I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2064 

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide social service agencies 

with the resources to provide services to meet the urgent needs of 

Holocaust survivors to age in place with dignity, comfort, security, and 

quality of life. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 21, 2013 

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (for herself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. DEUTCH, 

Mr. JOYCE, Mr. SCHNEIDER, and Mr. WAXMAN) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide 

social service agencies with the resources to provide services to meet the urgent needs of Holocaust survivors 

to age in place with dignity, comfort, security, and quality of life. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Responding to Urgent needs of Survivors of the Holo6 caust Act’’ or the ‘‘RUSH Act’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Purposes. 

Sec. 3. Findings. 

TITLE I—RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF HOLOCAUST 

SURVIVORS 

Subtitle A—Definition, Grants, and Other Programs 

Sec. 101. Definition. 

Sec. 102. Organization. 

Sec. 103. Area plans. 

Sec. 104. State plans. 

Sec. 105. Consumer contributions. 

Sec. 106. Program authorized. 

Sec. 107. Prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 

Subtitle B—Functions Within Administration for Community Living To 

Assist Holocaust Survivors 

Sec. 121. Designation of individual within the Administration. 

Sec. 122. Annual report to Congress. 

TITLE II—NUTRITION SERVICES FOR ALL OLDER INDIVIDUALS 

Sec. 201. Nutrition services. 

TITLE III—TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES 

Sec. 301. Transportation services. 

3 SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 

4 The purposes of this Act are— 

5 (1) to include ‘‘older individuals who are Holo6 caust survivors’’ in the list of groups that receive 

7 preference for services as defined in section 

8 305(a)(2)(E) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 

9 (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)(2)(E)); 

10 (2) to designate within the Administration on 

11 Aging an individual to have responsibility for older 

12 individuals who are Holocaust survivors; 


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1 (3) to ensure that meals provided by the Act 

2 meet any special health-related or other dietary 

3 needs of program participants, including needs based 

4 on religious, cultural, or ethnic requirements; and 

5 (4) to support programs that enable the mobil6 ity and self-sufficiency of older individuals with 

7 greatest economic need and individuals with greatest 

8 social need by providing transportation services and 

9 resources. 

10 SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 

11 Congress finds the following: 

12 (1) During the Holocaust, which took place be13 tween 1933 and 1945, an estimated 6,000,000 Jews, 

14 as well as millions from other targeted groups, were 

15 murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. 

16 (2) The United States Holocaust Memorial Mu17 seum Encyclopedia estimates that more than 

18 200,000 Jews found refuge in the United States 

19 from 1933 to 1945 and that approximately 137,000 

20 Jewish refugees had settled in the United States 

21 from 1945 to 1952. 

22 (3) Jewish refugees continued to immigrate to 

23 the United States from Europe and countries of the 

24 former Soviet Union over the subsequent decades. 


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1 (4) According to the Conference on Jewish Ma2 terial Claims Against Germany’s 2011 Worldbook: A 

3 Guide to Claims Conference Programs Worldwide, 

4 the ‘‘Estimated Nazi Victim Population’’ in the 

5 United States is 120,935, down from an estimated 

6 127,300 in 2010. 

7 (5) According to the Conference on Jewish Ma8 terial Claims Against Germany’s 2011 Worldbook: A 

9 Guide to Claims Conference Programs Worldwide, 3 

10 in 5 of Nazi victims currently residing in the United 

11 States are women, and while the average age of a 

12 Nazi victim is 80, nearly one-quarter are age 85 or 

13 older. 

14 (6) Holocaust survivors continue to live with 

15 the unique mental and physical scars of the uncon16 scionable trauma caused by the Holocaust, and while 

17 institutionalized settings are beneficial for some 

18 older people, the consequences of institutionalization 

19 can have a particular adverse effect on Holocaust 

20 survivors. 

21 (7) For many Holocaust survivors, institutional22 ized settings produce sights, sounds, smells, emo23 tions, and routines that can induce panic, anxiety, 

24 and re-traumatization as a result of experiences 

25 from the Holocaust. 


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1 (8) According to Findings from the National 

2 Jewish Population Survey 2000–01, a Jewish Fed3 erations of North America Report produced in De4 cember 2003, ‘‘victims are more economically and 

5 socially vulnerable, report poorer health and more 

6 health problems, and have somewhat greater social 

7 service needs’’. They also report poorer health and 

8 more disabilities that limit daily activities compared 

9 to non-victims. 

10 (9) Low-income Holocaust survivors are more 

11 reliant on social service programs than most other 

12 older Americans, and proportionally more Holocaust 

13 survivors need services such as personal care, home14 delivered and congregate meals, transportation, 

15 counseling, and mental health support to promote 

16 health and quality of life. 

