SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 38

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 23, 1997

      The Senate State Government Committee reports favorably Senate Joint Resolution No. 38.

      This joint resolution memorializes the government of Switzerland to promptly and fully disclose all information regarding funds deposited in Swiss banks by Jewish Holocaust victims and to make a full accounting of all unclaimed assets of these victims. It further calls upon the Swiss government to expedite the prompt return of these assets to Holocaust survivors and their heirs.

      In addition, the joint resolution commends the United States Senate Banking Committee for its efforts in bringing to light the history of Switzerland's secret agreements to use the assets of Polish and other European Jews deposited in Swiss banks during World War II to compensate Swiss citizens for property expropriated by former communist regimes, and in attempting to help Holocaust survivors and their families.