Helping Holocaust Survivors
WASHINGTON — An estimated 120,000 Holocaust survivors live in the United States today, at an average age of 80; 3 in 5 survivors are women; and approximately two thirds of Holocaust survivors live alone.
Many rely on local agencies to help them afford basic necessities such as food and health care, which is why U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), David Joyce (R-OH), and Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), introduced a bill today that would bolster agencies that work to provide support services to Holocaust survivors in the U.S., from improved home care services to transportation options.
The Responding to the Urgent Needs of Survivors of the Holocaust Act, or the RUSH Act, supports the goal of ensuring that Holocaust survivors are able to live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years. To do so, this bipartisan bill would add Holocaust survivors to a priority list for social services that are provided as part of the Older Americans Act, including nutrition services, mental health counseling, and home modifications.
The bill would also designate someone within the Administration on Aging to oversee the implementation of all the services to survivors to ensure the full intent of the bill is carried out, and ensures that meals provided by the Older Americans Act meet special cultural and religious dietary needs. Because transportation is one of the greatest needs of these seniors, another integral part of the bill invests in resources and services to provide improved transportation options for this vulnerable group.
“As a nation that upholds the values of freedom, liberty, and justice, we have a moral obligation to acknowledge the plight and uphold the dignity of Holocaust survivors to ensure their well-being,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Our children’s generation will be the last to know Holocaust survivors and hear their stories first hand. We must do all we can to honor their struggles and their lives by improving their access to transportation to get them where they need to go, and improve their home-care options so that they can have peace of mind. This bill does just that, and it’s time to make it happen.”
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said, “I’m proud to join Debbie, my South Florida colleague, in her strong leadership on this issue as we introduce the RUSH Act. Holocaust survivors have endured unspeakable atrocities and have persevered through unparalleled hardships. They have withstood it all for decades. They deserve to live out the remainder of their days in dignity and comfort. This bill will provide them with a broad array of social services from improved transportation options to mental health and nutritional services. It is an important measure that will help ease survivors’ daily burdens.”
A Senate version of the RUSH Act was introduced today by U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
“As survivors of terror and torture, these Holocaust survivors came to our country seeking the American Dream,” said Sen. Cardin. “They have enriched our nation and now they have special needs and would benefit from additional social service programs that will allow them to age in place in their current residences. I believe we have an obligation to provide them with access to the community support and services they need.”
The RUSH Act is supported by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA); Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty; American Jewish Committee (AJC); Survivor Initiative; Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies; Anti-Defamation League (ADL); the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA); and Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.
In December 2010, Wasserman Schultz introduced a resolution that passed in the House that recognizes the needs of aging Holocaust survivors and the work of the agencies that help support them. This bill takes that idea and turns it into a reality by making it possible for these agencies to provide the support that is so vital to these Holocaust survivors.