[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 123 (Monday, October 4, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7952-H7954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THAT NOVEMBER 2, 2003, SHALL BE DEDICATED TO ``A TRIBUTE TO 
       SURVIVORS'' AT THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 76) recognizing that 
November 2, 2003, shall be dedicated as ``A Tribute To Survivors'' at 
the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 76

       Whereas, in 1945, American soldiers and other Allied 
     forces, defeated Nazi Germany, ending World War II in Europe 
     and the systematic murder of Europe's Jews and other targeted 
     groups;
       Whereas 6,000,000 Jews were killed during the Holocaust, 
     and after World War II hundreds of thousands of survivors 
     immigrated to the United States, where in spite of their 
     enormous suffering, they rebuilt their lives, and embraced 
     and enriched their adopted homeland;

[[Page H7953]]

       Whereas, in 1978, President Jimmy Carter created the 
     President's Commission on the Holocaust to make a 
     recommendation regarding ``the establishment . . . of an 
     appropriate memorial to those who perished in the 
     Holocaust'';
       Whereas President Carter said: ``Out of our memory . . . of 
     the Holocaust we must forge an unshakable oath with all 
     civilized people that never again will the world stand 
     silent, never again will the world . . . fail to act in time 
     to prevent this terrible crime of genocide. . . . [W]e must 
     harness the outrage of our own memories to stamp out 
     oppression wherever it exists. We must understand that human 
     rights and human dignity are indivisible.'';
       Whereas, in 1979, the Commission recommended ``a living 
     memorial that will speak not only of the victims' deaths but 
     of their lives, a memorial that can transform the living by 
     transmitting the legacy of the Holocaust'';
       Whereas, in 1980, the United States Congress unanimously 
     passed legislation authorizing the creation of the United 
     States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a ``permanent living 
     memorial'' on Federal land in the Nation's Capital;
       Whereas, in 1983, Vice President George Bush designated the 
     Federal land on which the United States Holocaust Memorial 
     Museum would be built;
       Whereas Vice President Bush said: ``Here we will learn that 
     each of us bears responsibility for our actions and our 
     failure to act. Here we will learn that we must intervene 
     when we see evil arise. Here we will learn more about the 
     moral compass by which we navigate our lives and by which 
     countries navigate the future.'';
       Whereas, in 1985, Holocaust survivors participated in the 
     groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future United 
     States Holocaust Memorial Museum;
       Whereas, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan dedicated the 
     cornerstone of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum;
       Whereas President Reagan said: ``We who did not go their 
     way owe them this: We must make sure that their deaths have 
     posthumous meaning. We must make sure that from now until the 
     end of days all humankind stares this evil in the face . . . 
     and only then can we be sure it will never arise again.'';
       Whereas, in 1992, replicas of 2 of the milk cans that hid 
     the Oneg Shabbat archive under the Warsaw Ghetto were buried 
     beneath the Museum's Hall of Remembrance, with a Scroll of 
     Remembrance signed by Holocaust survivors;
       Whereas, in 1993, President Bill Clinton opened the United 
     States Holocaust Memorial Museum;
       Whereas President Clinton said: ``[T]his museum will touch 
     the life of everyone who enters and leave everyone forever 
     changed; a place of deep sadness and a sanctuary of bright 
     hope; an ally of education against ignorance, of humility 
     against arrogance, an investment in a secure future against 
     whatever insanity lurks ahead. If this museum can mobilize 
     morality, then those who have perished will thereby gain a 
     measure of immortality.'';
       Whereas, in 2001, President George W. Bush delivered the 
     keynote address at the first Days of Remembrance ceremony 
     after he assumed office.
       Whereas President Bush said: ``When we remember the 
     Holocaust and to whom it happened, we must also remember 
     where it happened . . . The orders came from men who . . . 
     had all the outward traits of cultured men, except for 
     conscience. Their crimes showed the world that evil can slip 
     in, and blend in, even amid the most civilized surroundings. 
     In the end, only conscience can stop it. And moral 
     discernment, decency, tolerance--these can never be assumed 
     in any time, or any society. They must always be taught.'';
