[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 86 (Thursday, June 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 169--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE SHOULD ISSUE A POSTAGE STAMP COMMEMORATING 
                               ANNE FRANK

  Mrs. CLINTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

                              S. Res. 169

       Whereas Anne Frank and her family fled Nazi persecution of 
     Jews in Germany and sought safety by moving to Amsterdam, the 
     Netherlands;
       Whereas subsequent Nazi occupation of the Netherlands 
     forced the Frank family to go into hiding in an annex located 
     above the office of Anne's father;
       Whereas Anne Frank and her family spent 25 months in 
     hiding, during which time Anne Frank kept a diary of her life 
     and experiences;
       Whereas Anne Frank and her family were eventually betrayed 
     to the Nazis;
       Whereas Anne Frank died in March 1945 in the Bergen-Belsen 
     Nazi concentration camp;
       Whereas Anne Frank was 1 of approximately 1,500,000 Jewish 
     children who died at the hands of the Nazis during World War 
     II;
       Whereas Anne Frank's diary, published by her father after 
     the end of the war, has become 1 of the most widely read 
     memoirs of the Holocaust;
       Whereas ``The Diary of Anne Frank'' has been translated 
     into more than 67 languages and has sold more than 31,000,000 
     copies worldwide;
       Whereas ``The Diary of Anne Frank'' is the first 
     educational encounter with the Holocaust for many American 
     students;
       Whereas the story of Anne Frank has been repeatedly 
     portrayed in motion pictures and theatrical productions;
       Whereas millions of Americans have come to identify with 
     Anne Frank and she has become an inspiration to children of 
     all faiths;
       Whereas Anne Frank is thought of as a representative of 
     children throughout the world who find themselves in 
     situations of war, subjugation, and oppression;
       Whereas Anne Frank represents the victims of the Holocaust 
     and serves as an enduring symbol of bravery, hope, and 
     tolerance in the face of harsh and brutal conditions;
       Whereas ``The Diary of Anne Frank'' has proven beneficial 
     in assisting young people in dealing with issues of 
     discrimination, bigotry, and hate crimes; and
       Whereas Anne Frank would have been 75 years old in 2004: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a postage 
     stamp commemorating Anne Frank; and
       (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
     to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, Today is Anne Frank's birthday. If she 
had survived the horror of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, then 
she would have been 74 years old. But she did not survive and because 
of her moving and thoughtful diary, the world got to know her and 
understand what it was like living in that apartment during the Nazis' 
reign of terror. Anne Frank's diary has educated generations around the 
world about tolerance and dignity. It has left a mark in a way that few 
books can, and the world is a better place because of Anne Frank's 
story.
  That is why I am proud to submit a resolution expressing the sense of 
the Senate that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage 
stamp commemorating Anne Frank and the Citizens' Stamp Advisory 
Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp 
be issued.
  Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany to a 
German-Jewish family. She and her family fled the Nazi persecution of 
Jews in Germany and sought safety by moving to Amsterdam, the 
Netherlands. Following the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Anne 
Frank and her family were forced into hiding in an annex located above 
her father's office. The family spent 25 months in hiding which Anne 
Frank described in her diary.
  The family was betrayed and turned over to the Nazis. Anne Frank was 
imprisoned in the Bergen-Belsen Nazi concentration camp, where she died 
in March 1945. She was one of approximately 1,500,000 Jewish children 
who died at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. In the midst of 
this unthinkable horror, her diary survived, and was published by her 
father after the end of the war. It has become one of the most widely 
read memoirs of the Holocaust experience. It has been translated into 
more than 67 languages and has touched people around the world.
  The Diary of Anne Frank holds a special place of honor in the United 
States. It is the first educational encounter with the Holocaust for 
many American students. It has been repeatedly dramatized in motion 
pictures and in the theater. Millions of Americans have come to 
identify with Anne Frank. She has become an inspiration to children of 
all faiths and assists young people deal with important issues such as 
discrimination, bigotry and hate crimes.
  Anne Frank serves as an enduring symbol of bravery, hope, and 
tolerance in the face of harsh and brutal conditions. A commemorative 
postage stamp would be a meaningful way for Americans to honor Anne 
Frank's inextinguishable courage and dignity. I urge my colleagues to 
co-sponsor this resolution and assist our efforts to convince the 
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend the issuance of a 
postage stamp commemorating Anne Frank.

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