[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 2, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF 
    CONGRESS THAT THE PARTHENON MARBLES SHOULD BE RETURNED TO GREECE

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2017

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce 
a Concurrent Resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the 
Parthenon Marbles, currently held in the British Museum, should be 
returned to Greece. Approximately 200 years ago, while Greece was under 
Ottoman rule, the British nobleman Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin, 
removed over 100 pieces of sculptures known as the Parthenon Marbles 
and transported them to the United Kingdom. The Marbles were part of a 
frieze that adorned the Temple of Athena. In 1816, the British 
Parliament voted to purchase the Marbles from Lord Elgin and they now 
reside in the British Museum. The other half of the Marbles that 
comprise the frieze are in the New Acropolis Museum in Athens alongside 
plaster replicas of the Marbles that were taken. Despite years of good 
faith efforts by the Greek Government to retain the Marbles, it has 
been unable to negotiate an agreement with its British counterparts to 
return the Marbles to Greece.
  I am pleased that several Members of the British Parliament have 
recently expressed support for transferring ownership of the Marbles 
back to Greece and return these cherished artifacts to their rightful 
home. The Parthenon marbles are some of Greece's greatest examples of 
artistic expression and beauty, and should be on display in their 
country of origin. They are vital pieces of Greek history that belong 
to the Greek people. This resolution calls upon the two countries to 
come to an agreement to finally return these treasures to their 
rightful home.
  I want to thank Rep. Gus Bilirakis, with whom I co-chair the 
Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, and Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. for 
joining me as co-sponsors on this important resolution. Rep. Payne's 
father and our former colleague, the late Rep. Donald Payne Sr., was a 
great champion in this effort to return the Parthenon Marbles to 
Greece. I am proud to continue to call for an agreement that will put 
an end to this centuries-old dispute, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this resolution.

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