[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 124 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 124

             Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 18, 2021

    Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Wicker) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                             June 14, 2022

  Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment and an amendment to the 
                                preamble

                            December 8, 2022

      Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
             Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans.

Whereas the ancestry of the Romani people, also called the Roma, can be traced 
        to the Indian subcontinent;
Whereas Romani people have been a part of European immigration to the United 
        States since the colonial period and particularly following the 
        abolition of the enslavement of Romani people in the historic Romanian 
        principalities;
Whereas Romani people live across the world and throughout the United States;
Whereas the Romani people have made distinct and important contributions in many 
        fields, including agriculture, art, crafts, literature, medicine, 
        military service, music, sports, and science;
Whereas, on April 8, 1971, the First World Romani Congress met in London, 
        bringing Romani people together from across Europe and the United States 
        with the goal of promoting transnational cooperation among Romani people 
        in combating social marginalization and building a positive future for 
        Romani people everywhere;
Whereas April 8 is therefore celebrated globally as International Roma Day;
Whereas Romani people were victims of genocide carried out by Nazi Germany and 
        its Axis partners, and an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 Romani people 
        were killed by Nazis and their allies across Europe during World War II;
Whereas, on the night of August 2-3, 1944, the so-called ``Gypsy Family Camp'' 
        where Romani people were interned at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liquidated, 
        and in a single night, between 4,200 and 4,300 Romani men, women, and 
        children were killed in gas chambers;
Whereas many countries are taking positive steps to remember and teach about the 
        genocide of Romani people by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners; and
Whereas the United States Congress held its first hearing to examine the 
        situation of Romani people in 1994: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) remembers the genocide of Romani people by Nazi Germany 
        and its Axis partners and commemorates the destruction of the 
        ``Gypsy Family Camp'' where Romani people were interned at 
        Auschwitz;
            (2) commends the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 
        for its role in promoting remembrance of the Holocaust and 
        educating about the genocide of Romani people;
            (3) supports International Roma Day as an opportunity to 
        honor the culture, history, and heritage of the Romani people 
        in the United States as part of the larger Romani global 
        diaspora; and
            (4) welcomes the Department of State's participation in 
        ceremonies and events celebrating International Roma Day and 
        similar engagement by the United States Government.
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