[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 34 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2086-H2087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  PERMITTING THE USE OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL FOR A CEREMONY TO 
    COMMEMORATE THE DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST.

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on House Oversight be discharged from further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 20) permitting the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the Days of 
Remembrance of victims of the Holocaust, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, under my 
reservation of objection, I am pleased to yield to the the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Thomas], the chairman of the Committee on House 
Oversight.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 20 was approved by the 
Committee on House Oversight in its regularly scheduled meeting on 
February 8, along with three technical amendments, which I will offer 
at the appropriate time.
  This concurrent resolution authorizes the use of the rotunda on April 
27 for the annual congressional ceremony honoring victims of the 
Holocaust during the weeklong Days of Remembrance. Use of the rotunda 
will be authorized on April 27 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  I understand that the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council is in the midst 
of preparing the program for the rotunda ceremony. Many of our House 
and Senate colleagues have participated in this ceremony, that can only 
be described as moving, since it began in 1979.
  This year, I think, Mr. Speaker, the Days of Remembrance take on 
special meaning as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 
liberation of the Nazi death camps.
  The amendments I have at the desk, which I will offer when the 
gentleman withdraws his reservation, were recommended by the 
Legislative Council, and are not substantive in nature.
  Mr. HOYER. Further reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I 
share the Chairman's view that this is a very appropriate resolution, 
and that the use of the rotunda has historically been set aside for 
occasions of high moment and importance, and clearly, there is no 
occasion more important for the international community and humanity 
than to remember the tragedy that occurred in the thirties and forties, 
the massive loss of life, and the reality and possibility of man's 
inhumanity to man.
  Further reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] for the purpose of offering his 
amendments.
  Mr. THOMAS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I will offer those 
amendments, Mr. Speaker, when the reservation is withdrawn.
  However, I just want to say briefly that as we have noticed a number 
of celebrations surrounding World War II and the commemoration of 
particular battles, or the public attention focused on certain aspects 
of World War II, I can think of no more appropriate remembrance than 
the impact on the world of the exposure and awareness to the world, of 
these Nazi death camps.
  Mr. YATES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California 
for bringing my bill to the floor for consideration by the House of 
Representatives. I am pleased that the Committee on House Oversight has 
acted in such a timely fashion.
  The U.S. Holocaust Council is mandated by the statute which created 
it to observe days of remembrance for victims of the Holocaust. It is 
equally appropriate for the U.S. Congress to take such steps as are 
necessary to permit the ceremony marking or remembering those murdered 
in the Holocaust to take place in the Capitol of the United States 
where it has taken place for 12 years preceding this one.
  This bill will allow the ceremony to occur once again in the rotunda 
of the Capitol, this year on April 27, 1995.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California.
  There was no objection.
  The clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 20

       Whereas, pursuant to such Act, the United States Holocaust 
     Memorial Council has designated April 23 through April 30, 
     1995, as ``Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust''; 
     and
       Whereas the United States Holocaust Memorial Council has 
     recommended that a one-hour ceremony to be held at noon on 
     April 27, 1995, consisting of speeches, readings, and musical 
     presentations as part of the days of remembrance activities: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the United States Capitol is 
     hereby authorized to be used on April 27, 1995 from 8 o'clock 
     ante meridian until 3 o'clock post meridian for a ceremony as 
     part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of 
     victims of the Holocaust. Physical preparations for the 
     conduct of the ceremony shall be carried out in accordance 
     with such conditions as may be prescribed by the Architect of 
     the Capitol.

     amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by mr. thomas

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Thomas: Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert: 
     That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to be used from 
     8 o'clock ante meridian until 3 o'clock post meridian on 
     April 27, 1995, for ceremonies as part of the commemoration 
     of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust. 
     Physical preparations for the ceremonies shall be carried out 
     in accordance with such conditions as the Architect of the 
     Capitol may prescribe.

  Mr. THOMAS. (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered 
as read and printed in the Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Thomas].
  The amendment in the nature of the substitute was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the concurrent 
resolution; as amended.
  The concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to.


            amendment to the preamble offered by mr. thomas

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Thomas; Strike out 
     the preamble.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas].
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed.


                 title amendment offered by mr. thomas

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to that Title offered by Mr. Thomas; Amend the 
     title so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution permitting the 
     use of the 
[[Page H2087]] rotunda of the Capitol for ceremonies as part of the 
commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the 
Holocaust.''.

  The title amendment was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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