[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 111 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 111

 Recognizing June 6, 2009, as the 70th anniversary of the tragic date 
  when the M.S. St. Louis, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from Nazi 
     Germany, returned to Europe after its passengers were refused 
                    admittance to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 23, 2009

  Mr. Kohl (for himself, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Brownback, and Mr. Wyden) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

                              May 19, 2009

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing June 6, 2009, as the 70th anniversary of the tragic date 
  when the M.S. St. Louis, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from Nazi 
     Germany, returned to Europe after its passengers were refused 
                    admittance to the United States.

Whereas on May 13, 1939, the ocean liner M.S. St. Louis departed from Hamburg, 
        Germany for Havana, Cuba with 937 passengers, most of whom were Jewish 
        refugees fleeing Nazi persecution;
Whereas the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s implemented a program of violent 
        persecution of Jews;
Whereas the Kristallnacht, or Night of Broken Glass, pogrom of November 9 
        through 10, 1938, signaled an increase in violent anti-Semitism;
Whereas after the Cuban Government, on May 27, 1939, refused entry to all except 
        28 passengers on board the M.S. St. Louis, the M.S. St. Louis proceeded 
        to the coast of south Florida in hopes that the United States would 
        accept the refugees;
Whereas the United States refused to allow the M.S. St. Louis to dock and 
        thereby provide a haven for the Jewish refugees;
Whereas the Immigration Act of 1924 placed strict limits on immigration;
Whereas a United States Coast Guard cutter patrolled near the M.S. St. Louis to 
        prevent any passengers from jumping to freedom;
Whereas following denial of admittance of the passengers to Cuba, the United 
        States, and Canada, the M.S. St. Louis set sail on June 6, 1939, for 
        return to Antwerp, Belgium with the refugees; and
Whereas 254 former passengers of the M.S. St. Louis died under Nazi rule: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that June 6, 2009, marks the 70th 
        anniversary of the tragic date when the M.S. St. Louis returned 
        to Europe after its passengers were refused admittance to the 
        United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere;
            (2) honors the memory of the 937 refugees aboard the M.S. 
        St. Louis, most of whom were Jews fleeing Nazi oppression, and 
        254 of whom subsequently died during the Holocaust;
            (3) acknowledges the suffering of those refugees caused by 
        the refusal of the United States, Cuban, and Canadian 
        governments to provide them political asylum; and
            (4) recognizes the 70th anniversary of the M.S. St. Louis 
        tragedy as an opportunity for public officials and educators to 
        raise awareness about an important historical event, the 
        lessons of which are relevant to current and future 
        generations.
                                 <all>