[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 96--COMMEMORATING IRENA SENDLER, A WOMAN 
  WHOSE BRAVERY SAVED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS DURING THE HOLOCAUST AND 
       REMEMBERING HER LEGACY OF COURAGE, SELFLESSNESS, AND HOPE.

  Mr. REID (for Mr. Obama (for himself and Mr. Specter)) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 96

       Whereas on May 12, 2008, Irena Sendler, a living example of 
     social justice, died at the age of 98;
       Whereas Irena Sendler repeatedly risked her life during the 
     Holocaust to rescue over 2,500 Jewish children who lived in 
     the Warsaw ghetto in Poland from Nazi extermination;
       Whereas Irena Sendler was inspired by her father, a 
     physician who treated poor Jewish patients, to dedicate her 
     life to others;
       Whereas Irena Sendler became an activist at the start of 
     World War II, heading the clandestine group Zegota and 
     driving an underground movement that provided safe passage 
     for Jews from the Warsaw ghetto who faced disease, execution, 
     or deportation to concentration camps;
       Whereas Irena Sendler became 1 of the most successful 
     workers within Zegota, taking charge of the children's 
     division and using her senior position with the welfare 
     department in Warsaw to gain access to and from the ghetto to 
     build a network of allies to help ferry Jewish children from 
     the Warsaw ghetto;
       Whereas Irena Sendler was arrested by the Gestapo on 
     October 20, 1943, tortured, and sentenced to death by firing 
     squad;
       Whereas Irena Sendler never revealed details of her 
     contacts, escaped from Pawiak prison, and continued her 
     invaluable work with Zegota;
       Whereas in 1965, Irena Sendler was recognized as 
     ``Righteous Among the Nations'' by the Yad Vashem Holocaust 
     Memorial in Israel;
       Whereas in 2006, Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel 
     Peace Prize;
       Whereas Irena Sendler was awarded the Order of the White 
     Eagle, the highest civilian decoration in Poland;
       Whereas ``Tzedek: The Righteous'', a documentary film, and 
     ``Life in a Jar'', a play about the rescue efforts made by 
     Irena Sendler, chronicle the life of Irena Sendler;
       Whereas Irena Sendler, a woman who risked everything for 
     the lives of others and whose bravery is unimaginable to 
     many, expressed guilt for not being able to do more for the 
     Jewish people; and
       Whereas the story of Irena Sendler reminds citizens of the 
     United States and the world community not only of the 
     horrible cruelty at the time of the Holocaust, but also the 
     incredible difference one person can make: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) mourns the loss of Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery 
     and heroic efforts saved over 2,500 Jewish children during 
     the Holocaust;
       (2) pays respect and extends condolences to the Sendler 
     family;
       (3) honors the legacy of courage, selflessness, and hope 
     that Irena Sendler exhibited; and
       (4) remembers the life and unwavering dedication to justice 
     and human rights of Irena Sendler.

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