Bills
| 3.23.22

Calling for Germany to Fully Fund the Medical Needs of Holocaust Survivors (H. Con. Res. 129)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H. Con. Res. 129?

(Updated March 15, 2018)

This resolution would urge the Federal Republic of Germany to recognize the immediate need to fully fund the medical, mental health, and long-term care needs of surviving Holocaust victims. It also calls for full transparency and accountability in the process to ensure that the German government and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany provide that funding efficiently, fairly, and without delay.

The German government would also be urged to reaffirm its commitment to fulfilling its moral responsibility to Holocaust victims by:

  • Ensuring that each Holocaust victim receives all of the prescribed medical care, home care, mental health care, and other vital services necessary to live in dignity;

  • Providing, without delay, additional financial resources to address the unique needs of Holocaust victims.

Argument in favor

The passage of time hasn’t diminished Germany’s responsibility to provide for the medical needs of Holocaust survivors. Members of Congress are right to advocate for them, as many live in America.

Argument opposed

Congress is simply grandstanding on this issue, as there’s nothing they can do to force Germany to be more transparent about how it financially supports survivors of the Holocaust.

Impact

Holocaust survivors; the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany; and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Cost of H. Con. Res. 129

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced this bill to ensure that Holocaust survivors have their medical needs taken care by Germany, which has committed to support them:

“Today there are less than half a million survivors of humanity’s darkest period worldwide, and nearly half of those are living at or below the poverty level. Holocaust survivors have lived through and experienced unconscionable evil, and now, as they live out the remainder of their days, they grapple with not only the physical ailments of old age, but the enduring emotional and psychological scars inflicted upon them. And while the German government has made a commitment over the years to provide justice for Holocaust victims, it has a moral obligation to do more to ensure that all survivors get the justice and care they need and deserve.”

This legislation was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by unanimous consent, and is supported by 40 cosponsors — including 29 Democrats and 11 Republicans.


Of Note: It has been estimated that there are fewer than 500,000 Holocaust survivors still alive around the world, with about 100,000 of them residing in the U.S. The German government has been in negotiations to broaden its support for survivors — many of victims that require that help are reaching extreme age and live in poverty.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: By Lt. Arnold E. Samuelson - This media is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the ARC Identifier (National Archives Identifier) 531271. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=817134)