[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 WALLENBERG'S LEGACY AND HOFFMAN'S GIFT

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                               speech of

                           HON. DAN SCHAEFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 1994

  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to join my colleagues on 
Monday, April 18, in voting unanimously for House Concurrent Resolution 
222, providing for the placement of the Raoul Wallenberg bust in the 
U.S. Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, we heard stirring stories from a number of Members on 
Monday about how Raoul Wallenberg risked his own life in order to save 
the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from Nazi German 
clutches during World War II. Since that time, Mr. Wallenberg's heroism 
has been an inspiration for generations of freedom-loving people. I am 
glad that Raoul Wallenberg will be properly honored by the placement of 
his bust in our Nation's Capitol.
  Today, I would like to recognize the person who donated this bust to 
the people of the United States: Lillian Hoffman of Denver, CO. A 
Colorado native herself, Lillian's father immigrated from Russia in 
1903. Lillian chairs the Colorado Committee of Concern for Soviet 
Jewry, a group in Denver which has played a vital role in the 
emigration of numerous Soviet and Russian ``refuseniks''--Jews who have 
been denied exit visas due to spurious reasons. Active in this movement 
for 25 years, she has spent over 20 years working on the Wallenberg 
case as well. I have known Lillian, and her late husband Harry, for 
many of these years and have helped the committee on many refusenik 
cases during my tenure in Congress. Though the Soviet and Russian 
bureaucracy has denied exit visas to many refuseniks on whose behalf we 
have worked, we have been able to celebrate a number of successes as 
well.
  Lillian's generosity to the people of the United States is vividly 
demonstrated in her gift of the Raoul Wallenberg bust, sculpted by Miri 
Margolin of Israel. I salute Lillian's compassion and her ongoing work 
at the Colorado Committee of Concern for Soviet Jewry. Jews still 
waiting for exit visas in the countries of the former Soviet Union 
should know that they are not forgotten so long as Lillian Hoffman and 
her committee are active. Thank you Lillian for your compassion and 
generosity.

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