Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: Germany Must Do More to Honor its Obligations

Nearly half of all Holocaust survivors worldwide live at or below the poverty level, and are now struggling to make ends meet. In the United States alone, there are almost 50,000 survivors that are unable to afford their medical and home care costs. This is a disgrace; humanity is once again failing Holocaust survivors, yet few are speaking out on their behalf. That is why, alongside my South Florida colleague Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), I have introduced H.Con.Res. 129 — a resolution urging Germany to honor its commitments and its moral obligations to Holocaust survivors and to provide for the needs of all Holocaust survivors.We are not saying that it is our determination as the Congress of the United States that because of what the Nazis did to these survivors, Germany is responsible for their care. We are simply urging Germany to reaffirm and honor its own commitments made to Holocaust survivors. Since Chancellor Konrad Adenauer pledged in 1951 Germany’s obligation to make moral and material amends to survivors, successive German governments have reaffirmed this obligation. And while the German government has taken steps to provide care for survivors, these steps have been woefully inadequate even by Germany’s own admission.But Congress is in a unique position to work on behalf of our constituents to ensure that justice is won and that they receive the proper care and support they need to live out their days in dignity. The time for action is now.

Click here to read the full letter from Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, via The Hill