[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7713-H7716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CALLING FOR DIGNITY, COMFORT, AND SUPPORT FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (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.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 323

       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

[[Page H7714]]

     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. McCarthy) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on House Concurrent Resolution 323 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
323, which supports the goals of ensuring that all Holocaust survivors 
in the United States are able to live with dignity, comfort, and 
security in their remaining years.
  During the Holocaust, which took place between 1933 and 1945, the 
Nazis and their partners murdered an estimated 6 million Jews and other 
targeted groups. Those who survived torture and forced labor under Nazi 
occupation continue to live with the scars of this horrible tragedy.

                              {time}  1740

  This resolution supports the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust 
survivors in the United States are able to live with dignity and 
comfort in their remaining years. I applaud the nonprofit organizations 
and agencies that work extensively to honor and assist the Holocaust 
survivors in their communities.
  This resolution urges the administration and the Department of Health 
and Human Services, in conjunction with the Administration on Aging, to 
provide Holocaust survivors with needed social services through 
existing programs.
  Lastly, the resolution encourages the Administration on Aging to 
develop and implement programs that ensure Holocaust survivors are able 
to age in place in their communities and avoid being institutionalized 
during their remaining years.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Wasserman 
Schultz, for introducing this resolution, and once again express my 
support. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
323, to support 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. Sixty-seven years ago, a brave group of 
Jewish resistance fighters rose up against their German occupiers in 
the Warsaw Ghetto when the Nazis attempted to transport the remaining 
population to Treblinka extermination camp. Launched on January 18, 
1943, the bulk of the uprising took place from April the 19 through May 
16. It was the largest single revolt by the Jewish people during the 
Holocaust.
  The United States officially commemorates the Holocaust during the 
Days of Remembrance, which is held each April, marking the anniversary 
of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. For the Holocaust survivors admitted or 
emigrated to the United States in the wake of the horrific atrocities 
during World War II, these events are a stark reminder of the darkness 
and hate they endured on a daily basis for more than 12 years.
  Today, there are more than 36 million people in the United States who 
are over the age of 65, making it the fastest growing age group in the 
country. Of this total, more than 127,000 are Holocaust survivors 
remaining in the United States. All Holocaust survivors are at least 65 
years old, and approximately three-quarters of them are older than 75 
years of age, and a majority in their eighties and nineties. As more of 
these survivors age every year, our Federal, State, and local 
governments must provide them with the needed services they need to 
maintain their health and independence in their homes and communities.
  The U.S. Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, and responsible for administering the Older 
Americans Act, plays an important role in organizing and delivering 
social services for elderly Americans. The Older Americans Act is the 
first stop for seniors and their families to identify home- and 
community-based long-term care options, as well as transportation, 
nutrition, and referral to home care, health, and other social 
services.
  When Congress, led by the Education and Labor Committee, last 
reauthorized the law in 2006, we strengthened the act to promote 
consumer choice, as well as home- and community-based supports to help 
older individuals avoid institutional care, improve health and 
nutrition programs, and educational and volunteer services, increase 
Federal, State, and local coordination, and reform employment-based 
training for older Americans. These important changes will ensure the 
quality and effectiveness of Federal programs aimed at assisting the 
elderly, including the Holocaust survivors still living and residing in 
the U.S.
  Mr. Speaker, today we honor 127,000 survivors of the Holocaust 
currently living in the United States, and we pay tribute to those 
brave souls who have passed away over the last six decades. We applaud 
the work of nonprofit organizations and agencies that have worked and 
continued to work tirelessly to honor and to assist Holocaust survivors 
in their local communities. And we must commit to providing those 
survivors with needed social services so they are able to live with 
dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 323.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 
minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), who is 
the author of this resolution.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer House 
Concurrent Resolution 323, Ensuring that Holocaust Survivors Live with 
Dignity, Comfort, and Security. This important resolution recognizes 
the plight of Holocaust survivors, honors their unique needs, and 
pledges to help survivors attain the utmost comfort and well-being in 
their remaining years. And I want to thank my colleague from Virginia 
(Mr. Wolf) for cosponsoring it with me.
  At the end of World War II, the Jewish population of Europe had been 
decimated through brutal, systematic annihilation by the Nazis. The 
atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi regime against Jews, Roma, the 
disabled, and other minority populations introduced a level of 
inhumanity previously unknown to this world. The Holocaust is a stain 
on our history which our society has pledged to never forget lest we 
risk repeating the barbarity of the past. The Jewish population around 
the world is still grieving from the loss of 6 million.
  In the wake of this incomparable human destruction, thousands of 
survivors immigrated to America. Here, they hoped to secure a better 
future for themselves and their children. Escaping a ravaged Europe, 
survivors saw our Nation as a global example of freedom, liberty, and 
justice. They left the wreckage of the Holocaust and sought comfort on 
our shores. These brave survivors, who faced the terror of 
concentration camps, the trauma of fleeing Nazi occupation, and the 
grief of losing so many loved ones, embraced the American dream, raised 
families, and enriched our Nation and society in fields ranging from 
academia to medicine, art and government. Our country is stronger for 
their contributions, and our children have learned so much from the 
experiences of Holocaust survivors.

