U.S. Congress authorizes fund to pay $25 million to survivors

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (JTA) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation this week authorizing the United States to provide $25 million to Holocaust survivors. Tuesday’s action fulfills a pledge made by the Clinton administration in December to contribute $25 million to a new international fund to benefit Holocaust survivors around the world. The United States and Britain announced creation of the fund in London at an international conference on the Nazi gold affair. Officials of the two countries said they hoped it would prompt nations with claims to 5.6 tons of residual Nazi-looted gold held by the Tripartite Gold Commission to contribute their share to help Holocaust survivors. In addition, the legislation, known as the Holocaust Victims Redress Act, attempts to make good on a postwar U.S. government pledge to compensate Holocaust survivors for lost assets. Only $500,000 out of $3 million pledged by Congress following the war was ultimately paid out to Holocaust survivors. The new allocation of $25 million reflects the current estimated value of the $2.5 million balance lawmakers say is still owed. The bill also provides $5 million for further archival research into the issue of looted assets and calls on governments around the world to take action to ensure that artworks confiscated by the Nazis — or by the Soviets in the aftermath of World War II — be returned to their rightful owners. The bill, passed by the Senate even before the December conference, now awaits President Clinton’s signature.