residents would likely ignore, including everyday experiences like showering, visiting the doctor, or lacking privacy, can take aging Holocaust survivors back to their traumatic youth or childhood and cause flashbacks or nightmares,” said Senator Susan Collins. “It is crucial that Germany makes a strong financial commitment to ensure that Holocaust Survivors, who have endured so much, receive the care that they need to live their final years in dignity, comfort, and security.”
“Survivors are deeply grateful for the initiative of the chief sponsors, Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch and Senators Nelson and Collins, for recognizing the emergency plight of the Holocaust survivors in need everywhere,” said Jack Rubin of Boynton Beach, Florida, a survivor of Auschwitz and several other death camps and a member of the Executive Committee of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA. “We hope and pray that the full House and Senate will unanimously adopt this resolution. And we hope and pray that Chancellor Merkel and the German government will take the necessary steps, with the support of the German people, to once and for all assume full responsibility to provide for the full medically prescribed needs of the survivors of the Holocaust. As we all know, time is of the essence.”
"Ensuring that all Holocaust survivors live their remaining years in dignity and comfort has always been a major priority for Jewish Federations,” said William Daroff, The Jewish Federations of North America’s Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington, D.C. Office. “Therefore, we are proud to support Congressman Deutch, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Nelson, and Senator Collins’ resolution as it sends a strong message to the German government regarding its role in meeting the critical needs of each and every living Holocaust survivor.”
This bipartisan and bicameral resolution has received endorsements from survivor organizations and Jewish community non-profits. Text of the resolution can be viewed here.