Washington – U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who faced a protest planned by Holocaust survivors at his Miami Beach fundraiser Friday with President Barack Obama, has filed legislation that would give hundreds of victims the right to sue European companies for millions of dollars in unpaid life insurance claims.
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The Florida Democrat had been working on the legislation sought by a national Holocaust survivors’ group since early February. But a sense of urgency kicked in to file it Wednesday amid the glare of publicity about the upcoming demonstration at the Fontainebleau Hotel fundraiser.
“People who are wronged are entitled to seek justice,” Nelson said in a statement issued late Wednesday.
Members of the Miami-based Holocaust Survivors’ Foundation-USA, which had been heavily lobbying the senator, said they were grateful for Nelson’s actions “to restore our rights as American citizens.”
A group of South Florida survivors said Nelson promised them in his Washington office three years ago that he would file legislation to allow them to sue European companies that sold their families life insurance policies before World War II. During the 2008 presidential campaign, they said, Obama and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden gave their word of support, too.
On Monday, they accused Nelson and Obama of going back on their word, saying they’re siding with giant insurance companies over Holocaust victims. Meanwhile, Nelson has filed his legislation, but the White House has not responded to the foundation’s recent letter seeking the president’s support.