[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7503-S7504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 39--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS 
 THAT THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPAND AND SIMPLIFY ITS REPARATIONS 
                     SYSTEMS TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

  Mr. MOYNIHAN (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hatch, and Mr. Dodd) 
submitted the following resolution which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations.

                            S. Con. Res. 39

       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

[[Page S7504]]

     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.

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, it is now over half a century since the 
end of the Second World War. Millions of us who served in that war 
returned home to resume our lives and enjoy the blessings of peace. To 
all of us the end of the war was a relief. To the survivors of the Nazi 
concentration camps it was the difference between certain death and a 
chance to continue life after years of unspeakable deprivation and 
horror.
  Much has been written and said about the 6 million European Jews who 
were slaughtered during the Holocaust. A magnificent museum not far 
from this building pays moving and appropriate tribute to them, and to 
the millions of non-Jewish victims of Nazi Germany, as well. Much has 
been said about the dead. But far too little has been said about, or 
done for, the survivors. Almost half a million of them are still alive, 
including over 125,000 in this country and about the same number in 
Eastern and Central Europe and Israel. The youngest among them are now 
in their sixties; most of them are in their seventies and eighties and 
in increasingly frail health, complicated in many cases by the 
suffering they endured over half a century ago.
  The German Government has long recognized its moral obligation to 
assist the survivors of the Holocaust. The landmark reparations 
agreements of the early 1950's between the West German Government and 
Jewish groups were predicated on this simple premise. Yet, as years go 
by, it has become increasingly apparent that a large number of 
survivors, particularly those living in Eastern and Central Europe, 
were excluded from these agreements and are now being denied assistance 
on the flimsiest of technical grounds. In addition, tens of thousands 
of Holocaust survivors in North America and Israel have been similarly 
refused reparations for a variety of reasons that all pale when 
contrasted to Germany's half-century of generous pensions to German and 
non-German veterans of the notorious Waffen-SS. It is only fair and 
logical that the survivors of the Holocaust be treated in their old age 
with at least the same measure of support being afforded their 
torturers and prison guards. It is also only fair and logical that 
these aging survivors, as well as those who already receive 
reparations, be assisted in meeting their increasing medical expenses.
  It is for this purpose that I join Senators Graham, Hatch, and Dodd 
in submitting this resolution which speaks to the simple proposition 
that it is the sense of Congress that the German Government should 
expand and simplify its reparations system, provide reparations to 
Holocaust survivors in Eastern and Central Europe, and set up a fund to 
help cover the medical expenses of Holocaust survivors.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Moynihan and my 
other colleagues to submit a resolution that will allow Holocaust 
survivors to receive the reparations they so rightly deserve.
  There are over 125,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United 
States. My State of Florida houses the second largest population in the 
United States Approximately 500,000 survivors worldwide are living out 
their final days. Many still suffer from the injuries they received 
during the Nazi occupation. While the German Government has acted in 
good faith in attempting to take responsibility for the horrible 
actions of the Nazi regime, many survivors have been prevented from 
receiving reparations due to burdensome eligibility requirements.
  We recognize that since 1952, Germany has contributed to the 
compensation of those that survived the Holocaust. However, after 50 
years, hundreds of thousands of elderly Holocaust survivors are still 
unable to afford critically needed medical care, and many of their 
medical problems are a direct result of their years in Nazi 
concentration camps.
  In May, it was acknowledged that, in addition to the regular pensions 
and medical insurance the German Government provides, war disability 
pensions are still being paid to veterans of the Nazi armed forces and 
the non-German Waffen-SS, Hitler's special death squads. According to 
the Wiesenthal Center, the SS disability pensions alone are three times 
the reparations paid to the Holocaust survivors.
  This resolution calls for the German Government to expand and 
simplify its system of reparations so that a medical fund may be 
established to cover medical expenses for Holocaust survivors 
throughout the world. Regardless of nationality or the length or place 
of internment, Holocaust survivors will be guaranteed the opportunity 
to live the remainder of their lives with the knowledge that they will 
always be able to receive the medical care they need.
  Holocaust survivors have lived enough of their life in suffering. We 
must now insure that they live the rest of their lives in dignity. We 
hope the German Government will continue to accept responsibility and 
set up a fund to help the victims of Nazi terror. I urge my colleagues 
to join us in this endeavor.

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