[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H54-H55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PERMITTING USE OF CAPITOL ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY COMMEMORATING VICTIMS OF 
                               HOLOCAUST

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 244) 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.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 244

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on May 4, 2000, 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 
Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution authorizes the use of the Rotunda of the 
Capitol for the Holocaust Days of Remembrance ceremony. This ceremony 
will be on May 4, 2000.
  The statute creating the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council directs that 
the council shall provide for appropriate ways for the Nation to 
commemorate the Days of Remembrance as an annual, national, civic 
commemoration of the Holocaust, and shall encourage and sponsor 
appropriate observances of such Days of Remembrance throughout the 
United States.
  The purpose of the Days of Remembrance is to ask citizens to reflect 
on the Holocaust, to remember the victims, and to strengthen our sense 
of democracy and human rights.
  The event in the Rotunda of the Capitol is the centerpiece of similar 
Holocaust remembrance ceremonies that take place throughout the United 
States.
  The first Days of Remembrance ceremonies in the Rotunda occurred in 
1979 and has been an annual event except during the period when the 
Rotunda was undergoing repairs.
  The theme of this year's commemoration is, and I will quote, ``The 
Holocaust and the New Century: The Imperative to Remember.''
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am once again pleased to cosponsor this resolution 
with the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Boehner), and others.
  This resolution, as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) has pointed 
out, provides for the annual commemoration of the Holocaust on May 4 of 
this year.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no occasion more important for the 
international community and for humanity than to remember the tragedy 
that occurred in the 1930s and 1940s, the massive loss of life and the 
reality of man's inhumanity to man. It is appropriate, I believe, that 
we use the Rotunda, the location of so many historic events, again to 
draw attention and focus on one of the greatest tragedies in human 
history.
  It reminds us, Mr. Speaker, that such events must never again be 
permitted to occur and that only through our vigilance will that be 
ensured.
  The ceremony will be a part of the annual Days of Remembrance 
sponsored by the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. It is 
intended to encourage citizens to reflect on the Holocaust, to remember 
its victims and to strengthen our sense of democracy and human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I would observe that it is particularly important that 
succeeding generations who have largely grown up in a relatively 
peaceful world be called upon to remember this event. We have seen all 
too recently events similar in character, if not in scope, as we saw in 
Kosovo and in Bosnia. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) just 
mentioned Africa. The Holocaust is an event, a time in history, that we 
ought to remember so that successor generations never repeat it.
  The theme of this year's Days of Remembrance is ``The Holocaust and 
the New Century: The Imperative to Remember.''
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and urge its 
adoption.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want 
to commend 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 that we place 
on the Holocaust.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to support the House Concurrent 
Resolution, H. Con. Res. 244, authorizing the use of the Capitol 
Rotunda for a ceremony commemorating the victims of the Holocaust.
  That important ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Capitol on 
April 13, 2000, 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 our Nation.
  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 to remember those 
who suffered and those who survived.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that we keep the memory of the Holocaust 
alive as 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. Let us never forget the harm that 
prejudice, oppression and hatred can cause.

[[Page H55]]

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for his support, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 244.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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