[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 53 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 6 MILLION JEWS KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 6 million 
Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Today, members of 
Congress gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to remember those who perished 
and to join in solidarity with people in Israel and around the world 
marking Holocaust Remembrance day--Yom Hashoah.
  Today, we gather to remember those who died and to preserve the 
memory of the Holocaust. Six million Jews perished at the hands of the 
Nazis during the Holocaust; countless others were brutalized, raped, 
dehumanized, and robbed. As hard as the stories are to hear, we must 
ensure that the experiences of Holocaust survivors are preserved as a 
permanent part of history.
  ``Never again'' is a pledge that we must continue to uphold through 
education, dialogue, and determination. It is also a commitment to 
fighting hatred, intolerance, and brutality wherever they occur. Too 
often, we have stood by and allowed the targeting, brutalization, and 
massacre of an innocent civilian population. We can honor those who 
died in the Holocaust by refusing to allow similar atrocities to occur 
in the future.
  Events in the Middle East, and around the world highlight the 
importance of Holocaust remembrance. Recent data show signs of an 
alarming rise in anti-Semitism, and harsh criticism of Israel is 
increasingly tinged with traditional anti-Semitism. Iranian President 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the annihilation of Israel. This is 
another reminder that we must continue to work to strengthen the U.S.-
Israel relationship, and redouble our efforts toward achieving lasting 
peace in the Middle East.
  The Days of Remembrance hold a deep meaning for my community. My 
district, the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, is home to one of 
the largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors in the country.
  Last spring, I had the opportunity to participate in the opening of 
the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie. Skokie is 
home to an estimated 2,000 Holocaust survivors, and the museum would 
not have been possible without their active involvement and input. The 
new 65,000-square foot museum will have the capacity to serve over 
250,000 annual visitors, and will teach countless people, young and 
old, the importance of actively fighting hatred and prejudice.
  The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center continues to use 
education to combat intolerance.
  Today, we remember one of the darkest moments in human history, and 
we honor and mourn those who lost their lives. As we honor their 
memory, we must also recommit to working together to fight genocide to 
ensure that others do not suffer their fate, and to continuing to teach 
our children the history of the Holocaust.

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