[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE FIRST JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with Jewish 
Americans from Maine to Hawaii to celebrate the designation of this May 
as the first ever Jewish American Heritage Month.
  On Thursday April 20th, President Bush proclaimed that May would be 
Jewish American Heritage Month. I was a proud cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 
315 when it unanimously passed the House of Representatives on December 
15th, 2005, urging the President to do just that. Now for the first 
time there will be a national month recognizing the 352-year history of 
Jewish contributions to American culture.
  As a first generation Jewish American, I have witnessed firsthand 
Jewish immigrants who have come to this Nation in order to create a 
better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. 
Since the first Jews settled here over 300 years ago, Jewish Americans 
have made endless contributions to our country through technology, the 
economy, entertainment, academia, politics, art, medicine, military 
service, and more. Like other important immigrant communities, the 
Jewish experience in the United States represents the ideal of freedom 
and the promise and opportunity of America.
  Through educational programming, Jewish American History Month will 
help raise the awareness of a people, their history and contributions. 
It will help combat anti-Semitism, a phenomenon that is on the rise and 
that unfortunately still exists in our Nation. At no time in recent 
history has the need for this observance been greater. According to the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) most recent Hate Crimes 
Statistics, 67.8 percent of criminal incidents motivated by religions 
bias stemmed from anti-Jewish prejudice.
  The 1essons from the Holocaust have taught Jewish Americans that we 
must never turn a blind eye to terror or discrimination. It is 
necessary to combat hate wherever it exists. As a Jew I cannot sit idle 
while genocidal atrocities continue to unfold in Darfur, Sudan. I was 
proud to witness American Jewish organizations found the Save Darfur 
Coalition in June 2004 to mobilize a coordinated interfaith response to 
the ongoing humanitarian disaster. I hope every American will lend 
their support to this critical effort.
  I look forward to the celebrations that will take place each May for 
years to come and I encourage everyone to help make this inaugural 
year's observance memorable by developing educational and celebratory 
programs in your communities.
  And I wish you a happy Jewish American Heritage Month.

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