[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 59 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H3151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  OBSERVING HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Holocaust 
Remembrance Day to honor the memory of those who were murdered during 
the Holocaust.
  The Holocaust was the systematic, government-sponsored persecution 
and murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
  We honor the resilience of survivors, and we rededicate ourselves to 
uphold the promise of ``Never Again.''
  This week marks the Days of Remembrance for the Holocaust. Congress 
established the Days of Remembrance as the Nation's annual 
commemoration. Each year, State and local governments, military bases, 
workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host 
observances and remembrance activities for their communities.
  These events occur during the Week of Remembrance, which began 
Sunday, April 8, and runs through Sunday, April 15.
  The events and results of the Holocaust were so devastating and so 
extreme that we can barely imagine how such a horrendous event can even 
take place.
  But we remember because it is an unthinkable scar on humanity. We not 
only remember, but, more importantly, we say: Never again.
  Today, we mourn the lives of those we lost, and we celebrate those 
who saved them, and we honor those who survived.
  The Holocaust was a tremendous blight on the history of humanity, but 
also a time when we honor those who were brave enough to put an end to 
it; those who stood in the face of such evil and refused to turn a 
blind eye.
  Our American soldiers were fighting to win World War II and liberated 
concentration camps and the horror that ensued there. It was an 
incredible task carried out by members of the Greatest Generation.
  By looking back, we can understand how important it is to defend 
those who are defenseless. We recognize the sufferings that took place 
and the lives that were shattered, but also the efforts that were made 
to put an end to such destruction and suffering.
  We have seen such hatred and genocide occur again in places like 
Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, and Syria. There are still millions of people 
being persecuted because of their ethnicity, because of who they are.
  We must eradicate hatred and never become indifferent to the 
sufferings of others. On the Day of Remembrance, the most important 
thing to remember is the humanity that exists in all of us. May we 
always remember and always pledge: Never again.

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