Several bills pertaining to Holocaust-related matters are pending before the U.S. Congress. In April, three bills (H.R.390; H.R.1292; S.779) were introduced that would, in various forms, require that restitution to Holocaust survivors or their heirs be exempt from federal income tax. Most Holocaust survivors are elderly and many live in poverty. A tax exemption would allow Holocaust survivors and their heirs to receive maximum reimbursements for assets lost during the time period of 1933-1945.

In May, the Nazi Benefits Termination Act (H.R.1788) was introduced in the House. This legislation will enable the Attorney General to initiate proceedings to terminate Federal public benefits payments, such as Social Security, to certain participants in Nazi persecutions. The bill will affect both deportable individuals in the U.S. and participants in Nazi activities who have already fled the U.S., preventing the latter from collecting U.S. benefits as well. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Justice to conclusively prove that the accused individual assisted in Nazi persecutions before suspending benefits. The Social Security Administration reports that eight Nazi persecutors have collected over $700,000 in Social Security benefits, despite their relocation abroad. This legislation has received the careful attention and support of several New Jersey based CRCs, particularly Central New Jersey and MetroWest.

Additional Holocaust Related Legislation: