[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 121 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. HENRY JARECKI

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to use this opportunity to recognize 
the extraordinary contribution of a dear friend of mine, Dr. Henry 
Jarecki, who is the founding chairman of the Institute of International 
Education's Scholar Rescue Fund.
  This year is the fund's 10th anniversary, and on September 18, 2012, 
Dr. Jarecki will be honored with the Institute of International 
Education's Humanitarian Award--along with Scholar Rescue's other 
founders, Tom Russo, Henry Kaufman and George Soros--for his commitment 
to protecting endangered scholars around the world.
  The Scholar Rescue Fund provides safe havens to scholars whose lives 
are threatened, often for no other reason than their intellectual 
pursuits, allowing them to continue their academic work. No other 
global fund of this kind exists. Since 2002, with congressional 
support, the Scholar Rescue Fund has enabled 469 threatened scholars 
from 48 countries to resettle in places where they have safely pursued 
their professional studies and research, preserving the intellectual 
capacity of a country during conflict or crisis.
  Over 40 percent of these scholars have returned to their home 
countries. For example, as reports emerged of assassinations of Iraqi 
scholars, the Scholar Rescue Fund identified those in danger and 
provided stipends so they could resettle and continue teaching and 
writing in Jordan and other neighboring countries. Many have since 
returned to leadership positions at Iraqi universities as that country 
rebuilds its institutions of higher education.
  While many have supported the Scholar Rescue Fund, Dr. Henry Jarecki 
stands out. Drawing on his own experiences as a child whose family fled 
Nazi Germany, Dr. Jarecki has generously devoted his energy, resources, 
and time to the fund. He has been a passionate voice for responding to 
the dangers confronting scholars in Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and now Syria.
  He has guided staff and inspired fellow board members, always 
striving to do more on behalf of persecuted academics. He has been a 
source of support and hope to threatened scholars everywhere. Dr. 
Jarecki's own words explain his motivation best: ``Most of all, I thank 
and admire our scholars, who have gone through hell to educate us.''
  I am proud to have been his friend for decades, and I know his deep 
commitment. It is with great respect, gratitude, and admiration that, 
on the occasion of the Scholar Rescue Fund's 10th anniversary, we 
recognize and commend Dr. Henry Jarecki's work to protect scholars 
worldwide. Because of his efforts the fund will continue into the 
future, saving the lives, work, and voices of threatened academics and 
reminding us all of the importance of intellectual freedom.

                          ____________________