[[Page H7715]]

  Now, more than 70 years later, there is more we can and must do to 
ensure that those who survived such atrocities live out their remaining 
years in peace. There are more than 127,000 Holocaust survivors still 
living in our Nation today, with more than three-quarters of them older 
than age 75, and a majority in their eighties and nineties. Roughly 
two-thirds of all survivors in America live alone, and many lack the 
financial resources for the most basic necessities, including proper 
housing and health care. In fact, a majority of Holocaust survivors 
fall below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line, equivalent to 
$21,660 per year, making this fragile community most at risk for being 
forced into a group living situation.
  It is a little known tragedy that so many survivors of the death 
camps have aged in poverty and destitution in the United States. As a 
Nation that so strongly upholds the values of freedom and justice, we 
have a moral obligation to acknowledge the plight of these survivors 
and uphold their dignity to ensure their well-being in their remaining 
years. It is vital that we help this population, as a testament to what 
they have endured, and to fulfill the promise of justice that they 
sought in the United States.
  As victims of terror and torture, these survivors have special needs 
that would benefit from the further development of social service 
programs to allow survivors to age in place in their current 
residences. Institutionalized settings, while appropriate and even 
beneficial for many older Americans, have a disproportionately adverse 
effect on Holocaust survivors, as these environments reintroduce the 
sights, sounds, and routines reminiscent of experiences during the 
Holocaust.
  It is impossible for us to imagine the traumatic nightmares that 
survivors still experience. That is why it is so important for us to 
help this particular population secure alternatives to 
institutionalization such as aging in place, which may be more 
appropriate for a Holocaust survivor.
  In introducing this legislation, we applaud those organizations that 
have already dedicated their tireless efforts to honoring and assisting 
Holocaust survivors in their communities across the country. These 
organizations strive every day to improve the difficult situations 
facing survivors in our communities. It is important that in coming 
years Congress work with the administration and the Department of 
Health and Human Services to provide Holocaust survivors with needed 
social services through existing programs, such as at the 
Administration on Aging.
  It is fortuitous that this resolution comes to the floor the same 
week that we celebrate Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights. This 
holiday is a time to dedicate ourselves to the ideals of justice. At a 
time of year when people of all backgrounds are exchanging gifts, we 
must remember those in our society who have had so much taken from them 
in their lifetimes. We must share these stories and proclaim these 
lessons in public, that ours is a Nation of freedom and justice for 
all.
  Our children's generation will be the last to know Holocaust 
survivors and hear their stories firsthand. We must do all we can to 
honor their struggles and their lives by granting them the utmost peace 
in their remaining years.
  I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their 
strong support; 102 Members are cosponsors of this resolution.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague from Virginia (Mr. Wolf).

