[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16742-16743]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
          SUPPORTING PRAGUE CONFERENCE ON HOLOCAUST ERA ASSETS

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 89) supporting the goals and 
objectives of the Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets, and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 89

       Whereas the Government of the Czech Republic will host a 
     Conference on Holocaust Era Assets in Prague from June 26, 
     2009, through June 30, 2009;
       Whereas the Prague Conference will facilitate a review of 
     the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust Era Assets, which 
     had participation of 44 nations, 13 nongovernmental 
     organizations, scholars, and Holocaust survivors;
       Whereas a high level United States delegation participated 
     in the Washington Conference on Holocaust Era Assets led by 
     Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat, Nobel Peace 
     Laureate Elie Wiesel, Federal Judge Abner Mikva, senior 
     diplomats, and a bipartisan group of Members of Congress;
       Whereas then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 
     delivered the key note address at the Washington Conference 
     on Holocaust Era Assets, articulating the United States 
     commitment to Holocaust survivors and urging conference 
     participants to ``chart a course for finishing the job of 
     returning or providing compensation for stolen Holocaust 
     assets to survivors and the families of Holocaust victims.'';
       Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to take stock of 
     issues agreed on at the Washington Conference, including 
     financial assets, bank accounts, insurance issues, and other 
     financial property;
       Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to include a 
     special session on social programs for Holocaust survivors 
     and other victims of Nazi atrocities;
       Whereas the Prague Conference is expected to include 
     working groups on Holocaust education, remembrance and 
     research, looted art, Judaica, Jewish cultural property, and 
     immovable property, including both private, religious, and 
     communal property;
       Whereas United States participation and leadership at the 
     highest level is critically important to ensure a successful 
     outcome of the Prague Conference;
       Whereas Congress supports further inclusion of Holocaust 
     survivors and their advocates in the Prague Conference 
     planning and proceedings;
       Whereas the United States strongly supports an immediate 
     and just restitution or compensation of property illegally 
     confiscated during the last century by Nazi and Communist 
     regimes;
       Whereas many Holocaust survivors lack the means for even 
     the most basic necessities, including proper housing and 
     health care;
       Whereas the United States and the international community 
     has a moral obligation to uphold and defend the plight and 
     dignity of Holocaust survivors and to ensure their well-
     being;
       Whereas for the Prague Conference is a critical forum to 
     effectively address the increasing economic, social, housing, 
     and health care needs of Holocaust survivors in their waning 
     years;
       Whereas President Barack Obama, during his visit to the Yad 
     Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel in July 2008, stated 
     ``Let our children come here and know this history so they 
     can add their voices to proclaim `never again.' And may we 
     remember those who perished, not only as victims but also as 
     individuals who hoped and loved and dreamed like us and who 
     have become symbols of the human spirit.''; and
       Whereas the Prague Conference may represent the last 
     opportunity for the international community to address 
     outstanding Holocaust-era issues: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and objectives of the 2009 Prague 
     Conference on Holocaust Era Assets;
       (2) applauds the Government of the Czech Republic for its 
     decision to host the Prague Conference and its unwavering 
     commitment to address out standing Holocaust-era issues;
       (3) expresses strong support for the decision to make the 
     economic, social, housing, and health care needs of Holocaust 
     survivors a major focus of the Prague Conference;
       (4) urges the countries in Central and Eastern Europe, 
     which have not already done so, to return looted and 
     confiscated properties to their rightful owners or, where 
     restitution is not possible, pay equitable compensation to 
     the rightful owners in accordance with principles of justice 
     and in an expeditious manner that is just, transparent, and 
     fair;
       (5) calls on the President to send a high-level official, 
     such as the Secretary of State, to represent the United 
     States at the Prague Conference; and
       (6) urges other invited nations to participate at a 
     similarly high level.

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 89, which supports the goals and objectives of the Prague 
Conference on Holocaust Era Assets. From June 26, 2009, through June 
30, 2009, the Government of the Czech Republic will host a Conference 
in Prague of utmost importance, which will focus exclusively on the 
reparation of Holocaust Era Assets. The Prague Conference will 
facilitate a review of the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust Era 
Assets, which had participation of 44 nations, 13 nongovernmental 
organizations, scholars, and Holocaust survivors.
  In his internationally recognized and critically acclaimed novel, 
``Night,'' Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Weisel so chillingly depicted 
the Holocaust in the following vivid description:
  ``Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has 
turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times 
sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the 
little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of 
smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames 
which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal 
silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. 
Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul 
and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even 
if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.''
  And never again shall we forget the atrocities that transpired during 
the Holocaust. As we go forward into the 21st Century, it is our job to 
make sure that the history of the Holocaust is re-told, so that such 
crimes against humanity never again recur. It is our job as 
humanitarians of the world to restore to victims of the Holocaust the 
private property and real property, chattels and assets which were so 
wrongfully taken by the nefarious acquisition of the Nazi regime during 
World War II, and restore to Holocaust Survivors and to their heirs 
that property which is rightfully theirs.
  I sit on the Advisory Board of the Houston Holocaust Museum, and I 
understand the urgency and necessity expressed by former Secretary of 
State Madeleine Albright, when she delivered the keynote address at the 
Washington Conference on Holocaust Era Assets. Former Secretary 
Albright articulated the U.S. commitment to Holocaust survivors and 
urged conference participants to ``chart a course for finishing the job 
of returning or providing compensation for stolen Holocaust assets to 
survivors and the families of Holocaust victims.'' The Prague 
Conference is expected to do just that. The Conference will take stock 
of issues agreed on at the Washington Conference, including financial 
assets, bank accounts, insurance issues, and other financial property. 
United States participation and leadership at the highest level is 
critically important

[[Page 16743]]

to ensure a successful outcome of the Prague Conference. The Prague 
Congress supports further inclusion of Holocaust survivors and their 
advocates in the Prague Conference planning and proceedings, to provide 
direct testimony as to the ongoing repercussions of the Holocaust on 
survivors and the families of survivors.
  While it is largely unspoken, many Holocaust survivors lack the means 
for even the most basic necessities, including proper housing and 
health care. We have a moral obligation to uphold and defend the plight 
and dignity of Holocaust survivors and to ensure their well-being. The 
Prague Conference is a critical forum to effectively address the 
increasing economic, social, housing, and health care needs of 
Holocaust survivors in their waning years.
  On his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel in July 
2008, President Barack Obama stated ``Let our children come here and 
know this history so they can add their voices to proclaim `never 
again.' And may we remember those who perished, not only as victims but 
also as individuals who hoped and loved and dreamed like us and who 
have become symbols of the human spirit.''
  I urge my colleagues to support this important Resolution today, 
which advocates for an immediate and just restitution or compensation 
of property illegally confiscated during the last century by Nazi and 
Communist regimes. I applaud the Government of the Czech Republic for 
its decision to host the Prague Conference and its unwavering 
commitment to address outstanding Holocaust-era issues. Furthermore I 
express strong support for the decision to make the economic, social, 
housing, and health care needs of Holocaust survivors a major focus of 
the Prague Conference. Finally, this Resolution urges the countries in 
Central and Eastern Europe, which have not already done so, to return 
looted and confiscated properties to their rightful owners or, where 
restitution is not possible, pay equitable compensation to the rightful 
owners in accordance with principles of justice and in an expeditious 
manner that is just, transparent, and fair. I urge passage of H. Con. 
Res. 89.
  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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