Since its establishment in 1999, the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues (SEHI) has been the only office in the federal government solely devoted to pursuing justice for Holocaust survivors and advocating on their behalf. For decades, SEHI has worked with foreign governments, international institutions, and Jewish organizations to pursue restitution and compensation for survivors and their families, recover Nazi-looted property, preserve Holocaust memory, and address unresolved Holocaust-era obligations.
As the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline, this work is only becoming more urgent, amplifying the need to appoint a career official as the next SEHI, with the seniority, diplomatic experience, and specialized expertise necessary to negotiate complex restitution and compensation matters. I was proud to work with
@RepNadler and members of the Congressional Jewish Caucus to urge Secretary Rubio to preserve the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues position as a distinct and permanent office. This work is too important to be consolidated or eliminated, and we will continue to fight for the pursuit of justice on behalf of Holocaust survivors and their families.