[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 1518-1521]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     PERMITTING USE OF ROTUNDA OF CAPITOL FOR CEREMONY AS PART OF 
      COMMEMORATION OF DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS OF HOLOCAUST

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 359) permitting the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of 
the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust.

[[Page 1519]]

  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 359

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on April 22, 2004, for a ceremony as part of the 
     commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the 
     Holocaust. Physical preparations for the ceremony shall be 
     carried out in accordance with such conditions as the 
     Architect of the Capitol may prescribe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Mica) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of House Concurrent 
Resolution 359, which permits the Capitol Rotunda to be used for a 
ceremony as part of the Days of Remembrance commemorating the victims 
of the Holocaust.
  Mr. Speaker, it is necessary to go through this procedure to use the 
very sacred center of the Capitol for a ceremony and joint 
authorization by both the House and the other body because of the 
significance of this particular location and its significance and 
importance in this building.
  The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is mandated by Congress 
to educate Americans about the history of the Holocaust and to annually 
honor and remember the victims of this catastrophic, horrible event, 
and that is done on the National Days of Remembrance observance. The 
purpose of the Days of Remembrance is to ask all Americans to reflect 
on the Holocaust, to remember the victims and to renew and strengthen 
our commitment to democracy and to human rights for every person.
  The very first Days of Remembrance ceremony was held in the United 
States Capitol Rotunda in the year 1979. It has been held there every 
year since, except when the Rotunda has been closed for renovations. At 
last year's National Days of Remembrance observance, Secretary of State 
Colin Powell gave the keynote address. The theme of this year's Days of 
Remembrance commemoration is entitled ``Justice and Humanity.'' That 
title, Justice and Humanity, is in memory of the Jews of Hungary who 
were deported 60 years ago in the final stages of World War II. The 
commemoration will honor the courageous individuals, as well as the 
organizations and countries who attempted to rescue them.
  In this country, official response to the mass murder of European 
Jews and others resulted in the creation of the War Refugee Board in 
1944. Established by the Executive Order of President Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt, the War Refugee Board worked with Jewish organizations, 
diplomats from neutral countries and resistance groups in Europe to 
rescue Jews from occupied territories and provide relief to inmates of 
Nazi concentration camps. Although belated, this action saved thousands 
of lives, reminding us of the terrible consequences of indifference and 
of the ability of organizations, individuals and countries to confront 
and work to halt acts of genocide or related crimes against humanity.
  How appropriate I believe it is, Mr. Speaker, at this time that we 
remember the victims of the World War II Holocaust. It is my hope also 
that during this ceremony we can reflect upon others who have lost 
their life to genocide and to murderous regimes. I have often wondered 
how the world could stand by in World War II and not do more to save 
people who were headed for extermination camps. Not being alive in that 
era, I have, however, been alive during an era of other holocausts, 
such as in Cambodia, where millions literally were murdered in a 
genocide.

