[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1895-H1896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING THE HOLOCAUST

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
address the House and speak out of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Garrett of New Jersey). Is there 
objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to pay 
my respects, and ask my colleagues to join me, in observing Holocaust 
Remembrance Week.
  This morning the Congress, in a bipartisan manner, gathered in the 
Capitol Rotunda, to remember a period of history that will resonate 
forever, and which we must never again see occur. We grieve for the 
loss of life, and the dismissal of humanity.
  Around 280,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel, constituting 40 
percent of the population over age 60. It may seem like time 
progresses, but the Holocaust remains present and an ongoing warning. 
After over 60 years, the Holocaust is still a presence, and there are 
living memorials all over the world dedicated to the memory of those 
who so cruelly lost their freedom and their lives and to the continuing 
education to conquer prejudice, hatred and injustice.
  I am reminded of the time I spent with the Holocaust Museum and a 
Holocaust Museum family in Houston, Texas. Just recently we 
commemorated the bringing over of one of those heinous and horrific 
rail cars that took the Jews in Germany to their death. It is there in 
Houston for remembrance and an understanding that we should never, 
never allow that horrific act to occur again.

                              {time}  1845

  On April 25, the bustling society of Israel observed 2 minutes of 
silence while sirens sounded to remember the Holocaust. Traffic paused, 
individuals stood still on sidewalks, the background then of a robust 
society waned, and the haunting echo of the sirens cried out for relief 
and justice and acknowledgment.
  Hundreds of people participated in the March of the Living at the 
Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. Triumphantly walking 
through the infamous gate that still has an ominous dominance over the 
camp: Arbeit Macht Frei, Work Will Make You Free.
  Memorial services around the country at synagogues, schools, 
churches, community centers and workplaces read aloud the names of 
children who perished or reflected on the legacy of uprooted families 
or the meaning of a cultural identity after genocide. As we walked 
through the Holocaust Museum in Israel, we were again reminded of the 
millions of children that died.
  The Holocaust's magnitude of destruction numbered more than 12 
million deaths, including 6 million Jews and 1.5 million children, more 
than two-thirds of European Jewry, and the ramifications of racism, 
prejudice and stereotyping on a society.
  We must never, never sit idly by while another country or people are 
suffering. We must never have patience or tolerance or apathy for 
others who will commit crimes against humanity. A haunting quote in the 
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum refers to the story of Cain and 
Abel. The Lord said, ``What have you done? Listen. Your brother's blood 
cries out to me from the ground.''
  The Holocaust forces society and our prosperity to face uncomfortable 
questions such as the responsibilities of

[[Page H1896]]

citizenship and the consequences of indifference and inaction and the 
importance of education and awareness. The victims of oppression and 
genocide, whether in Germany, whether dealing with the Armenian people 
or the people of Sudan, are heard when the world demands justice and 
accountability. We must speak for them, those who cannot speak for 
themselves.
  The Holocaust is a testament to the fragility of democracy. We must 
reaffirm the fight against prejudice and intolerance in any form all 
over the world, no matter what your religious background or ethnic 
background. It is time for the world to link arms against intolerance 
and genocide and fight for justice and accountability.
  It fills me with grief to know that the leaders of nations can 
destroy their own, and yet I hope that we can strengthen the means by 
which we continue to pursue justice. Hope springs eternal, and I hope 
for us it is of real meaning as we fight for justice and equality and 
the elimination of genocide.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to pay my respects, and ask my 
colleagues to join me in observing Holocaust Remembrance Week.
  This morning, the Congress gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to 
remember a period of history that will resonate forever, and which we 
must never again let occur. We grieve for the loss of life and the 
dismissal of humanity.
  Around 280,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel, constituting 40 
percent of the population over age 60. It may seem like time 
progresses, but the Holocaust remains present, and an ongoing warning.
  After over 60 years, the Holocaust is still a presence, and there are 
living memorials all over the world dedicated to the memory of those 
who so cruelly lost their freedom and their lives, and to the 
continuing education to conquer prejudice, hatred, and injustice.
  On April 25th, the bustling society of Israel observed two minutes of 
silence while sirens sounded to remember the Holocaust. Traffic paused, 
individuals stood still on sidewalks, the background din of a robust 
society waned and the haunting echo of the sirens cried.
  Hundreds of people participated in the March of the Living at the 
Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, triumphantly walking 
through the infamous gate that still has an ominous dominance over the 
camp: Albeit Macht Frei (Albeet Mahkt Fray), Work Will Make You Free.
  Memorial services around the country, at synagogues, schools, 
churches, community centers, and workplaces, read aloud the names of 
children who perished, or reflected on the legacy of uprooted families, 
or the meaning of a cultural identity after a genocide.
  The Holocaust's magnitude of destruction numbered more than 12 
million deaths, including 6 million Jews and 1.5 million children (more 
than 2/3 of European Jewry), and the ramifications of prejudice, racism 
and stereotyping on a society. We must never, NEVER, sit idly by while 
another country or people is suffering. We must never have patience, or 
tolerance, or apathy, for others who would commit crimes against 
humanity. A haunting quote in the United States Holocaust Memorial 
Museum refers to the story of Cain and Abel: ``The Lord said, ``What 
have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the 
ground (Genesis 4:11).
  The Holocaust forces society and our posterity to face uncomfortable 
questions such as the responsibilities of citizenship and the 
consequences of indifference and inaction, and the importance of 
education and awareness.
  The victims of oppression and genocide--whether in Germany, whether 
dealing with the Armenian people or the people of Sudan--are heard when 
the world demands justice and accountability.
  The Holocaust is a testament to the fragility of democracy. We must 
reaffirm the fight against prejudice and intolerance in any form.
  It fills me with grief to know that the leaders of nations can 
destroy their own--and yet I hope that we can continue to strengthen 
the means by which we can pursue justice.

                          ____________________