17 (10) Community organizations serving Holo18 caust survivors report that approximately two-thirds 

19 of Holocaust survivors live alone, and living alone is 

20 a risk factor for hospitalization and nursing home 

21 admission, poverty, falls, depression, poor nutrition, 

22 social isolation, and loneliness, which have been as23 sociated with poor health outcomes and an increased 

24 risk of death. 


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1 (11) According to Findings from the National 

2 Jewish Population Survey 2000–01, more than half 

3 of all Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the 

4 United States from the former Soviet Union after 

5 1965 have annual incomes beneath the Federal pov6 erty threshold and constitute an extremely vulner7 able at-risk population in the United States. 

8 (12) Community organizations serving Holo9 caust survivors report that transportation is vital to 

10 help Holocaust survivors attend medical appoint11 ments, shop and purchase necessary items, visit 

12 family and friends, and participate in cultural, rec13 reational, or social events, such as congregate meals 

14 or religious services. 

15 (13) As the general population of older adults 

16 increases and public or philanthropic resources re17 main constant, providers serving older adults includ18 ing Holocaust survivors need additional capacity to 

19 cover the needed services. 

20 (14) The Administration for Community Living 

21 in the United States Department of Health and 

22 Human Services serves as the Federal agency re23 sponsible for increasing access to community sup24 ports, while focusing attention and resources on the 


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1 unique needs of older Americans and people with 

2 disabilities across the lifespan. 

3 (15) The Administration for Community 

4 Living’s mission is to maximize the independence, 

5 well-being, and health of older adults, people with 

6 disabilities, and their families and caregivers. 

7 (16) Many social service agencies that receive 

8 funding under the Older Americans Act for home-de9 livered or congregate meals serve diverse seniors 

10 with specialized dietary needs based on religious, 

11 cultural, or ethnic requirements, and the necessary 

12 special meals often cost more than non-special 

13 meals. 

14 TITLE I—RESPONDING TO THE 

15 NEEDS OF HOLOCAUST SUR16 VIVORS 

17 Subtitle A—Definition, Grants, and 

18 Other Programs 

19 SEC. 101. DEFINITION. 

20 Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 

21 U.S.C. 3002) is amended— 

22 (1) in paragraph (24)— 

23 (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

24 ‘‘and’’; 


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1 (B) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 

2 the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 

3 and 

4 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(D) status as a Holocaust survivor.’’; 

6 (2) by redesignating paragraphs (26) through 

7 (54) as paragraphs (27) through (55); and 

8 (3) by inserting after paragraph (25) the fol9 lowing: 

10 ‘‘(26) The term ‘Holocaust survivor’ means an 

11 individual who— 

12 ‘‘(A)(i) lived in a country between 1933 

13 and 1945 under a Nazi regime, under Nazi oc14 cupation, or under the control of Nazi collabo15 rators; or 

16 ‘‘(ii) fled from a country between 1933 and 

17 1945 under a Nazi regime, under Nazi occupa18 tion, or under the control of Nazi collaborators; 

19 ‘‘(B) was persecuted between 1933 and 

20 1945 on the basis of race, religion, physical or 

21 mental disability, sexual orientation, political 

22 affiliation, ethnicity, or other basis; and 

23 ‘‘(C) was a member of a group that was 

24 persecuted by the Nazis.’’. 


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1 SEC. 102. ORGANIZATION. 

2 Section 305(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 

3 (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)) is amended— 

4 (1) in paragraph (1)(E), by inserting ‘‘older in5 dividuals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after ‘‘pro6 ficiency,’’ each place it appears; and 

7 (2) in paragraph (2)(E), by inserting ‘‘older in8 dividuals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after ‘‘pro9 ficiency,’’. 

10 SEC. 103. AREA PLANS. 

11 Section 306 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 

12 U.S.C. 3026) is amended— 

13 (1) in subsection (a)— 

14 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘older 

15 individuals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after 

16 ‘‘proficiency,’’ each place it appears; 

17 (B) in paragraph (4)— 

18 (i) in subparagraph (A)— 

19 (I) in clause (i)(I)(bb), by insert20 ing ‘‘older individuals who are Holo21 caust survivors,’’ after ‘‘proficiency,’’; 

22 and 

23 (II) in clause (ii), by inserting 

24 ‘‘older individuals who are Holocaust 

25 survivors,’’ after ‘‘proficiency,’’ each 

26 place it appears; 


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1 (ii) in subparagraph (B)(i)— 

2 (I) in subclause (VI), by striking 

3 ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 

4 (II) by inserting after subclause 

5 (VII) the following: 

6 ‘‘(VIII) older individuals who are 

7 Holocaust survivors; and’’; and 

8 (iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by strik9 ing ‘‘subclauses (I) through (VI)’’ and in10 serting ‘‘subclauses (I) through (VIII)’’; 

11 and 

12 (C) in paragraph (7)(B)(iii), by inserting 

13 ‘‘in particular, older individuals who are Holo14 caust survivors,’’ after ‘‘placement,’’; and 

15 (2) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting ‘‘older 

16 individuals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after 

17 ‘‘areas,’’. 

