[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9714-H9715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR DEDICATION INCIDENT TO PLACEMENT OF BUST 
                     OF RAOUL WALLENBERG IN CAPITOL

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on House Oversight be discharged from further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution [H. Con. Res. 94] authorizing the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for a dedication ceremony incident to the 
placement of a bust of Raoul Wallenberg in the Capitol, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  Mr. PASTOR. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I yield to 
the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Ehlers] to explain the purpose of the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to offer an explanation for 
this resolution.
  Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish Protestant who risked his life to save 
approximately 100,000 Hungarian Jews during World War II, at the time 
that the Nazi troops occupied Hungary.
  He was fearless in this effort. He risked his life; he risked the 
lives of those around him, and certainly deserves commendation. This 
country already has given him that commendation; in 1981, he was made 
an honorary citizen of the United States by the Congress of the United 
States. In 1994, this Congress passed legislation to place a bust of 
Wallenberg in the Capitol to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his 
rescue mission. The purpose of this particular resolution is to allow 
the use of the Capitol rotunda for the ceremony at which this bust will 
be dedicated.
  If I may, Mr. Speaker, just add a personal comment. I happen to be of 
Dutch extraction. Many of my relatives and friends were involved in the 
resistance of World War II. Everyone here, I am sure, is familiar with 
Das Tagebuch Der Anne Frank, The Dairy of Anne Frank, which chronicles 
in a very touching and moving way some of the experiences of those who 
were hid by my Dutch friends during World War 

[[Page H 9715]]
II. It took great courage on the part of many people to do that. They 
have earned respect throughout the world, just as Mr. Wallenberg has. 
So I have a particular place in my heart for Mr. Wallenberg, who 
epitomized the same thing my Dutch friends did and mirrored, perhaps 
exceeded, their heroism in very, very difficult circumstances.
  I strongly urge that we adopt this resolution unanimously and permit 
the ceremony to take place so that we can dedicate the statue to Raoul 
Wallenberg on November 2, 1995.
  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos].
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. 
Before making substantive comments, I would like to express my 
appreciation to my good friend from Michigan, the gentleman from 
California, Chairman Thomas of the Committee on House Oversight, to the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], the ranking Democratic member of 
the committee, and to the scores of colleagues in this body and in the 
other body who over the years have paid tribute to Raoul Wallenberg. 
Specifically, in connection with this resolution are Senator Warner of 
Virginia, Senator Stevens of Alaska, Senator Ford of Kentucky, and 
Senator Pell of Rhode Island.
  I also want to express my appreciation to two colleagues who have 
over the years been steadfast in their recognition of Wallenberg's 
unique heroism, the chairman of the Committee on International 
Relations, Mr. Gilman, and Senator Moynihan of New York.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when there is so much partisanship in this 
body, it is wonderful to have a moment of high nobility on a bipartisan 
basis. As my good friend from Michigan indicated, 50 years ago Raoul 
Wallenberg, son of a most distinguished Lutheran family in Sweden, 
risked his life leaving behind the comfort, the safety and the security 
of neutral Sweden to come to Nazi-occupied and war-torn Hungary to save 
innocent lives.
  Through his heroism, 100,000 innocent human beings were saved. Raoul 
Wallenberg did this heroic feat of larger than human proportions at the 
request of our own Government. My first legislative act, Mr. Speaker, 
in 1981, was to introduce a resolution making Raoul Wallenberg the 
second honorary citizen of the United States, second since Winston 
Churchill was the first. The House and the Senate had approved that 
legislation, and in a special Rose Garden ceremony, President Reagan 
signed the bill making Raoul Wallenberg the second honorary citizen of 
the United States.
  A decade ago, through legislation, we succeeded in renaming a portion 
of the street where the Holocaust Museum is located as Raoul Wallenberg 
Place. Raoul Wallenberg Place is now the official address of the 
Holocaust Memorial Museum.
  Last year, as my friend from Michigan indicated, Congress passed 
legislation to accept a statue of Raoul Wallenberg, donated to the 
Congress by an American citizen, Ms. Lillian Hoffman of Colorado. The 
Swedish Government donated the marble pedestal on which the bust will 
be located.

  We are now dealing with a special dedication ceremony scheduled for 
November 2. All of our colleagues are cordially invited. We expect the 
legislative and executive branch of our own Government to be present at 
the highest levels. The Government of Sweden, Hungary and Israel will 
be represented with appropriate officials.
  We will have in our Nation's Capitol a tribute for all eternity 
honoring the heroism of a human being, who went beyond himself, who 
recognized that true satisfaction comes only from serving others, in 
this case in sacrificing his own life so others may live.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to approve this resolution.'
  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, with great support for this resolution and 
the ceremony, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 94

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. DEDICATION CEREMONY AND PLACEMENT OF A BUST OF 
                   RAOUL WALLENBERG IN THE CAPITOL.

       The rotunda of the Capitol may be used on November 2, 1995, 
     for a ceremony incident to the placement of a bust of Raoul 
     Wallenberg in the Capitol as previously authorized by 
     Congress.

     SEC. 2. SECURITY AND PHYSICAL PREPARATIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall take such action with 
     respect to security as may be necessary to carry out section 
     1. The Architect of the Capitol shall make appropriate 
     physical preparations for the ceremony referred to in section 
     1.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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