[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S7261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 57--RECOGNIZING THE HEBREW IMMIGRANT AID 
                                SOCIETY

  Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 57

       Whereas the United States has always been a country of 
     immigrants and was built on the hard work and dedication of 
     generations of those immigrants who have gathered on our 
     shores;
       Whereas, over the past 120 years, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid 
     Society (HIAS), the oldest international migration and 
     refugee resettlement agency in the United States, has 
     assisted more than 4,500,000 migrants of all faiths to 
     immigrate to the United States, Israel, and other safe havens 
     around the world;
       Whereas, since the 1970s, HIAS has resettled more than 
     400,000 refugees from more than 50 countries in the United 
     States and provided high quality resettlement services 
     through a network of local Jewish community social service 
     agencies;
       Whereas HIAS has helped bring to the United States such 
     outstanding individuals as former Secretary of State Henry 
     Kissinger, artist Marc Chagall, Olympic gold-medalist Lenny 
     Krayzelberg, poet and Nobel Laureate Joseph Brodesky, and 
     author and restaurateur George Lang;
       Whereas HIAS has assisted with United States refugee 
     programs overseas, often as a joint voluntary agency, 
     providing refugee processing, cultural orientation, and other 
     services in Moscow, Vienna, Kiev, Tel Aviv, Rome, and Guam;
       Whereas through publications, public meetings, and radio 
     and television broadcasts, HIAS is a crucial provider of 
     information, counseling, legal assistance, and other 
     services, including outreach programs for the Russian-
     speaking immigrant community, to immigrants and asylum 
     seekers in the United States;
       Whereas HIAS plays a vital role in serving the needs of 
     refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, and continues to 
     work in areas of conflict and instability, seeking to rescue 
     those who are fleeing from danger and persecution; and
       Whereas on September 9, 2001, HIAS will celebrate the 120th 
     anniversary of its founding: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That (a) Congress--
       (1) recognizes the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and 
     the immigrants and refugees that HIAS has served, for the 
     contributions they have made to the United States; and
       (2) congratulates HIAS on the 120th anniversary of its 
     founding.
       (b) It is the sense of Congress that the President should 
     issue a proclamation recognizing September 9, 2001, as the 
     120th anniversary of the founding of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid 
     Society, and calling on the people of the United States to 
     conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
     demonstrate appreciation for the contributions made by HIAS 
     to the United States.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am proud to submit a resolution 
honoring the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Hebrew Immigrant 
Aid Society. During its distinguished history, the Society has helped 
more than 4.5 million immigrants of all faiths who have come to the 
United States, Israel, and other safe havens around the world. Since 
1970, the Society has assisted more than 400,000 refugees from more 
than 50 countries in resettling in the United States, and these 
individuals have provided indispensable contributions to this country.
  I also commend the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society for its continuing 
efforts to remind this country of the importance of a wise policy on 
refugees. As crises occur throughout the world, the Society has helped 
ensure that the United States has an effective and humane response to 
each human tragedy. By maintaining a vigorous refugee resettlement 
program, we set an example for other nations to follows.
  The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society continues to have a vital role in 
serving the needs of refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. Our 
country owes it an enormous debt of gratitude, and I urge the Senate to 
agree to this well-deserved tribute.

                          ____________________