[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 361 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 361


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2008

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery saved the lives of 
 thousands during the Holocaust and remembering her legacy of courage, 
                        selflessness, and hope.

Whereas on May 12, 2008, Irena Sendler, a living example of social justice, died 
        at the age of 98;
Whereas Irena Sendler repeatedly risked her own life to rescue over 2,500 Jewish 
        children in Poland's Warsaw ghetto from Nazi extermination during the 
        Holocaust;
Whereas inspired by her father, a physician who spent his career treating poor 
        Jewish patients, Irena Sendler dedicated her life to others;
Whereas Irena Sendler became an early activist at the start of World War II, 
        heading the clandestine group Zegota and driving an underground movement 
        that provided safe passage for Jews from the Warsaw ghetto, who were 
        facing disease, execution, or deportation to concentration camps;
Whereas Irena Sendler became one of Zegota's most successful workers, taking 
        charge of the children's division and using her senior position with the 
        city's welfare department to gain access to and from the ghetto and 
        build a network of allies to help ferry Jewish children from the Warsaw 
        ghetto;
Whereas Irena Sendler was arrested by the Gestapo on October 20, 1943, tortured, 
        and sentenced to death by firing squad;
Whereas Irena Sendler never revealed details of her contacts, escaped from 
        Pawiak prison, and continued her invaluable work with Zegota;
Whereas in 1965, Irena Sendler was recognized as ``Righteous Among the Nations'' 
        by the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel;
Whereas in 2006, Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize;
Whereas Irena Sendler was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest 
        civilian decoration;
Whereas Irena Sendler's life has been chronicled in the documentary film, 
        ``Tzedek: The Righteous'' and ``Life in a Jar'', a play about her rescue 
        efforts;
Whereas Irena Sendler, a woman who risked everything for the lives of others and 
        whose bravery is unimaginable to many of us, expressed guilt for not 
        being able to do more for the Jewish people; and
Whereas Americans, as well as the world community, are reminded not only of the 
        horrible cruelty at the time of the Holocaust, but also the incredible 
        difference one person can make by knowing Irena Sendler's story: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) mourns the loss of Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery 
        and heroic efforts saved over 2,500 Jewish children during the 
        Holocaust;
            (2) pays its respect and extends its condolences to the 
        Sendler family;
            (3) honors her legacy of courage, selflessness, and hope; 
        and
            (4) remembers the life of Irena Sendler for her heroic 
        efforts to save over 2,500 Jewish children during the 
        Holocaust, and for her unwavering dedication to justice and 
        human rights.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.