[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1598-E1599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       H. CON. RES. 361, A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND 
                    ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF IRENA SENDLER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today as an original 
co-sponsor and strong supporter of House Concurrent Resolution 361, a 
resolution which commemorates the life of Irena Sendler, a woman whose 
courage and selflessness saved the lives of thousands of Polish 
citizens from Nazi brutality during the Holocaust.
  I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Jan 
Schakowsky of Illinois, for introducing this legislation, as well as 
the 63 other bipartisan Members of Congress for their co-sponsorship of 
H. Con. Res. 361.
  This important resolution commemorates the work of Irena Sendler, a 
Polish woman who dedicated her life to saving 2,500 Jewish children 
from Poland's Warsaw Ghetto and Nazi extermination during the 
Holocaust. As an early activist during World War II, Sendler joined 
Zegota, an underground movement that provided a safe haven for Jews who 
would otherwise be sent to death camps throughout Europe. In addition, 
Sendler built strong connections in Warsaw's Welfare Department that 
enabled her to help ferry Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto.

[[Page E1599]]

  Sendler was eventually caught by the Nazis, brutally tortured, and 
sentenced to death for her heroic acts. However, Sendler managed to 
escape and continued her work of saving children in the Warsaw Ghetto.
  After the Holocaust, Irena Sendler was rewarded for her courageous 
efforts. In 1965, she was recognized as ``Righteous Among the Nations'' 
by Yad Vashem in Israel. In 2006, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace 
Prize. Sendler was also awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's 
highest civilian decoration.
  Irena Sendler passed away on May 12, 2008 at the age of 98. A woman 
who risked her own life to defend the lives of others, it is 
appropriate for Sendler to be recognized and honored by the Congress. 
Her selflessness and courage to fight against hate and genocide should 
serve as a model for others in our world to combat hatred and 
intolerance and seek to end the genocide in the Sudan.
  It is unacceptable for citizens of this country or any other nation 
to allow, accept, or tolerate acts of hatred. Yet worldwide 
discrimination continues to exist and Holocaust deniers still serve as 
leaders of nations.
  In honoring the life of Irena Sendler and her courageous acts to save 
Jewish children from the Nazis, we pay tribute to the righteous among 
us and reaffirm our commitment to combating worldwide acts of 
discrimination. I send my condolences to the Sendler family and hope 
Irena's story will encourage all citizens of the world to uphold 
justice, equality, and human rights.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

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