[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 23 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 23

    Supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague Conference on 
                         Holocaust Era Assets.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 19, 2009

    Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Nelson of Florida) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague Conference on 
                         Holocaust Era Assets.

Whereas the Government of the Czech Republic will host the Conference on 
        Holocaust Era Assets in Prague from June 26, 2009, through June 30, 2009 
        (in this preamble referred to as the ``Prague Conference'');
Whereas the Prague Conference will facilitate a review of the progress made 
        since the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust Era Assets, in which 
        44 countries, 13 non-governmental organizations, and numerous scholars 
        and Holocaust survivors participated;
Whereas a high-level United States delegation participated in the Washington 
        Conference, led by then-Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business 
        and Agricultural Affairs Stuart Eizenstat, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie 
        Wiesel, Federal Judge Abner Mikva, senior diplomats, and a bipartisan 
        group of Members of Congress;
Whereas then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright delivered the keynote address 
        at the Washington Conference, articulating the commitment of the United 
        States to Holocaust survivors and urging conference participants to 
        ``chart a course for finishing the job of returning or providing 
        compensation for stolen Holocaust assets to survivors and the families 
        of Holocaust victims'';
Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to review the issues agreed on at the 
        Washington Conference, including issues relating to financial assets, 
        bank accounts, insurance, and other financial properties;
Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to include a special session on social 
        programs for Holocaust survivors and other victims of Nazi atrocities;
Whereas at the Prague Conference, working groups are expected to convene to 
        discuss Holocaust education, remembrance and research, looted art, 
        Judaica and Jewish cultural property, and immovable property, including 
        both private, religious, and communal property;
Whereas the participation and leadership of the United States at the highest 
        level is critically important to ensure a successful outcome of the 
        Prague Conference;
Whereas Congress supports further inclusion of Holocaust survivors and their 
        advocates in the planning and proceedings of the Prague Conference;
Whereas the United States strongly supports the immediate return of, or just 
        compensation for, property that was illegally confiscated by Nazi and 
        Communist regimes;
Whereas many Holocaust survivors lack the means for even the most basic 
        necessities, including proper housing and health care;
Whereas the United States and the international community have a moral 
        obligation to uphold and defend the dignity of Holocaust survivors and 
        to ensure their well-being;
Whereas the Prague Conference is a critical forum for effectively addressing the 
        increasing economic, social, housing, and health care needs of Holocaust 
        survivors in their waning years;
Whereas then-Senator Barack Obama, during his visit in July 2008 to the Yad 
        Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel, stated, ``Let our children come 
        here and know this history so they can add their voices to proclaim 
        `never again.' And may we remember those who perished, not only as 
        victims but also as individuals who hoped and loved and dreamed like us 
        and who have become symbols of the human spirit.''; and
Whereas the Prague Conference may represent the last opportunity for the 
        international community to address outstanding Holocaust-era issues: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and objectives of the 2009 Prague 
        Conference on Holocaust Era Assets;
            (2) applauds the Government of the Czech Republic for 
        hosting the Prague Conference and for its unwavering commitment 
        to addressing outstanding Holocaust-era issues;
            (3) applauds the countries participating in the Prague 
        Conference for the decision to seek justice for Holocaust 
        survivors and to promote Holocaust remembrance and education;
            (4) expresses strong support for the decision by those 
        countries to make the economic, social, housing, and health 
        care needs of Holocaust survivors a major focus of the Prague 
        Conference, especially in light of the advanced age of the 
        survivors, whose needs must be urgently addressed;
            (5) urges countries in Central and Eastern Europe that have 
        not already done so--
                    (A) to return to the rightful owner any property 
                that was wrongfully confiscated or transferred to a 
                non-Jewish individual; or
                    (B) if return of such property is no longer 
                possible, to pay equitable compensation to the rightful 
                owner in accordance with principles of justice and 
                through an expeditious claims-driven administrative 
                process that is just, transparent, and fair;
            (6) urges all countries to make a priority of returning to 
        Jewish communities any religious or communal property that was 
        stolen as a result of the Holocaust;
            (7) calls on all countries to facilitate the use of the 
        Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, 
        agreed to December 3, 1998, in settling all claims involving 
        publically and privately held objects;
            (8) calls on the President to send a high-level official, 
        such as the Secretary of State or an appropriate designee, to 
        represent the United States at the Prague Conference; and
            (9) urges other invited countries to participate at a 
        similarly high level.
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