[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PERMITTING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY COMMEMORATING VICTIMS OF THE 
                               HOLOCAUST

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 106) permitting the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the days of 
remembrance of victims of the Holocaust, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 106

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used from 8 o'clock ante meridiem until 3 o'clock post 
     meridiem on April 16, 1996, for a ceremony as part of the 
     commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the 
     Holocaust. Physical preparations for the ceremony shall be 
     carried out in accordance with such conditions as the 
     Architect of the Capitol may prescribe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Thomas] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas].
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the week of April 14 to 21, 1996, has been designated as 
the Days of Remembrance by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. This 
particular week is chosen to commemorate the liberation of the Dachau 
concentration camp by American troops on April 19, 1945.
  I believe it is entirely appropriate for a society, indeed, societies 
around the world and cultures to remember the pleasant human 
experiences, the triumphs and the achievements of mankind. I think it 
is also important that we remember man at his basest hour so that we 
will not repeat, but that the memories will be held forever in terms of 
how man can degrade his fellow man.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 106, sponsored by our distinguished colleague 
from Illinois, Mr. Yates, and wish to also commend the distinguished 
chairman of the House Committee on House Oversight, Mr. Thomas, for the 
expeditious consideration of this bill.
  House Concurrent Resolution 106 will permit the use of our great 
congressional rotunda for the annual ceremony to commemorate ``the Days 
of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust.'' The annual days of 
remembrance, sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Council of which Mr. 
Yates and I are both congressional members, will be held on April 16, 
1996. This important commemorative program allows Congress and our 
Nation to appropriately observe the days of remembrance for victims of 
the Holocaust, to pay tribute to the American liberators of the 
concentration camp's survivors, and by commemorating this enormous 
tragedy, ensure that it will never happen again anywhere in the world.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge swift adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the minority strongly supports this resolution which has 
passed numerous times here in the House of Representatives. It has been 
once again cosponsored by a child of Holocaust survivors, the gentleman 
from Connecticut [Mr. Gejdenson] and the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Lantos], who is the only Member of Congress to have survived the 
Holocaust, and has been authored for many years by a colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Yates]. Those are Members on our side who 
have a particular and personal interest in this, but we all share the 
views expressed by the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas].
  Mr. Speaker, with those comments, I yield back the balance of my time 
and urge once again this resolution be adopted.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 
106, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: 
``Concurrent resolution permitting the use of the rotunda of the 
Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of 
remembrance of victims of the Holocaust.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________