[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2322-S2323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING ROMANI AMERICAN HERITAGE

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, today I rise to celebrate International 
Roma Day, which occurred yesterday, April 8, 2019. Last week, Senator 
Wicker, the Helsinki Commission's Senate cochairman, and I introduced a 
resolution that celebrates Romani American heritage.
  As a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly 
Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism & Intolerance, I have 
long worked to improve the situation of Roma throughout the OSCE 
region.
  The resolution we introduced on April 4 does four things.
  First, it recognizes and celebrates Romani American heritage. Roma 
have come to the United States with every wave of European migration 
since the colonial period. In the United States,there may be as many as 
1 million Americans with some Romani ancestry, whether distant or more 
recent. Romani people have made distinct and important contributions in 
many fields, including agriculture, art, crafts, literature, medicine, 
military service, music, sports, and science.
  Second, it supports International Roma Day and the Department of 
State's robust engagement in activities to honor that occasion. On 
April 8, 1971, the First World Romani Congress met in London, bringing 
together Roma from across Europe and the United States with the goal of 
promoting transnational cooperation among Roma, combating social 
marginalization, and building a positive future for Roma everywhere. 
April 8 is now celebrated as International Roma Day around the world. 
U.S. Ambassadors and our Embassies across Europe are frequently asked 
to participate in April 8 celebrations across the region. I commend the 
important work they are doing as they demonstrate U.S. commitment to 
inclusive societies not only on April 8 but throughout the entire year.
  Third, this resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the 
destruction of the so-called Gypsy Family Camp at Auschwitz. Experts 
estimate that 200,000 to 500,000 Romani people were killed in death 
camps and elsewhere throughout Europe. On August 2 to 3, 1944, Nazis 
murdered between 4,200 and 4,300 Romani men, women, and children in gas 
chambers when the Nazis decided to liquidate this camp. A number of 
governments have taken important steps in recent years to commemorate 
the genocide of Roma, to remember the victims, and educate future 
generations. Germany took an important step when it opened a memorial 
in Berlin for Sinti and Roma victims of national socialism. I also 
commend the Czech Government for its decision to remove the pig farm at 
the site of the Lety concentration camp and address remaining issues 
regarding the proper memorialization of that sensitive site.
  Finally, this resolution commends the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum 
for its critically important role in promoting remembrance of the 
Holocaust and educating audiences about the genocide of Roma. The U.S. 
Holocaust Memorial Museum is the preeminent Federal institution 
dedicated to serving as a living memorial to the Holocaust. I am 
honored to serve as a member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum 
Council and I welcome the initiatives of the museum to ensure that 
Romani victims are remembered and support related scholarship.
  I am pleased that Senator Wicker has joined me in introducing this 
resolution and urge other colleagues to join us in celebrating Romani-
American heritage.

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