Senator Clinton Encourages Groups to Seek Funding for Services to Holocaust Survivors

Senator Clinton Encourages Groups to Seek Funding for Services to Holocaust Survivors

Thousands of New York's Hungarian Holocaust survivors could be eligible for social assistance under the settlement

With a court ordered deadline approaching, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton urged Jewish social service organizations to consider seeking funding from the settlement of the Hungarian Gold Train litigation. Thousands of Hungarian Holocaust survivors in New York may be eligible for aid under the terms of a settlement.

Last month, a federal judge preliminarily approved a settlement between Hungarian Holocaust survivors and the United States government in the case of the Hungarian Gold Train. The key element in the settlement was the Government's agreement to pay up to $25.5 million, of which approximately $21 million will be used to fund social service projects provided by local agencies to benefit Hungarian Holocaust survivors worldwide. In addition, the settlement provides for the creation of an archival and educational record of the incident. The government will also issue a statement accepting responsibility in this incident.

"For years we have been trying to achieve some kind of resolution for Hungarian survivors of the Holocaust. While nothing can heal the wounds suffered by so many of these survivors, we now have the opportunity to help them in some meaningful way," Senator Clinton said. "I am grateful that our government finally saw fit to provide long overdue redress to these aging men and women and I would encourage social service providers to come forward and apply for these funds so they can get the help they need."

Under the terms of the settlement, a proposed plan for distribution of the funds will be sent to the judge by June 10 by the Conference on Material Claims Against Germany (the "Claims Conference"), in consultation with the class counsel and Hungarian Holocaust survivors. The aid will be provided by existing social service agencies with a record of demonstrated experience and capability providing services to Nazi victims. Clinton urged Jewish organizations which provide such services to contact the Claims Conference to learn how they may seek to participate in the settlement.

For over a year, Senator Clinton has pushed for a resolution in the Gold Train case. In March of 2004, Senator Clinton wrote to Attorney General John Ashcroft to ask for immediate action on the case, amid reports that officials at the United States Department of Justice were "dragging their feet" on resolving the matter. In May, Senator Clinton joined with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), and several of her Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter calling on the Attorney General to solve the matter with survivors. In October, Senator Clinton issued a statement before the Senate urging the Justice Department to end "half a century of silence and cover-up" and provide these survivors with the adequate compensation they deserve. Senator Clinton also reached out directly to the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel to urge resolution in this case.

The Settlement does not provide for direct payments to Class Members as compensation for property lost on the Gold Train. Instead, the money will fund social service programs benefiting eligible recipients.

In May of 1945, a train laden with valuables that had been seized from Hungarian Jews by the Nazis was turned over to US forces. Unfortunately, the United States maintained that the origin of the valuables was "unidentifiable" and the train's contents were never returned to their owners. According to the U.S. Commission on Holocaust Assets, the Gold Train was an "egregious failure" of the United States to follow its own policy regarding restitution of property after World War II. Over a thousand New Yorkers and other Americans who faced Nazi cruelty and fled oppressive forces during or after World War II were waiting for justice for the mishandling of their property from the so-called "gold train".

[To access more information about the application process or the settlement, go to http://clinton.senate.gov/goldtrain.html. A copy of Senator Clinton's letter is attached.]

Dear -

I want to be certain that you are aware of the recent settlement between the United States Government and Hungarian Holocaust survivors in the matter of the Hungarian Gold Train. Thousands of New York's Hungarian Holocaust survivors who courageously stood up for their rights in this matter stand to potentially benefit from the terms of the settlement and achieve some measure of justice from the horrors they faced.

In May of 1945, a train laden with valuables that had been seized from Hungarian Jews by the Nazis was turned over to U.S. forces. Unfortunately, the United States maintained that the origin of the valuables was "unidentifiable" and the train's contents were never returned to their owners. According to the U.S. Commission on Holocaust Assets, the Gold Train was an "egregious failure" of the United States to follow its own policy regarding restitution of property after World War II. Thousands of New Yorkers and other Americans who faced Nazi cruelty and fled oppressive forces during or after World War II were waiting for justice for the mishandling of their property from the so-called "gold train".

Finally, this March the Justice Department settled litigation brought by Hungarian Holocaust survivors, achieving the resolution they long deserved. The settlement of up to $25.5 million does not provide cash payments for the survivors; however it will fund the social service needs of ailing, aging and infirm Hungarian Holocaust survivors. In addition, it will create an archival and educational record of the incident. Finally, and significantly, the government will issue a statement at long last accepting responsibility in this incident. Federal District Judge Patricia Seitz has preliminarily approved the settlement, and will issue a final ruling in the fall.

By June 10, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), in consultation with the class counsel and Hungarian Holocaust survivors, will recommend to the Judge which social service agencies in relevant countries are eligible to access the funding in the provision of services to Hungarian Holocaust survivors.

If you have provided services to Holocaust survivors in the past and believe you are eligible to provide such services to Hungarian Holocaust survivors, I urge you to contact the Claims Conference and the attorneys representing the Holocaust survivors to get more details about the settlement. Information is available at the website http://www.hungariangoldtrain.org or on my website at http://clinton.senate.gov/goldtrain.html

Over the course of the last year I urged the Administration to act on this pressing issue to achieve the resolution deserved by the survivors who were literally dying as their case languished. While nothing can heal the wounds suffered by many of these survivors, I am grateful and relieved that our government is providing long overdue redress to these aging men and women.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005510A05.html