The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations today lauded Representative Carolyn B. Maloney’s (D-NY) resolution calling on U.S. government agencies to release information about individuals who committed Nazi war crimes.

Mandell I. Ganchrow, MD, Orthodox Union President, said, “We commend the House of Representatives today for passing the resolution authored by Representative Maloney. In light of the many recent revelations regarding past war crime histories of world political figures such as that of Kurt Waldheim and the vast amount of monies and property looted by the Nazis and held in institutions around the world, it is important that information become accessible to the public. Those who would deny history must not be allowed to continue their invidious allegations – more than half a century after the Holocaust, it is imperative that all the relevant information come to light.”

The Orthodox Union strongly supported Rep. Maloney’s bill, H.R.1281 which also received strong bipartisan support. Today’s resolution would eliminate a loophole in the Freedom of Information Act which currently allows government agencies to block the release of information on Nazi war criminals, and would allow full disclosure of war crime files so long as the release of the information does not harm our legitimate national security interests.