                              {time}  1430

  During my term in office, I remember Rwanda where nearly a million 
Africans were slaughtered and the world did not come to their aid. And, 
once again, we remember and we should reflect during our Day of 
Remembrance on those in Iraq as we uncover hundreds of mass graves 
throughout that country. Our obligation, whether it is in Asia, Africa 
or the Middle East, is to make certain that a holocaust does not take 
place, to make certain that tens of thousands are not murdered by any 
despot regime.
  This ceremony that will be conducted will be the centerpiece of 
similar remembrance observances to be held throughout our Nation in all 
50 States. Members of Congress, government officials, foreign 
dignitaries, Holocaust survivors and citizens from all walks of life 
have attended previous commemorations. House Concurrent Resolution 359 
provides for the 2004 commemoration to be held in the rotunda on the 
day of April 22 of this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of my colleagues for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I wish to associate myself with the remarks of the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  Mr. Speaker, I rise with a great deal of humility and strong support 
for House Concurrent Resolution 359, authorizing the use of the Capitol 
rotunda for the Days of Remembrance ceremony on April 22.
  During the week of April 18, similar Holocaust remembrance days will 
take place all across this country, as the distinguished gentleman from 
Florida pointed out. As this body has done every year since 1979, 
Congress will use the historic rotunda location to reflect on one of 
the most painful moments in all of world history: the Holocaust.
  This very special day of remembrance, along with the creation of the 
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, was established by Congress to 
permanently honor these victims. They were created not only to remember 
those who perished but also to educate the world about human rights.
  The 2004 Days of Remembrance asks us to honor the memory of the Jews 
of Hungary, who were deported 60 years ago in the final stages of World 
War II, and to honor those courageous individuals as well as the few 
organizations and countries who attempted to rescue them. This year's 
theme is ``For Justice and Humanity.'' It has specific poignancy for me 
as a Member from Connecticut, knowing that Hadassah Lieberman's mother 
was part of that.
  I had the honor in Connecticut as Senate President to preside over 
the Days of Remembrances for 8 years. I often reflect on how solemn and 
important those ceremonies were, and still are. I can still see the 
survivors and their family members coming forward to light the candles 
and the solemnness of the occasion.
  Given the current conflicts around the world, it is especially 
important to remember the message of the Holocaust victims who said, do 
not forget us. We cannot forget them or the evil that sent them to 
their deaths. Tragically, we need only to watch the nightly news to 
realize that this evil still exists in the world.
  The ceremony we are authorizing today reminds us that when we respect 
the lessons of the past, we strengthen the values of every future 
generation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this concurrent resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), the sponsor of 
this resolution.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Mica), my friend, for yielding me this time; and I also want to thank 
him and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for managing this 
concurrent resolution. I also, Mr. Speaker, want to thank the chairman 
of the Committee on House Administration, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Ney), for permitting me to carry this piece of legislation.
  I have had the pleasure for the last 10 years to be a member of the 
Holocaust Governing Council, one of the five appointed Members of 
Congress. During my time in Congress I have seen such giants in this 
institution as Ben Gilman of New York and recently the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cantor) and the gentleman from California (Mr.

[[Page 1520]]

