THE 108TH CONGRESS AND HOLOCAUST-RELATED LEGISLATION
Purpose of the Legislation: To provide for the establishment of a Holocaust Insurance Registry by the Archivist of the United States and to require certain disclosures by insurers to the Secretary of Commerce.
Status: Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) introduced H. R. 1210 on March 11, 2003 and it was immediately referred to the House Committees on Financial Services and Government Reform. On March 28, 2003 H. R. 1210 was referred to the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises.
Key Supporters: Rep. Waxman and 59 cosponsors
H.R. 1440/S. 710/S. 22: Anti Atrocity Alien Deportation Act of 2003
Purpose of the Legislation: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that aliens who commit acts of torture, extrajudicial killings, or other specified atrocities abroad are inadmissible and removable and to establish with in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice an Office of Special Investigations having responsibilities under that Act with respect to all alien participants in war crimes, genocide, and the commission of acts of torture and extrajudicial killings abroad. Title VII of S. 22; Strengthening the Federal Criminal Law, Subtitle A is the Anti Atrocity Deportation Act.
Status: Rep. Mark Foley (FL) introduced H.R. 1440 on March 26, 2003. It was immediately referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. On May 5, 2003 the legislation was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims. Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT) introduced S. 710 in the Senate on March 26, 2003 and it was immediately referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S. 710 has also been introduced as part of S. 22, the Justice Enhancement and Domestic Security Act of 2003. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD) introduced S. 22 on January 7, 2003 and it was immediately referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Key Supporters: Rep. Foley and 10 cosponsors in the House, (S. 710) Sen. Leahy and 3 cosponsors in the Senate, (S. 22) Sen. Daschle and 14 cosponsors in the Senate
Purpose of the Legislation: To clarify the authority of states to establish conditions for insurers to conduct the business of insurance within a state based on provision of information regarding Holocaust era insurance policies of the insurer and to establish Federal cause of action for claims for payment of such insurance policies, and for other purposes.
Status: Rep. Mark Foley (FL) introduced H.R. 1905 on May 1, 2003. The legislation was immediately referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. On May 12, 2003 it was referred the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises. Sen. Norm Coleman (MN) introduced S. 972 on May 1, 2003. S. 972 was immediately referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Key Supporters: Rep. Foley and 20 cosponsors, Sen. Coleman and no cosponsors.
Purpose of the Legislation: To ensure that the courts of the United States may provide an impartial forum for claims brought by United States citizens and others against any railroad organized as a separate legal entity, arising from the deportation of United States citizens and others to Nazi concentration camps on trains owned or operated by such railroad, and by the heirs and survivors of such persons.
Status: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY) introduced H. R. 2954 on July 25, 2003. The legislation was immediately referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Key Supporters: Rep Maloney and 1 cosponsor
Purpose of the Legislation: To establish a National Foundation for the Study of Holocaust Assets.
Status: Sen. Gordon Smith (OR) introduced S. 1184 on June 4, 2003. The legislation was immediately referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Key Supporters: Sen. Smith and 5 cosponsors
Purpose of the Legislation: A bill to authorize and direct the Secretary of Commerce, through an independent commission within the Department of Commerce, to protect consumers by regulating the interstate sale of insurance. Section 236(c) deal specifically with Holocaust victims’ claims.
Status: Sen. Ernest Hollings (SC) introduced S. 1373 on July 8, 2003. The legislation was immediately referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Key Supporters: Sen. Hollings
