[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NAZI WAR CRIMES DISCLOSURE

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to lend my strong 
support to H.R. 1281. This sense of the Congress measure is intended to 
act as a first step to urge several Federal agencies through the 
Freedom of Information Act, to open their files that contain 
information about individuals that are believed to have participated in 
Nazi war crimes.
  This sense of the Congress measure stems from the efforts of 
Representative Maloney of my home State of New York. Representative 
Maloney propose H.R. 1281, a bill that would have amended the National 
Security Act of 1947, and required Federal agencies to make public 
under the Freedom of Information Act, all information regarding 
individuals who participated in Nazi War Crimes during World War II.
  Mr. President, it is very important that we make a strong statement 
in this body that all the facts relating to the Holocaust be brought to 
light. I believe that it is our duty to never forget the millions of 
people who died in the Holocaust. Further, I believe we also have a 
duty to the survivors and victim's families to pursue every answer into 
this terrible period in the history of man. Yet, over 50 years have 
passed since the end of World War II and we still have many unanswered 
questions. Some of these questions can be answered with the cooperation 
of our own Federal agencies, but, some agencies have inexplicably 
blocked access to files and information that could help to shed light 
on the Holocaust and Nazi war criminals. These answers could help to 
provide piece of mind to millions of people around our country and 
around the world. Further, the release of these Nazi war crime files 
could provide historians with a more clear view of these horrible 
events over half a century ago, thus helping to ensure the despicable 
acts of the Holocaust are never repeated.
  The survivors and victim's families have waited too long. The time to 
open the files is now, there can be no more excuses. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in this effort and ask for their support on this 
measure.

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