[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 255 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 255

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States commitment 
    to preservation of religious and cultural sites and condemning 
                 instances where sites are desecrated.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 13, 2007

Mr. Ferguson (for himself, Mr. Crowley, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States commitment 
    to preservation of religious and cultural sites and condemning 
                 instances where sites are desecrated.

Whereas the Congress is committed to protecting and preserving the cultural 
        heritage of all national, religious, and ethnic groups, including sacred 
        sites of such groups, including cemeteries in the United States and 
        abroad;
Whereas the Holocaust annihilated much of Europe's Jewish population and in many 
        countries, none were left to care for the communal properties that 
        represent a historic culture in the area and constitute an integral part 
        of the Jewish religion;
Whereas the Holocaust and 45 years of atheistic, Communist governments created a 
        critical need that led to the establishment of the United States 
        Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad;
Whereas the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage 
        Abroad is tasked with identifying and reporting on cemeteries, 
        monuments, and historic buildings in Eastern and Central Europe that are 
        associated with the heritage of United States citizens and obtaining 
        assurances from the governments of those regions that the properties 
        will be protected and preserved;
Whereas the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage 
        Abroad has in effect over 20 bilateral agreements between the United 
        States and foreign governments assuring the protection and preservation 
        of cultural property;
Whereas many properties continue to be endangered and many governments and 
        communities continue to face fundamental and compelling challenges in 
        the preservation of these properties;
Whereas the Congress is outraged that news reports indicate construction 
        continues within the boundaries of the historic Jewish cemetery located 
        in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania.
Whereas cemeteries are sacred sites and are established to remain undisturbed in 
        perpetuity, and the sanctity of a cemetery is determined by the bodies 
        buried therein;
Whereas, while vandalism of headstones or construction of a commercial building 
        on the site disgraces the cemetery, it does not change its status;
Whereas experts within Lithuania and from around the world community believe 
        that the cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, 
        is a Jewish cemetery and is therefore sacred ground;
Whereas the Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, 
        is known by scholars in Lithuania and around the world as the first 
        Jewish cemetery in Vilnius and dates back to the 13th century, and it is 
        believed that before the government closed the cemetery in the early 
        1800s, more than 50,000 Jews were buried there;
Whereas the fact that the Government of Lithuania has allowed construction to 
        take place at the Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of 
        Vilnius, Lithuania, and that desecration continues into the 21st century 
        is an affront to the international Jewish community, the American 
        people, and everyone who values religious freedom and ethnic diversity 
        around the world;
Whereas the failure of the Government of Lithuania to protect the Jewish 
        cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, violates 
        the October 15, 2002, bilateral agreement between Lithuania and the 
        United States on the protection and preservation of certain cultural 
        properties, including cemeteries; and
Whereas specifically, Article 1 of the bilateral agreement states: ``[E]ach 
        party will take appropriate steps to protect and preserve the cultural 
        heritage of all national, religious, or ethnic groups that reside or 
        resided in its territory, including victims of genocide during the 
        Second World War. The term `cultural heritage' for purposes of this 
        agreement means . . . cemeteries, and memorials to the dead . . .'': 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) expresses strong support for the work of the United 
        States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage 
        Abroad and for the European countries that continue to work to 
        preserve sacred historical sites, despite ongoing challenges;
            (2) expresses strong sentiments to the Government of 
        Lithuania that the people of the United States believe the 
        Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, 
        Lithuania, must not be further desecrated;
            (3) declares that constructive bilateral relations between 
        Lithuania and the United States are important to the 
        governments, citizens, and shared agendas of both countries; 
        and
            (4) declares that if the Government of Lithuania fails to 
        immediately stop construction and protect the Jewish cemetery 
        located in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, it will 
        jeopardize its important relationship with the United States 
        and its standing in the international community.
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