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“SENATE RESOLUTION 124--CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE OF ROMANI AMERICANS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S1654 on March 18.
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The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATE RESOLUTION 124--CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE OF ROMANI AMERICANS
Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Wicker) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 124
Whereas the Romani people trace their ancestry to the Indian subcontinent;
Whereas Roma have been a part of European immigration to the United States since the colonial period and particularly following the abolition of the enslavement of Roma in the historic Romanian principalities;
Whereas Roma live across the world and throughout the United States;
Whereas the Romani people have made distinct and important contributions in many fields, including agriculture, art, crafts, literature, medicine, military service, music, sports, and science;
Whereas, on April 8, 1971, the First World Romani Congress met in London, bringing Roma together from across Europe and the United States with the goal of promoting transnational cooperation among Roma in combating social marginalization and building a positive future for Roma everywhere;
Whereas April 8 is therefore celebrated globally as International Roma Day;
Whereas Roma were victims of genocide carried out by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners, and an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 Romani people were killed by Nazis and their allies across Europe during World War II;
Whereas, on the night of August 2-3, 1944, the so-called
``Gypsy Family Camp'' where Romani people were interned at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liquidated, and in a single night, between 4,200 and 4,300 Romani men, women, and children were killed in gas chambers;
Whereas many countries are taking positive steps to remember and teach about the genocide of Roma by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners; and
Whereas the United States Congress held its first hearing to examine the situation of Roma in 1994: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) remembers the genocide of Roma by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners and commemorates the destruction of the ``Gypsy Family Camp'' where Romani people were interned at Auschwitz;
(2) commends the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for its role in promoting remembrance of the Holocaust and educating about the genocide of Roma;
(3) supports International Roma Day as an opportunity to honor the culture, history, and heritage of the Romani people in the United States as part of the larger Romani global diaspora; and
(4) welcomes the Department of State's participation in ceremonies and events celebrating International Roma Day and similar engagement by the United States Government.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today, I am introducing, along with Senator Wicker, a resolution that celebrates Romani American heritage.
As a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, I have long worked to improve the situation of Roma throughout the OSCE region. This includes efforts to advance human rights compliant policing, ending ethnic and religious profiling, supporting diversity and inclusion in the U.S. national security workforce and human rights training for foreign service officers, and supporting free and fair elections in the OSCE participating States. I also supported the appointment of Dr. Ethel Brooks to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Council, on which I also currently serve.
The resolution we are introducing today 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 one 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 that occasion. In 1971, on April 8th, 1971, the First World Romani Congress met in London, bringing Roma together 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 8th 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 8th 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 8th, but also throughout the year.
Third, this resolution commemorates the destruction of the so-called
``Gypsy Family Camp'' at Auschwitz. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 500,000 Romani people were killed in death camps and elsewhere throughout Europe. On August 2-3, 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 in recent years have taken important steps to commemorate the genocide of Roma, to remember the victims, and educate future generations. Germany took an important step when it opened in Berlin a memorial for Sinti and Roma victims of National Socialism. I also welcome the Czech government's decision to remove the pig farm at the site of the Lety concentration camp the role of the Museum of Romani Culture in ensuring a 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 that related scholarship is supported.
I am pleased that Sen. Wicker has joined me in introducing this resolution and urge other colleagues to join us in celebrating Romani American heritage.
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