       Whereas the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has had 
     more than 19,000,000 visitors in the first 10 years of its 
     existence;
       Whereas, in 2003, the United States Holocaust Memorial 
     Museum, on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary, wishes to 
     pay tribute to America's Holocaust survivors, who worked 
     tirelessly to help build the Museum and whose committed 
     support and involvement continue to make the institution such 
     as extraordinary memorial and a vital part of life in the 
     United States; and
       Whereas the United States Holocaust Museum has a sacred 
     obligation to preserve and transmit the history and lessons 
     of the Holocaust and, together with the Holocaust survivors, 
     must ensure that the legacy of the survivors is passed on to 
     each new generation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes that November 2, 2003, shall be dedicated to 
     ``A Tribute to Survivors'' at the United States Holocaust 
     Memorial Museum and shall be devoted to honoring our Nation's 
     Holocaust survivors, as well as their liberators and 
     rescuers, and their families;
       (2) recognizes that on that day, the United States 
     Holocaust Memorial Museum shall be devoted in its entirety to 
     special programs about and for the survivors of the 
     Holocaust;
       (3) commends the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 
     for its first decade of education dedicated to the memory of 
     the victims of the Holocaust;
       (4) endeavors to continue to support the vital work of the 
     United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; and
       (5) requests that this resolution shall be duly recorded in 
     the official records of the United States Holocaust Memorial 
     Museum.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on S. Con. Res. 76.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate Concurrent Resolution 76, introduced by Senator 
Hatch of Utah, dedicates November 2, 2003, as ``A Tribute to 
Survivors'' at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum located here 
in our Nation's capital.
  The gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) has authored the House companion 
bill and should be equally commended for his tireless work on behalf of 
his constituents.
  Chartered by a unanimous Act of Congress in 1980, the United States 
Holocaust Memorial Museum's primary mission is to advance and 
disseminate knowledge about this unprecedented tragedy; to preserve the 
memory of those who suffered; and to encourage its visitors to reflect 
upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by the events of the 
Holocaust as well as their own responsibilities as citizens of a 
democracy.
  This living memorial speaks not only to the victims' deaths, but of 
their lives. It holds the power to transform the living by transmitting 
the legacy of the Holocaust.
  On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the museum on November 1 and 
2 of 2003, held a Tribute to Holocaust survivors, a special celebration 
at the museum for survivors, their families, and other members of the 
eyewitness generation, including liberators and rescuers. This unique 
event brought together over 7,000 people, reuniting over 2,000 
survivors. Museum Director Sara Bloomfield characterized the tribute as 
critical, with so many of the Holocaust survivors now in the later 
years of their lives.
  More importantly though, dedicating November 2, 2003, as ``A Tribute 
to Survivors'' at the museum affords all of us the opportunity to 
answer to their silent question: Indeed, we have not forgotten you.
  Senate Concurrent Resolution 76 is supported by the majority and 
minority of the committee. I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, with S. Con. Res. 76, I guess this majority is operating 
under the adage that it is better late than never.
  Senate Concurrent Resolution 76 was written for an event that 
occurred 11 months ago on November 2, 2003. The resolution would have 
been timely if it had been taken up before that date.
  The tribute to the survivors of the Holocaust at the United States 
Holocaust Memorial Museum on November 2, 2003 was a worthy event 
deserving of recognition. It is regrettable that the majority waited so 
long to bring up this resolution that the day we seek to honor has 
already occurred.
  However, even late, it is an important recognition and I am pleased 
that there will be this recognition of that tribute to the survivors 
that occurred last year.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the sponsor of the House legislation is home with a 
family member who is ill and unable to make his presentation. I ask for 
support of this resolution.

[[Page H7954]]

  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 76.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. GIBBONS. 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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