ARTICLES & TESTIMONY

"‘Phantom Rule’ May Have Limited Holocaust-Era Awards To Claimants"

New York Jewish Week, June 2007

"Losing Count"

Op-Ed by Thane Rosenbaum, New York Times, June 2007

"Why Don't Those SOBs Give Me My Money?"

Si Frumkin, Reform Judaism, Spring 2008

"Naming Rights and Historical Wrongs"

Richard Sandovir, New York Times, September 2008

"Justice for Holocaust Survivors"

Op-Ed by Herbert Karliner, Miami Herald, November 2008

Request by Members of the House of Representatives for a hearing on Holocaust insurance claims before the House Judiciary Committee, May 2010

HSF letter to Rep. John Conyers, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee

September 2010

Testimony by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to House Judiciary Subcommittee

September 2010

Testimony of Rep. John Garamendi (former California Insurance Commissioner) before U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee

September 2010

Testimony of Professor Michael P. Van Alstine before the House Judiciary Subcommittee
September 2010

Testimony by Samuel Dubbin before the House Judiciary Subcommittee

September 2010

Testimony by Rep. Adam Schiff before the House Judiciary Subcommittee, September 2010

Floor Statement by Senator Arlen Specter on Restoration of Legal Rights for Claimants Under Holocaust-Era Insurance Policies, December 2010

"Justice for Holocaust Survivors"

Op-Ed by David Schaecter and David Mermelstein, Miami Herald, March 2011

PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSING SURVIVOR RIGHTS AND RESPONSES BY HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS' FOUNDATION-USA

Certain Jewish organizations have joined with insurance companies to lobby against  H.R. 890 and S. 466. See the June 13, 2011 letter  addressed to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and jointly signed by five allied organizations.  The same organizations opposed similar legislation in 2008, and communicated a similar message at that time.

HSF issued a response to the June 2011 letter here.

In June 2010, a leadership faction of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, a survivor-led group based in New York, wrote to the House Judiciary Committee to oppose Holocaust insurance legislation, calling it "flawed." The statement had the appearance of an official position of that organization, but had in fact not been authorized or approved by its Board of Directors.

On June 14, 2011, the American Gathering issued a position reaffirming "its absolute support for the right of all survivors to pursue all legitimate claims, including insurance claims, in every appropriate forum, in particular the courts of law." The organization qualified its support for current legislation by seeking a restriction on lawyers' fees related to successful suits against insurers. This position, however, is in conflict with state consumer protection law in every U.S. state that provides that an insured person who successfully sues an insurance company is entitled to collect attorneys fees. Such laws have long existed to level the playing field for consumers against insurers with vastly greater resources to defend against suits.  

LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REPORTS

[Reports on lobbying expenditures in 2011 opposing survivors' rights is forthcoming]

Vast sums devoted to defeat Holocaust Insurance Legislation in 2008

Several Jewish Organizations, German Embassy joined effort

Through September 30, 2008, the insurance industry -- led by Italian insurer Generali, Swiss Reinsurance, and the Association of Dutch Insurers -- spent over ONE MILLION DOLLARS on lobbyists opposing H.R. 1746. See the detailed  breakdown here. This figure does not include the unidentified portion of time and resources expended by  European-based insurance giants Allianz, Zurich, AEGON and ING, along with two leading U.S. insurance trade associations in opposition to H.R. 1746 as part of their ongoing multi-million dollar lobbying programs.

The industry trade group, the American Insurance Association, hired Mara Rudman, the former Chief Operating Officer of the International Commission on Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC), to represent their interests on the matter in Congress. See filing for 1st Quarter 2008 and 2nd Quarter 2008.

Three Jewish organizations also spent lobbying resources to oppose the bill: American Jewish Committee, World Jewish Congress, and the Anti-Defamation League.

Unreported lobbying expenses were also incurred by German Embassy officials, and officers and employees of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, opposing the legislation.  The Claims Conference is not required by law to report lobbying expenditures.

AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLIANZ

Announcement of “Third Generation Initiative” program

2011 trip details