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Holocaust Restitution in Poland

The Claims Conference continues to work with the World Jewish Restitution Organization, the Holocaust Restitution Committee, and others to press the case of Holocaust restitution in Poland. Please see below the "Sense of Congress" legislation passed in the United States.

H.R.2601

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)

SEC. 1428. LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE FAIR, COMPREHENSIVE, AND NONDISCRIMINATORY RESTITUTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY CONFISCATED IN POLAND.

(a) Findings - Congress find the following:

(1) The protection of and respect for property rights is a basic tenet for all democratic governments that operate according to the rule of law.

(2) Private properties were seized and confiscated by the Nazis in occupied Poland or by the Communist Polish government after World War II.

(3) Some post-Communist countries in Europe have taken steps toward compensating individuals whose property was seized and confiscated by the Nazis during World War II and by Communist governments after World War II.

(4) Poland has continuously failed to enact legislation that requires realistically achievable restitution or compensation for those individuals who had their private property seized and confiscated.

(5) Although President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland later exercised his veto power, in March 2001 the Polish Parliament passed a bill that would have provided compensation for seized and confiscated property, but only to individuals who were registered as Polish citizens as of December 31, 1999, thereby excluding all those individuals who emigrated from Poland during and after World War II.

(6) President Kwasniewski met in 2002 with congressional leaders of the United States Helsinki Commission and stated that he intended to draft a new law requiring the restitution of previously seized and confiscated private property that would not discriminate based on the residency or citizenship of an individual, and which would be ready to take effect by the beginning of 2003.

(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that —

(1) Poland should develop a final and complete settlement for those individuals who had their private property seized and confiscated by the Nazis during World War II or by the Communist Polish government after the war;

(2) restitution should be made in a timely manner if they are to be of any benefit to the many Holocaust survivors who are in their eighties or older; and

(3) the President and the Secretary of State should engage, as appropriate —

(A) in an open dialogue with the Government of Poland supporting the adoption of legislation requiring the fair, comprehensive, and nondiscriminatory restitution of or compensation for private property that was seized and confiscated; and

(B) in follow-up discussions with the Government of Poland regarding the status and implementation of such legislation.

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News and Announcements

Holocaust Restitution in Poland

H.R.2601

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)