[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 323 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 323

  Supporting the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust survivors in the 
 United States are able to live with dignity, comfort, and security in 
                         their remaining years.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2010

Ms. Wasserman Schultz (for herself, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Klein of Florida, Mr. 
 Deutch, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Pence, Ms. Berkley, Mrs. Myrick, 
  Mr. Nadler of New York, Mr. Waxman, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Jackson of 
  Illinois, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Berman, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Ms. 
  Schakowsky, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Mario Diaz-
   Balart of Florida, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. 
   Roskam) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust survivors in the 
 United States are able to live with dignity, comfort, and security in 
                         their remaining years.

Whereas during the Holocaust, which took place between 1933 and 1945, an 
        estimated 6,000,000 Jews and other targeted groups were murdered by the 
        Nazis and their collaborators;
Whereas prior to and during World War II, the United States consistently refused 
        to permit large-scale immigration of Jewish refugees, including the 
        refusal of 936 Jewish refugees on the SS St. Louis in 1939;
Whereas after the end of World War II and the liberation of the concentration, 
        labor, and death camps, many Jewish refugees who returned home were the 
        victims of numerous violent pogroms, and those who did not return were 
        housed in displaced persons camps in Europe;
Whereas between 1945 and 1952, approximately 96,000 Holocaust survivors 
        displaced after the end of World War II were admitted to the United 
        States;
Whereas since 1952, more than 100,000 additional Holocaust survivors, including 
        Russian immigrants who suffered from persecution and anti-Semitic acts 
        under the Soviet regime, emigrated to the United States;
Whereas approximately 127,000 Holocaust survivors remain in the United States, 
        and many pass away each year;
Whereas those who survived torture and forced labor under Nazi occupation in 
        concentration, labor, and death camps, as well as those who were forced 
        to flee to a country or region not under Nazi rule or occupation during 
        that time, continue to live with the scars of this unconscionable 
        tragedy;
Whereas all Holocaust survivors are at least 65 years old with approximately 
        three-quarters of them older than 75 and a majority in their 80s and 
        90s;
Whereas approximately two-thirds of Holocaust survivors are elderly women who 
        have challenges such as family caregiving, face risks such as isolation 
        and financial insecurity, and have specific health needs;
Whereas Holocaust survivors are 5 times more likely to be living below the 
        poverty line than other older people living in the United States, and 
        more than half of all Holocaust survivors fall beneath 200 percent of 
        the Federal poverty threshold;
Whereas Holocaust survivors are more reliant on social service programs than 
        most people in the United States over the age of 65, with proportionally 
        more survivors than other older people needing home health care;
Whereas approximately two-thirds of Holocaust survivors live alone, and living 
        alone is a risk factor for institutionalization;
Whereas while institutionalized settings are beneficial for some older people in 
        the United States, institutions have a disproportionate adverse effect 
        on Holocaust survivors by reintroducing the sights, sounds, and routines 
        of institutionalization that are reminiscent of experiences during the 
        Holocaust;
Whereas Holocaust survivors are getting older and frailer, and will be seeking 
        support and assistance from social service providers to enable them to 
        age in place; and
Whereas the United States represents and defends the values of freedom, liberty, 
        and justice and has a moral obligation to acknowledge the plight and 
        uphold the dignity of Holocaust survivors to ensure their well-being in 
        their remaining years: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust 
        survivors in the United States are able to live with dignity, 
        comfort, and security in their remaining years;
            (2) applauds the nonprofit organizations and agencies that 
        work tirelessly to honor and assist Holocaust survivors in 
        their communities;
            (3) urges the Administration and the Department of Health 
        and Human Services, in conjunction with the Administration on 
        Aging (AoA), to provide Holocaust survivors with needed social 
        services through existing programs; and
            (4) encourages the Administration on Aging to expeditiously 
        develop and implement programs that ensure Holocaust survivors 
        are able to age in place in their communities and avoid 
        institutionalization during their remaining years.
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