                              {time}  1750

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 323 
and thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I believe we have a moral obligation to ensure that all members of 
our society are able to age with grace and dignity and to speak out, to 
speak out if we notice that a particular group within our society is 
facing unique barriers toward this goal.
  As many have noted earlier, there are approximately 127,000 Holocaust 
survivors living in the United States today. Despite being victims of 
unfathomable crimes, and crimes that unfortunately the world stood by 
and looked the other way for years and years and years, these 
individuals immigrated and assimilated into the United States to become 
valuable members and contributors to our society.
  Nursing homes and assisted care settings provide many of my 
constituents with an invaluable service and caring homes. However, we 
are noticing that a disproportionate number of Holocaust survivors, 
many of whom are now in their eighties and nineties, are not able to 
easily transition to these facilities.
  This is specifically due to their horrific past experiences. Just 
remember the movie, Schindler's List. Many facilities simply do not 
have the additional resources that would be necessary to care for most 
of these survivors.
  Given this challenge, it is important we work to raise awareness of 
existing opportunities to minimize this emerging situation. Many 
Holocaust survivors and the nonprofit organizations and agencies that 
work with them daily have found that aging-in-place programs help to 
alleviate this problem.
  I urge that the administration, the Department of Health and Human 
Services, in partnership with the Administration on Aging, and 
nonprofit groups, work with the Holocaust survivors to address their 
needs through existing programs and also to work on developing 
innovative and efficient solutions to address this challenge.
  I am pleased to work again with my colleague from Florida (Ms. 
Wasserman Schultz), to introduce this resolution to highlight this 
issue. Again, as I said, for the longest time in the thirties and 
forties, the world looked the other way.
  Just go to the Holocaust Museum and see many times people were crying 
out and the word was coming out of Germany and yet people looked the 
other way.
  So I strongly urge support of this and I hope when it's voted on, if 
there is a roll call vote, it will be a unanimous vote.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I rise today in support of this resolution to ensure 
that all Holocaust survivors in the United States are able to live with 
dignity, comfort and security and congratulate Congresswoman Wasserman 
Schultz on its introduction.
  An estimated 127,000 Holocaust survivors live in the United States 
today, including over 3,500 in the Chicago area, many in my 
congressional district. The Village of Skokie is home to one of the 
largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors in the country, and they 
inspired the building of the world-class Illinois Holocaust Museum and 
Education Center in Skokie.
  Holocaust survivors are five times more likely to be living below the 
poverty level than other older Americans, and over half fall beneath 
200 percent of the Federal poverty threshold. These men and women have 
survived the worst of human abuses and many have special needs as they 
age. It is critical that we uphold the dignity of Holocaust survivors 
and ensure their well-being in their remaining years.
  I would like to applaud the efforts of the Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Chicago and other such organization that are working 
tirelessly to honor and assist Holocaust survivors in our community. We 
must all do more to ensure that Holocaust survivors can spend their 
remaining years living in comfort, dignity and security.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley).
  Mr. QUIGLEY. I rise today to support this resolution and thank its 
sponsor, the gentlewoman from Florida, and call for its quick passage.
  This important resolution highlights the often forgotten special 
needs of the few remaining Holocaust survivors. It also calls for the 
assurances that their final years will be comfortable and dignified.
  Over 100,000 Holocaust survivors live in the U.S. today with 3,500 of 
those living in my city, Chicago. Three-quarters of those are in their 
eighties and nineties. The majority live alone and more than half live 
below the poverty line. As these individuals who survived torture, 
starvation and unspeakable

[[Page H7716]]

