NEWS: Schiff, Chu Introduce Legislation to Honor Americans Who Rescued Holocaust Refugees

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) are introducing legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Americans who were active in rescuing and aiding Jewish refugees and others during the Holocaust. The Medal will be displayed at the U.S. Holocaust Museum.

Among those recognized include the War Refugee Board, who were responsible for saving the lives of 200,000 Jewish refugees and 20,000 non-Jews.

"It is more important than ever to commemorate the efforts of hundreds of individual Americans and the many organizations that aided and rescued European Jews and others facing Nazi persecution during the Holocaust. We commemorate the courage and sacrifice of these hundreds of Americans who saved thousands of lives - sometimes at grave personal risk and with U.S. public opposition at the time toward resettling Jewish refugees,"said Senator Schiff.

"I'm so proud to reintroduce this legislation with Senator Schiff and my Democratic colleagues to award a congressional gold medal to Americans who rescued Jews and other refugees facing near certain death during the Holocaust," said Representative Chu. "These heroes risked their own lives to save others and, in doing so, exemplified what it means to fight for a more just and more equal world. As we continue to face rising antisemitism, bigotry, and authoritarianism in our country and worldwide, our bill represents our unyielding commitment to ensuring the lessons of the past are never forgotten."

Background: The resolution awards hundreds of Americans and relief organizations who were responsible for saving thousands of Jewish refugees and others during the Holocaust. In 1939, Congress rejected proposals to offer asylum to 20,000 Jewish children. In the same year, the United States refused asylum to Jewish refugees aboard the S.S. St. Louis, who were forced to return to Europe, and 254 of whom died in the Holocaust.

Senator Schiff has led many efforts during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives to support and honor Holocaust survivors.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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