18 SEC. 104. STATE PLANS. 

19 Section 307(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 

20 (42 U.S.C. 3027(a)) is amended— 

21 (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘older indi22 viduals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after ‘‘pro23 ficiency,’’; 

24 (2) in paragraph (16)— 

25 (A) in subparagraph (A)— 


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1 (i) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

2 the end; and 

3 (ii) by adding at the end the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘(vii) older individuals who are Holo6 caust survivors; and’’; and 

7 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

8 ‘‘clauses (i) through (vi)’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘clauses (i) through (vii)’’; and 

10 (3) in paragraph (28)(B)(ii), by inserting 

11 ‘‘older individuals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ 

12 after ‘‘areas,’’. 

13 SEC. 105. CONSUMER CONTRIBUTIONS. 

14 Section 315 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 

15 U.S.C. 3030c–2) is amended— 

16 (1) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘older in17 dividuals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after ‘‘pro18 ficiency,’’; and 

19 (2) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘older indi20 viduals who are Holocaust survivors,’’ after ‘‘pro21 ficiency,’’. 

22 SEC. 106. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. 

23 Section 373(c)(2)(A) of the Older Americans Act of 

24 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030s–1(c)(2)(A)) is amended by strikVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:36 May 24, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2064.IH H2064

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1 ing ‘‘individuals)’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals and older in2 dividuals who are Holocaust survivors)’’. 

3 SEC. 107. PREVENTION OF ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND 

4 EXPLOITATION. 

5 Section 721(b)(12) of the Older Americans Act of 

6 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058i(b)(12)) is amended— 

7 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 

8 the end; 

9 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 

10 at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

11 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(D) older individuals who are Holocaust 

13 survivors.’’. 

14 Subtitle B—Functions Within Ad15 ministration for Community 

16 Living To Assist Holocaust Sur17 vivors 

18 SEC. 121. DESIGNATION OF INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE AD19 MINISTRATION. 

20 The Administrator for Community Living is author21 ized to designate within the Administration for Commu22 nity Living a person who has specialized training, back23 ground, or experience with Holocaust survivor issues to 

24 have responsibility for implementing services for older in25 dividuals who are Holocaust survivors. 


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1 SEC. 122. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

2 The Administrator for Community Living, with as3 sistance from the individual designated under section 121, 

4 shall prepare and submit to Congress an annual report 

5 on the status and needs, including the priority areas of 

6 concern, of older individuals (as defined in section 102 of 

7 the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)) who 

8 are Holocaust survivors. 

9 TITLE II—NUTRITION SERVICES 

10 FOR ALL OLDER INDIVIDUALS 

11 SEC. 201. NUTRITION SERVICES. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 339(2) of the Older 

13 Americans Act of 1065 (42 U.S.C. 3030g–21(2)) is 

14 amended— 

15 (1) in subparagraph (A), by amending clause 

16 (iii) to read as follows: 

17 ‘‘(iii) to the maximum extent prac18 ticable, are adjusted and appropriately 

19 funded to meet any special health-related 

20 or other dietary needs of program partici21 pants, including needs based on religious, 

22 cultural, or ethnic requirements,’’; 

23 (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘appro24 priate, and’’ and inserting ‘‘appropriate,’’; 

25 (3) in subparagraph (K), by striking the period 

26 and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 


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1 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘(L) encourages and educates individuals 

3 who distribute nutrition services under subpart 

4 2 to engage in conversation with homebound 

5 older individuals and to be aware of the warn6 ing signs of medical emergencies, injury, or 

7 abuse in order to reduce isolation and promote 

8 well-being.’’. 

9 (b) STUDY OF NUTRITION PROJECTS.—Section 

10 317(a)(2) of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 

11 2006 (Public Law 106–365) is amended— 

12 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

13 and inserting a semicolon; 

14 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 

15 at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

16 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(D) an analysis of service providers’ abili18 ties to obtain viable contracts for special foods 

19 necessary to meet a religious requirement, re20 quired dietary need, or ethnic consideration.’’. 

21 TITLE III—TRANSPORTATION 

22 SERVICES AND RESOURCES 

23 SEC. 301. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 411(a) of the Older Amer25 icans Act of 1065 (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)) is amended— 


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1 (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

2 end; 

3 (2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as para4 graph (14); and 

5 (3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the fol6 lowing: 

7 ‘‘(13) the support of programs that enable the 

8 mobility and self-sufficiency of older individuals with 

9 the greatest economic need and older individuals 

10 with the greatest social need by providing transpor11 tation services and resources; and’’. 

Æ 


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