Washington, DC - With the support of Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-Brooklyn), the House Committee on Government Reform approved S. 384, which would extend the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act for an additional two years.

“I am pleased that the Government Reform Committee acted on this critical piece of legislation," said Towns who is a senior member of the Committee.  "Given that the Nazi War Crimes Interagency Working Group (IWG) is set to expire at the end of March, we do not have much time to waste.  Today's action will help ensure that the extension will be signed into law in time."

In 1998, the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act established the Nazi War Crimes Interagency Group (IWG) to collect data from government agencies that related to Nazi war criminals. The IWG has declassified and opened to the public an estimated 8 million pages of documents that are helping to shape our understanding of the Holocaust, war crimes, World War II and postwar activities of U.S. and Allied intelligence agencies.
 
"Many of the documents already released, have shed light on the relationship between the Federal government and Nazi war criminals," said Towns.  "These documents are not pleasant, but it is a reality that we have to face and attempt to rectify. To address this harsh truth it is imperative that all the facts be released.

"We must extend the IWG's term for an additional two years in order to ensure the continued disclosure of any and all relevant information," added Towns.

While the Senate has already passed this legislation, it must still be approved by the House of Representatives before going to the President for his signature.  Now that the Government Reform Committee has approved the bill, it will be sent to the full House for consideration.  Towns says that he is confident that House will approve the legislation within the next couple of weeks.

"The United States government has shielded itself for too long from taking responsibility for its mistakes of the past," said Congressman Towns.  "If we are to teach future generations about the horrors of the Holocaust, we must first face our own government and come to grips with the possible U.S. involvement with Nazi war criminals. I trust that in the coming months, with the passage of this bill, we will have a full historical picture of the U.S. and its involvement with Nazi war criminals which will hopefully end a dreadful chapter in American history."

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