[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PERMITTING USE OF CAPITOL ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY AS PART OF COMMEMORATION 
           OF 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. 11) 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, 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 California?
  Mr. YATES. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, and I shall 
not object because this is my bill, I ask the gentleman from California 
[Mr. Thomas] to explain the bill.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. YATES. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. THOMAS. I thank my colleague for yielding to me, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, yes, this is something that the gentleman from Illinois 
[Mr. Yates] has had his name attached to. It is important and 
significant, because on May 8 of this year, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. in 
the Capitol rotunda, we will celebrate, once again, the days of 
remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all know, and look around the world at man's 
inhumanity to man, it is important that we do not forget. I think 
probably emblazoned in our minds more than anything else during this 
day of remembrance is that we as Americans can be proud of our efforts 
to liberate those who suffered and survived in oppressive Nazi 
concentration camps, and it helps us to remember that prejudice and 
hatred still exists.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. YATES. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from New York.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from 
Illinois [Mr. Yates] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] for 
bringing this measure to the floor at this time. The commemoration of 
the Holocaust is so important, and the fact that we do it here in the 
Capitol Building, in the rotunda, is an extremely important reminder to 
the entire world of the importance of the Holocaust.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support House Concurrent Resolution 11, 
to authorize the use of the Capitol rotunda for a ceremony 
commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. This important ceremony 
will take place in the Capitol on May 8, 1997, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  The passage of this resolution and the subsequent ceremony of the 
Days of Remembrance, will provide the centerpiece of similar Holocaust 
remembrance ceremonies that take place throughout the United States. 
This day of remembrance will be a day of speeches, reading, and musical 
presentation and will provide the American people and those throughout 
the world an important day to study and remember those who suffered and 
survived.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that we keep the memory of the Holocaust 
alive as a part of our living history.
  As Americans, we can be proud of our efforts to liberate those who 
suffered and survived in the oppressive Nazi concentration camps that 
we will never forget the harm that prejudice, oppression, and hatred 
can cause.
  I urge all of our colleagues to take the time to participate in our 
Nation's Capitol in this important day of remembrance.
  Mr. YATES. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the excellent 
remarks of the distinguished chairman of the committee, the gentleman 
from California.
  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. 11

       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 May 8, 1997, 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 concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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