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S. 634 / H.R. 1193 gives these survivors, family members, and veterans a forum to bring claims against SNCF for the commission of war crimes – to finally seek the justice they so very much deserve. It will permit jurisdiction in U.S. courts over railroad corporations for the commission of Holocaust-related war crimes involving deportations to Nazi concentration camps. French courts are now effectively closed to any litigation by any party against rail companies for any claims arising out of the deportations, and U.S. courts are the only hope for the victims to find justice. This legislation is the tool that will grant them their day in court. This legislation was introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Sen. Charles Schumer (NY). Cosponsors are as follows: Reps. Gary Ackerman (NY-5), Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Theodore Deutch (FL-19), Luis Gutierrez (IL-4), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Jerrold Nadler (NY-8), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), Allen West (FL-22); Sens. Al Franken (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Joseph Lieberman (CT), Bill Nelson (FL), Marco Rubio (FL), Ron Wyden (OR). Read Legislation →

This legislation requires any entity and the majority owners of any entity that is pursuing a procurement contract with the Maryland Department of Transportation to provide MARC train service, to disclose what, if any, activity it undertook in the deportation of individuals to extermination camps or death camps during the period between January 1, 1942 and December 31, 1944. The entity must also disclose any records it has in its possession and their location. Additionally, the company must disclose whether it has ever provided restitution or reparations for its actions.

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The legislation would have required companies seeking high-speed rail contracts in California to disclose any direct involvement in the deportations of any individuals to concentration camps. Companies with direct involvement would have been required to provide information on any records in the company’s possession related to the deportations and any remedial action taken by the company or restitution provided to all identifiable victims prior to being awarded billions in taxpayer funds. The legislation was sponsored by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield and passed with overwhelming support in both the Assembly (56-12) and the Senate (32-1).

Despite the tremendous backing of the Legislature, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 619 and justified his action by stating, “this bill needlessly places the state in a position of acknowledging the activities of companies during that time.” Assemblymember Blumenfield has committed to continue to seek the justice the remaining survivors deserve to see in their lifetimes. Read Legislation →

This legislation would have required any entity applying for a contract for any high-speed rail project to certify whether it had direct involvement in the deportation of any individuals to extermination or death camps between January 1, 1942 and December 31, 1944.

The legislation would have required any entity with direct involvement in the deportations to disclose all records related to the deportations, disclose the possession of any property confiscated in connection with the deportations, and provide information on any restitution, reparations, or settlement provided to all identifiable victims of the deportations or their families.

The legislation provided that any company that had failed to make restitution or reparations or to reach a settlement with the victims or their families would be deemed ineligible for high-speed rail contracts involving any federal funds. This legislation was introduced by Rep. Ron Klein. Rep. Theodore Deutch cosponsored. Read Legislation →

S 28 / HR 4237 (111th Congress) would have given these survivors, family members, and veterans a forum to bring claims against SNCF for the commission of war crimes – to finally seek the justice they so very much deserve. It would have permitted jurisdiction in U.S. courts over railroad corporations for the commission of Holocaust-related war crimes involving deportations to Nazi concentration camps. French courts are now effectively closed to any litigation by any party against rail companies for any claims arising out of the deportations, and U.S. courts are the only hope for the victims to find justice. This legislation is the tool that will grant them their day in court. This legislation was introduced by Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Sen. Charles Schumer. Cosponsors include: Reps. Gary Ackerman, Theodore Deutch, Maurice Hinchey, Ron Klein and Sens. Evan Bayh, Russ Feingold, Al Franken, Joseph Lieberman. It is expected that similar legislation will be introduced in the current Congress.
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