[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 76 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.Con.Res.76
Agreed to October 4, 2004
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas, in 1945, American soldiers and other Allied forces, defeated
Nazi Germany, ending World War II in Europe and the systematic murder
of Europe's Jews and other targeted groups;
Whereas, 6,000,000 Jews were killed during the Holocaust, and after
World War II hundreds of thousands of survivors immigrated to the
United States, where in spite of their enormous suffering, they
rebuilt their lives, and embraced and enriched their adopted
homeland;
Whereas, in 1978, President Jimmy Carter created the President's
Commission on the Holocaust to make a recommendation regarding ``the
establishment . . . of an appropriate memorial to those who perished
in the Holocaust'';
Whereas, President Carter said: ``Out of our memory . . . of the
Holocaust we must forge an unshakable oath with all civilized people
that never again will the world stand silent, never again will the
world . . . fail to act in time to prevent this terrible crime of
genocide. . . . [W]e must harness the outrage of our own memories to
stamp out oppression wherever it exists. We must understand that
human rights and human dignity are indivisible.'';
Whereas, in 1979, the Commission recommended ``a living memorial that
will speak not only of the victims' deaths but of their lives, a
memorial that can transform the living by transmitting the legacy of
the Holocaust'';
Whereas, in 1980, the United States Congress unanimously passed
legislation authorizing the creation of the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum as a ``permanent living memorial'' on Federal land in
the Nation's Capital;
Whereas, in 1983, Vice President George Bush designated the Federal
land on which the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum would be
built;
Whereas, Vice President Bush said: ``Here we will learn that each of us
bears responsibility for our actions and our failure to act. Here we
will learn that we must intervene when we see evil arise. Here we
will learn more about the moral compass by which we navigate our
lives and by which countries navigate the future.'';
Whereas, in 1985, Holocaust survivors participated in the
groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum;
Whereas, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan dedicated the cornerstone of
the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum;
Whereas, President Reagan said: ``We who did not go their way owe them
this: We must make sure that their deaths have posthumous meaning. We
must make sure that from now until the end of days all humankind
stares this evil in the face . . . and only then can we be sure it
will never arise again.'';
Whereas, in 1992, replicas of 2 of the milk cans that hid the Oneg
Shabbat archive under the Warsaw Ghetto were buried beneath the
Museum's Hall of Remembrance, with a Scroll of Remembrance signed by
Holocaust survivors;
Whereas, in 1993, President Bill Clinton opened the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum;
Whereas, President Clinton said: ``[T]his museum will touch the life of
everyone who enters and leave everyone forever changed; a place of
deep sadness and a sanctuary of bright hope; an ally of education
against ignorance, of humility against arrogance, an investment in a
secure future against whatever insanity lurks ahead. If this museum
can mobilize morality, then those who have perished will thereby gain
a measure of immortality.'';
Whereas, in 2001, President George W. Bush delivered the keynote
address at the first Days of Remembrance ceremony after he assumed
office.
Whereas, President Bush said: ``When we remember the Holocaust and to
whom it happened, we must also remember where it happened . . . The
orders came from men who . . . had all the outward traits of cultured
men, except for conscience. Their crimes showed the world that evil
can slip in, and blend in, even amid the most civilized surroundings.
In the end, only conscience can stop it. And moral discernment,
decency, tolerance--these can never be assumed in any time, or any
society. They must always be taught.'';
Whereas, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has had more than
19,000,000 visitors in the first 10 years of its existence;
Whereas, in 2003, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, on the
occasion of its 10th Anniversary, wishes to pay tribute to America's
Holocaust survivors, who worked tirelessly to help build the Museum
and whose committed support and involvement continue to make the
institution such an extraordinary memorial and a vital part of life
in the United States; and
Whereas, the United States Holocaust Museum has a sacred obligation to
preserve and transmit the history and lessons of the Holocaust and,
together with the Holocaust survivors, must ensure that the legacy of
the survivors is passed on to each new generation: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That Congress--
(1) recognizes that November 2, 2003, shall be dedicated to ``A
Tribute to Survivors'' at the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum and shall be devoted to honoring our Nation's Holocaust
survivors, as well as their liberators and rescuers, and their
families;
(2) recognizes that on that day, the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum shall be devoted in its entirety to special
programs about and for the survivors of the Holocaust;
(3) commends the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for
its first decade of education dedicated to the memory of the
victims of the Holocaust;
(4) endeavors to continue to support the vital work of the
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; and
(5) requests that this resolution shall be duly recorded in the
official records of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.