Lantos) in bringing this resolution to the floor, and it is an honor 
for me to have the opportunity to be a part of that today.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 359 permits the United States Holocaust 
Memorial Museum to use the Capitol rotunda for the Days of Remembrance 
observation. This annual event, which takes place in the symbolic heart 
of our American democracy, honors the victims of the Holocaust and is a 
reminder to all of us that freedom and liberty have both rights and 
responsibilities.
  Since the opening of the museum and the beginning of the Days of 
Remembrance sponsored by the museum, world events have continued to 
demonstrate that it is imperative that we remember and study the 
Holocaust. From the violent breakup of Yugoslavia and the cataclysmic 
terror in Rwanda, to the rise of anti-semitism around the world that 
continues today, we live in a time when the great strides in human 
rights made over the last half century are in danger of losing ground 
to ignorance and intolerance.
  That is why the theme of this year's commemoration, ``For Justice and 
Humanity,'' is so timely. The title comes from a statement made by 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt who, when he called for the rescue of 
the Jewish population in Hungary in March of 1944, said, ``In the name 
of justice and humanity, let all freedom-loving people rally to this 
righteous undertaking.'' By honoring rescuers along with the victims in 
this year's commemoration, we are shining a light on the brave acts of 
individuals and organizations that can teach important lessons today.
  Of course, we know that it was too late for many Jews in Hungary in 
1944. With the war entering its final stages, Nazi and Hungarian 
authorities deported about 440,000 Jews. At least half of those were 
murdered in gas chambers immediately upon their arrival at the labor 
camp Auschwitz. By the time the Nazis and their Hungarian collaborators 
were driven out of Hungary in April, 1945, nearly four-fifths of the 
Hungarian Jewish community had been killed.
  Yet there were some individuals, organizations and countries that 
asserted the value of human life in the face of the systematic murder 
of men, women and children. The War Refugee Board, established in 
January of 1944 by President Roosevelt, had the mandate to take ``all 
measures to rescue victims of oppression in imminent danger of death.''
  Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat based in Hungary, led the War 
Refugee Board's most extensive rescue efforts by distributing 
protective Swedish passports or travel papers to tens of thousands of 
Hungarian Jews. Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat, issued certificates of 
emigration, placing nearly 50,000 Jews in Budapest under Swiss 
protection. Italian businessman Giorgio Perlasca issued forged visas 
and established safe houses. When Budapest was liberated in February of 
1945, more than 100,000 Jews still remained in the city because of the 
efforts of Wallenberg, Lutz, Perlasca and other diplomats and 
individuals. The War Refugee Board played a crucial role in the rescue 
of as many as 200,000 Jews in German-occupied Europe.
  This year, as we commemorate the lives of the millions of victims of 
the Holocaust, we also pay tribute to the rescuers for their courageous 
efforts rallying ``to this righteous undertaking.''
  The first visit that I had to the Holocaust Museum following my 
election in 1994, I was taken around by the son of a Holocaust 
survivor; and there are two exhibits that I would commend to my 
colleagues on their next visit. One was a temporary exhibit that 
detailed the sailing of the steamship St. Louis and how that boat was 
turned from port to port to port as no one would take the Jews into 
their country.
  The second is the failed conference that took place in Avignon, 
France, where countries from around the world, aware of the ``Jewish 
problem'' during the Second World War and some of the solutions that 
Nazi Germany was prepared to undertake, country after country declined 
to take affirmative action to take Jewish immigrants into its borders, 
the United States being one of them.
  As we ponder not only the Days of Remembrance, I hope that we as 
legislators also learn the lessons of the St. Louis and the conference 
at Avignon; and I would ask all of my colleagues to join us in 
supporting House Concurrent Resolution 359.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Again, I would like to close on this particular resolution before the 
House, a simple resolution to allow the use of the rotunda for this 
ceremony. But when we enter the rotunda, the sacred center of the 
Capitol building on April 22, it is important that we do remember those 
victims who were lost in this horrific slaughter of human beings in 
World War II. We remember, as the gentleman from Ohio said so 
eloquently, that there were incidents like the turning away of the 
steamship St. Louis that went from port to port, and hundreds met a 
horrible fate because of the nations, and even the United States, who 
turned their backs.
  The good Lord gave the United States the responsibility now, as the 
superpower of the world, an important responsibility that we should not 
lose sight of.
  So as we reflect upon those victims, as we reflect upon those who 
ignored their responsibility, and as we recognize our responsibility in 
the world today, it is important that again we reflect at this time on 
what occurred, what was done, and what was left undone, and that we 
also make certain as we reflect on April 22 that we do not allow a 
holocaust of our time.
  So with those comments, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for House 
Concurrent Resolution 359, permitting the use of the rotunda of the 
Capitol to commemorate the Days of Remembrance of victims of the 
holocaust.
  It is appropriate that we commemorate those who perished during the 
Holocaust. It is also important that we not forget that genocide and 
human rights abuses continue to occur elsewhere around the world. As 
the leader of the Free World, the United States must use its power and 
influence to bring stability to the world. History serves as a lesson 
to all, and we must ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust must never 
happen again.
  I am proud to be a founding trustee of the Virginia Holocaust Museum 
and am pleased that a growing number of community-based Holocaust 
museums around the county are a reflection of our increasing awareness 
of the lessons of the Holocaust. Only when every person understands the 
magnitude of death, destruction, and utter horrors of the Holocaust can 
we feel we have done everything to prevent its recurrence.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support of H. Con. Res. 359, to allow the use of the Capitol Rotunda 
for a ceremony to commemorate victims of the Holocaust. Our Nation's 
Capitol is a symbol of freedom and democracy to so many. This 
resolution gives us a forum to pay service to the victims of the 
Holocaust. I pray that such a tragedy should never touch the world 
again.
  A Holocaust memorial is not something to be taken lightly, or to be 
rushed without its due respect. The Holocaust is a product of 
authoritarian government and evil intentions, and we must continue to 
study and remember it, lest it be repeated. Hate, genocide, racial 
supremacism still occur in parts of the world and I believe that we as 
Americans can still focus our efforts on stopping them before they grow 
to an uncontrollable magnitude.
  My heart goes out to the victims and survivors of Adolf Hitler's 
death camps. Every time I reexamine the Holocaust, and pay tribute to 
what happened, I am still shocked and pained by the organized, 
methodical killing that went on in Europe.
  For the 12 million people that Nazi Germany exterminated, we must 
remember. For each of the six million Jews killed, we must respond. For 
the Gypsies, the gays, the political dissenters and any of the 
righteous people who spoke out against what they thought was evil--for 
this we commemorate and remember the Holocaust. It can never happen 
again.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cole). The question is on the motion

[[Page 1521]]

offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 359.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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