[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2010

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 1044, 
a resolution commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of 
Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Honoring the 
victims of the Holocaust, and expressing commitment to strengthen the 
fight against bigotry and intolerance are integral parts of this 
resolution. I would like to thank Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 
for introducing this piece of legislation.
  Before Allied forces arrived in Poland to liberate Auschwitz, on 
January 27, 1945, approximately 6 million Jews and other targeted 
groups were murdered by Nazi soldiers across Europe.
  Auschwitz was the largest concentration camp in Poland. Between 1940 
and 1945, 1.3 million Jews were deported by Nazi authorities to this 
extermination camp. Over 85 percent of the people sent there were 
tortured, starved and then systematically murdered in gas chambers.
  This camp symbolizes a place of terror, for Jews, prisoners of war, 
people who were caught hiding the Jews and even those who had different 
political views from the Nazi Regime during the Holocaust.
  America stands with the Jewish people, and has dedicated the 
Holocaust Memorial Museum, to recognize the people who lost their 
lives, as well as those who survived the Holocaust. Their strong 
resilience against the Nazi's inexorable plan of genocide and their 
dedication to their ideals in spite of great adversity was remarkable.
  The Department of State Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and 
Combat Anti-Semitism, along with several United States embassies and 
consulates has done an exceptional job at tracking anti-Semitism, 
bigotry, racism and intolerance. America and our partnering departments 
stand together with the Jewish people in solidarity to ensure the 
safety of all people and prevent our future from mirroring the 
atrocities of our past.
  I urge my colleagues to continue their strong support of H. Res. 
1044, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the 
Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

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