[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 115 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 115

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the inadequacy of German 
    reparations for Holocaust survivors living in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 1995

  Mr. Yates submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the inadequacy of German 
    reparations for Holocaust survivors living in the United States.

Whereas there are more than 125,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United 
        States,
Whereas, after the end of World War II, the Federal Republic of Germany 
        instituted reparations programs for those individuals who miraculously 
        survived the German Nazi cruelty and brutality; and
Whereas such reparations have been woefully inadequate in providing the 
        Holocaust survivors with compensation commensurate with the unimaginable 
        damage and suffering that they sustained;
Whereas, while many Holocaust survivors receive reparations, such payments have 
        been small;
Whereas thousands of other Holocaust survivors living in the United States have 
        been paid no reparations at all;
Whereas Germany seeks to bring about a conclusion to the payment of reparations, 
        even though Holocaust survivors have been paid little or nothing and 
        continue to suffer physically and emotionally;
Whereas Holocaust survivors had no significant role in the original, or in most 
        subsequent, negotiations with Germany regarding reparations;
Whereas Holocaust survivors residing in the United States did not previously 
        apply for, or were refused, reparations are in dire need of medical, 
        material, and other help to alleviate the consequences of their 
        persecution under the German Nazi regime;
Whereas many Holocaust survivors are excluded from reparations under current 
        programs because of the onerous eligibility requirements imposed by the 
        Government of Germany;
Whereas the definition of a concentration camp, and the duration of 
        imprisonment, required for Article 2 Hardship Fund payments should be 
        made more inclusive, as large groups of Holocaust survivors now living 
        in the United States, including Jews from Hungary, are excluded from 
        reparations because their confinement does not satisfy the definitions 
        imposed by Germany;
Whereas the Government of Germany can and should do much more to compensate 
        these victims of the German Nazi horror: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the President of the United 
States should--
            (1) convey to the Government of the Federal Republic of 
        Germany the deep concern of the Government of the United States 
        regarding the onerous eligibility requirements imposed by 
        Germany on the payment of reparations for Holocaust survivors 
        living in the United States; and
            (2) urge the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany 
        to take all actions necessary to ensure that fair and full 
        reparations will be expeditiously paid to all Holocaust 
        survivors living in the United States.
                                 <all>