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U.S. House of Representatives Passes Resolution for Holocaust Survivors

03.12.2010

This week, the United States House of Representatives voted unanimously on a resolution to support programs that meet the needs of aging Holocaust survivors. The resolution was brought to the house floor through the bipartisan leadership of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va).

Referring to her motivation for leading the resolution through Congress, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz said, "As this special community ages, we have a moral obligation to ensure their dignity by empowering them to live out their lives in peace and safety".

The resolution urges the Obama Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to increase necessary social services through already existing programs.

William Daroff of the Jewish Federations of North America reports that United States is home to approximately 127,000 Holocaust survivors, 75% of whom are over the age of 75 and nearly two-thirds of whom live alone. Many of them struggle to afford basic needs, and more than half fall below 200% of the federal poverty line.