[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            S. CON. RES. 46

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. Con. Res. 46, 
Expressing support for the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims 
live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years, and 
urging the Federal Republic of Germany to continue to reaffirm its 
commitment to comprehensively address the unique health and welfare 
needs of vulnerable Holocaust victims, including home care and other 
medically prescribed needs.
  The Holocaust resulted in the murder of two-thirds of the Jewish 
population in Europe at the time of World War II.
  In addition to this, more Jewish people fled in the face of 
extermination and left behind friends, personal items, homes, and much 
more in the effort to preserve their own lives.
  To this day, there are approximately 500,000 Holocaust victims still 
alive around the world with 100,000 Holocaust victims currently living 
in the United States.
  Of this large number of Holocaust survivors, tens of thousands are 80 
years or older and 50 percent will pass away within the next decade 
while the living victims will experience increased health needs as they 
become frailer.
  Even if age were not a factor, many Holocaust victims still alive 
suffer from permanent and psychological disabilities and live with 
emotional scars from the systematic genocide of the Jewish people.
  Furthermore, Holocaust survivors often experience trauma when their 
emotional and physical circumstances force them to leave their homes 
and enter into either institutional or other group living residential 
facilities, and the emotional and psychological scars are heightened in 
the elder age of these Holocaust victims.
  Many Holocaust victims are currently living below the poverty line 
and cannot afford basic necessities such as healthcare, food, 
transportation and other needs so that they may live their remaining 
time in comfort and dignity.
  The government often steps in to assist with these Holocaust victims 
given that many lack family support networks and therefore require 
additional support of social services.
  Additionally, the spokesperson for Chancellor Angela Merkel has 
stated that Germany accepts full responsibility for the Holocaust and 
effects thereof.
  Germany has also acknowledged that the support and funds they have 
been providing are insufficient to these increased needs of the 
Holocaust victims, and Germany agrees that resources and support must 
be expanded to meet these needs.
  These Holocaust victims have suffered enough, and it is the moral and 
historical responsibility of Germany to comprehensively, permanently, 
and urgently provide support and resources for medical, mental health, 
and long-term care needs of all Holocaust victims.
  Because of this, we stand in support of working to ensure that all 
Holocaust victims in the United States and around the world are able to 
live in dignity, comfort, and security throughout their remaining 
years.

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