[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2018

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of 
Holocaust Remembrance Week to honor the millions of lives lost during 
this horrific period in history.
  Fueled by hatred, Nazis brutally imprisoned and murdered more than 6 
million Jewish men, women, and children--as well as hundreds of 
thousands of other victims--resulting in the largest systematic 
genocide the world has ever witnessed.
  Listening to the heart wrenching stories of Holocaust survivors 
should solidify our commitment to stop this from ever happening again.
  I am troubled by a recent study which found that an alarming 66 
percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 years old cannot 
explain the significance of Auschwitz, the concentration camp where 
Nazis killed 1.1 million people during World War II.
  To me, this is a clear sign that now--more than ever--it is vital to 
educate our younger generations and continue to condemn and denounce 
the actions of the Nazi regime.
  As the years pass, there are fewer brave survivors left to tell their 
stories, and, unfortunately, there are still acts of genocide occurring 
around the world.
  The United States should do everything in its power to help prevent 
these atrocious acts from occurring, which is why I am proud to 
cosponsor the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act.
  This legislation strengthens the U.S. government's ability to prevent 
and respond to genocide, war crimes, and other crimes against humanity.
  The Nazis used fear and hatred to attempt the elimination of an 
entire population of people. Without intervention, they may have 
succeeded.
  As Elie Wiesel, a courageous Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, 
said, ``Because I remember, I despair. Because I remember, I have the 
duty to reject despair.''
  It is our moral responsibility as the world's most powerful nation to 
never forget and to stand up against violence, racism, and genocide 
across the globe.
  As we honor Holocaust Remembrance Week, let this be a reminder of our 
responsibility to educate younger generations.
  Today, I stand with my colleagues to honor, pray for, and remember 
the victims of the Holocaust. May we recognize and improve upon 
mistakes in our past, so we are not condemned to repeat history in the 
future.

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