terrors age, they deserve to do so in their own homes rather than in 
institutional settings.
  After all they have endured and overcome, these spirited survivors of 
the Holocaust deserve access to social service programs sensitive to 
their unique needs. This resolution will ensure they spend their last 
years with the same dignity with which they lived.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. I thank my fellow New Yorker for yielding.
  I rise to support this legislation, this resolution. Everyone has 
spoken very eloquently, and I concur with everything that has been 
said. When I was looking at the resolution and the reasons for 
supporting it, I was absolutely shocked to see that there were still 
127,000 Holocaust survivors left in the United States. I would have 
thought it was much, much less. And, of course, as people are saying 
many of them are in their eighties and nineties and deserve a little 
added help.
  This great country has been a refuge for so many people throughout 
the years of this great republic and certainly the Holocaust survivors 
that came here after the Holocaust have been treated with dignity, have 
moved into American society. Their children and grandchildren have 
achieved great heights. But, unfortunately, too many of them today 
still live alone, are in their eighties and nineties, and need our 
help.
  So I rise to support this resolution. I think this is the most noble 
thing that we can do. It's a great testimony to our great Nation, and I 
urge all my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate my last 
remarks with the gentleman from New York and the remarks that have been 
made.
  I think one of the greatest blights in world history is the history 
of the Holocaust. The world stood by and watched the murder of millions 
of innocent men, women and children. We just a moment ago spoke about 
child advocacy, and look at the families that were dislodged, 
displaced. It's one of the most horrific events in world history, I 
believe, and should never, ever, be allowed to be repeated on this 
Earth.
  So I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this 
resolution. It's a privilege to be here and be on the House floor to 
speak on behalf of that.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the Holocaust was one of the 
most unspeakable tragedies in history. The amount pain and suffering of 
those individuals who endured the terror of the Nazi regime can never 
be quantified.
  House Concurrent Resolution 323 is an important resolution that calls 
on our Nation to ensure that Holocaust survivors are afforded 
appropriate resources in order to live their remaining years with 
dignity.
  I am thankful that we live in a country that continues to cherish 
individual freedoms and maintains an unbreakable bond with Israel. It's 
imperative that our Nation teach lessons from the past, be a force for 
tolerance, and build upon shared democratic values and desire for 
security and stability.
  With this in mind, I was proud to introduce H.R. 6363, the Supporting 
Law Enforcement through Lessons of the Holocaust Act earlier this 
Congress.
  This legislation creates a new 4-year grant at the Department of 
Justice, our State and local law enforcement agencies, to carry out the 
programs that will teach these officers about the implications of the 
Holocaust for modern day law enforcement professionals.
  Stories of personal struggle from the Holocaust live on through our 
historic records, families, friends and survivors of that horrific 
time. Our Nation owes it to the survivors to ensure their security and 
safety with utmost priority.
  With that, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Klein).

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. I thank the lady.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Con. Res. 323, a resolution 
that calls attention to the thousands of Holocaust survivors who are 
living below the poverty line. We know in Florida we have a tremendous 
number of people that have come from that background. They deserve to 
live their lives in dignity. Holocaust survivors have endured torturous 
and unimaginable nightmares. All the more so they should be assured a 
life of comfort and security. It is truly tragic that Holocaust 
survivors are five times more likely to live below the poverty line 
than other older Americans.
  We are coming together as Members today to send a clear message that 
we must all help lift Holocaust survivors out of poverty. This is a 
community obligation because we are human, and we must not allow 
suffering like this to reach those who have already suffered so much.
  I would like to thank my friend, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman 
Schultz, the chief sponsor of this legislation. South Florida is truly 
lucky to have you. I would also like to commend the many good 
organizations in Florida and around the country that provide stellar 
social services to Holocaust survivors. They understand the unique 
needs of the survivor population and the urgent imperative to solve 
this crisis.
  I call on my colleagues to swiftly pass this important resolution so 
that we may tell Holocaust survivors, you are not alone.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise as an original sponsor of H. Con. 
Res. 323, a bipartisan resolution conceived with the purpose of 
ensuring that all Holocaust survivors in the United States are able to 
live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years.
  During the Holocaust, an estimated 6,000,000 Jews and other targeted 
groups were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. 
Approximately 96,000 Holocaust survivors were admitted to the United 
States immediately after the war. Another 100,000 Holocaust survivors 
were admitted after 1952. Today, approximately 127,000 Holocaust 
survivors live in the United States.
  The majority of Holocaust survivors are at least 65 years old and 
approximately two-thirds of them are elderly women. Many of them face 
the risk of isolation and financial insecurity.
  Holocaust survivors are 5 times more likely to be living below the 
poverty line than other older people living in the United States. They 
are more reliant on social service programs and most of them live 
alone. Living alone puts these survivors at increased risk of 
institutionalization.
  While institutionalized settings are beneficial for some older 
people, institutionalization has a disproportionate adverse effect on 
Holocaust survivors by reintroducing sights, sounds, and routines that 
are reminiscent of their experiences during the Holocaust.
  This bill encourages the Administration and the Department of Health 
and Human Services, in conjunction with the Administration on Aging, to 
provide Holocaust survivors with needed social services through 
existing programs. The bill also urges the Administration to 
expeditiously develop and implement programs that ensure Holocaust 
survivors are able to live their remaining years in place in their 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States is a nation that values freedom, 
liberty, and justice. As such, we are morally obligated to acknowledge 
the plight and encourage the dignity of our citizens, such as survivors 
of the Holocaust, who have suffered and who are in need.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 323.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________