House Unanimously Passes Wexler Resolution Supporting Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets

(Washington, DC) - The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved H. Con. Res. 89 a resolution introduced by Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues, supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague Holocaust Era Assets Conference. The resolution commends the Czech Republic for hosting the Conference, which started Friday and will conclude on June 30, 2009. The resolution also focuses on the social and healthcare needs of Holocaust Survivors and urges European countries to enact and implement legislation to restitute or provide compensation for individuals and their heirs who had property taken by the Nazis. Original co-sponsors of the measure include Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA); Co-Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA); Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL); Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA); Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation Europe, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Rep. Michael E. McMahon (D-NY).

Congressman Wexler was recently appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the official US delegation to the Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets. The conference, which includes participants from 49 countries, is an opportunity for governments, non-governmental organizations, Holocaust survivors, and the international community to address outstanding Holocaust issues, including the social needs of Holocaust survivors, looted art, Holocaust Education, protection of Judaica and restitute or compensate Survivors for property seized by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The Prague Conference is a follow-up to the 1998 Washington Conference, which was instrumental in establishing international agreements on Holocaust reparation and compensation.

"Passage of this resolution sends an unequivocal message that Congress and the American people strongly support the goals and objectives of the Prague Conference. It is imperative that the United States and Prague Conference participants resolve outstanding issues, including implementing property restitution and or compensation legislation, and make certain that growing Survivor healthcare and social needs are met as they age," said Wexler. "The Prague Conference may represent the last opportunity for the international community to address outstanding Holocaust era issues, and we have a moral obligation to provide a measure of justice to Holocaust Survivors six decades after the end of World War II."