[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 39 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 39


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 27, 1998

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the annihilation of 6,000,000 European Jews during the Holocaust and the 
        murder of millions of others by the Nazi German state constitutes one of 
        the most tragic episodes in the history of man's inhumanity to man;
Whereas there are more than 125,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United 
        States and approximately 500,000 living around the world;
Whereas aging Holocaust survivors throughout the world are still suffering from 
        permanent injuries suffered at the hands of the Nazis, and many are 
        unable to afford critically needed medical care;
Whereas, while the German Government has attempted to address the needs of 
        Holocaust survivors, many are excluded from reparations because of 
        onerous eligibility requirements imposed by the German Government;
Whereas the German Government often rejects Holocaust survivors' claims on the 
        grounds that the survivor did not present the claim correctly or in a 
        timely manner, that the survivor cannot demonstrate to the Government's 
        satisfaction that a particular illness or medical condition is the 
        direct consequence of persecution in a Nazi-created ghetto or 
        concentration camp, or that the survivor is not considered sufficiently 
        destitute;
Whereas tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union and 
        other formerly Communist countries in Eastern and Central Europe have 
        never received reparations from Germany and a smaller number has 
        received a token amount;
Whereas, after more than 50 years, hundreds of thousands of Holocaust survivors 
        continue to be denied justice and compensation from the German 
        Government;
Whereas the German Government pays generous disability pensions to veterans of 
        the Nazi armed forces, including non-German veterans of the Waffen-SS;
Whereas in 1996 the German Government paid $7,700,000,000 in such pensions to 
        1,100,000 veterans, including 3,000 veterans and their dependents now 
        living in the United States;
Whereas such pensions are a veteran's benefit provided over and above the full 
        health coverage that all German citizens, including veterans of the 
        Waffen-SS, receive from their government; and
Whereas it is abhorrent that Holocaust survivors should live out their remaining 
        years in conditions worse than those enjoyed by the surviving former 
        Nazis who persecuted them: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the German Government should expand and simplify its 
        system of reparations so that all Holocaust survivors can 
        receive reparations, regardless of their nationality, length or 
        place of internment, or current financial situation;
            (2) the German Government should provide reparations to 
        Holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union and other former 
        Communist countries in Eastern and Central Europe;
            (3) the German Government should fulfill its 
        responsibilities to victims of the Holocaust and immediately 
        set up a comprehensive medical fund to cover the medical 
        expenses of all Holocaust survivors worldwide; and
            (4) the German Government should help restore the dignity 
        of Holocaust survivors by paying them sufficient reparations to 
        ensure that no Holocaust survivor be forced by poverty to live 
        in conditions worse than those generally enjoyed by the 
        surviving former Nazis who persecuted them.

            Passed the Senate November 13, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.