[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 92 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6825-S6826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF PRAGUE CONFERENCE ON HOLOCAUST ERA 
                                 ASSETS

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 81, S. Con. Res. 
23.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 23) supporting the 
     goals and objectives of the Prague Conference on Holocaust 
     Era Assets.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 23) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 23

       Whereas the Government of the Czech Republic will host the 
     Conference on Holocaust Era Assets in Prague from June 26, 
     2009, through June 30, 2009 (in this preamble referred to as 
     the ``Prague Conference'');
       Whereas the Prague Conference will facilitate a review of 
     the progress made since the 1998 Washington Conference on 
     Holocaust Era Assets, in which 44 countries, 13 non-
     governmental organizations, and numerous scholars and 
     Holocaust survivors participated;
       Whereas a high-level United States delegation participated 
     in the Washington Conference, led by then-Under Secretary of 
     State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Stuart 
     Eizenstat, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel, Federal Judge 
     Abner Mikva, senior diplomats, and a bipartisan group of 
     Members of Congress;
       Whereas then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 
     delivered the keynote address at the Washington Conference, 
     articulating the commitment of the United States to Holocaust 
     survivors and urging conference participants to ``chart a 
     course for finishing the job of returning or providing 
     compensation for stolen Holocaust assets to survivors and the 
     families of Holocaust victims'';
       Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to review the 
     issues agreed on at the Washington Conference, including 
     issues relating to financial assets, bank accounts, 
     insurance, and other financial properties;
       Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to include a 
     special session on social programs for Holocaust survivors 
     and other victims of Nazi atrocities;
       Whereas at the Prague Conference, working groups are 
     expected to convene to discuss Holocaust education, 
     remembrance and research, looted art, Judaica and Jewish 
     cultural property, and immovable property, including both 
     private, religious, and communal property;
       Whereas the participation and leadership of the United 
     States at the highest level is critically important to ensure 
     a successful outcome of the Prague Conference;
       Whereas Congress supports further inclusion of Holocaust 
     survivors and their advocates in the planning and proceedings 
     of the Prague Conference;
       Whereas the United States strongly supports the immediate 
     return of, or just compensation for, property that was 
     illegally confiscated by Nazi and Communist regimes;
       Whereas many Holocaust survivors lack the means for even 
     the most basic necessities, including proper housing and 
     health care;
       Whereas the United States and the international community 
     have a moral obligation

[[Page S6826]]

     to uphold and defend the dignity of Holocaust survivors and 
     to ensure their well-being;
       Whereas the Prague Conference is a critical forum for 
     effectively addressing the increasing economic, social, 
     housing, and health care needs of Holocaust survivors in 
     their waning years;
       Whereas then-Senator Barack Obama, during his visit in July 
     2008 to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel, stated, 
     ``Let our children come here and know this history so they 
     can add their voices to proclaim `never again.' And may we 
     remember those who perished, not only as victims but also as 
     individuals who hoped and loved and dreamed like us and who 
     have become symbols of the human spirit.''; and
       Whereas the Prague Conference may represent the last 
     opportunity for the international community to address 
     outstanding Holocaust-era issues: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and objectives of the 2009 Prague 
     Conference on Holocaust Era Assets;
       (2) applauds the Government of the Czech Republic for 
     hosting the Prague Conference and for its unwavering 
     commitment to addressing outstanding Holocaust-era issues;
       (3) applauds the countries participating in the Prague 
     Conference for the decision to seek justice for Holocaust 
     survivors and to promote Holocaust remembrance and education;
       (4) expresses strong support for the decision by those 
     countries to make the economic, social, housing, and health 
     care needs of Holocaust survivors a major focus of the Prague 
     Conference, especially in light of the advanced age of the 
     survivors, whose needs must be urgently addressed;
       (5) urges countries in Central and Eastern Europe that have 
     not already done so--
       (A) to return to the rightful owner any property that was 
     wrongfully confiscated or transferred to a non-Jewish 
     individual; or
       (B) if return of such property is no longer possible, to 
     pay equitable compensation to the rightful owner in 
     accordance with principles of justice and through an 
     expeditious claims-driven administrative process that is 
     just, transparent, and fair;
       (6) urges all countries to make a priority of returning to 
     Jewish communities any religious or communal property that 
     was stolen as a result of the Holocaust;
       (7) calls on all countries to facilitate the use of the 
     Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, 
     agreed to December 3, 1998, in settling all claims involving 
     publically and privately held objects;
       (8) calls on the President to send a high-level official, 
     such as the Secretary of State or an appropriate designee, to 
     represent the United States at the Prague Conference; and
       (9) urges other invited countries to participate at a 
     similarly high level.

                          ____________________