A resolution celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans.

III 117TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 124 Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 18, 2021 Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. WICKER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations JUNE 14, 2022 Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble DECEMBER 8, 2022 Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble RESOLUTION Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. Whereas the ancestry of the Romani people, also called the Roma, can be traced to the Indian subcontinent; Whereas Romani people have been a part of European immi- gration to the United States since the colonial period and particularly following the abolition of the enslavement of Romani people in the historic Romanian principalities; Whereas Romani people live across the world and throughout the United States; Whereas the Romani people have made distinct and impor- tant contributions in many fields, including agriculture, VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Dec 08, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR124.ATS SR124 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 SRES 124 ATS art, crafts, literature, medicine, military service, music, sports, and science; Whereas, on April 8, 1971, the First World Romani Congress met in London, bringing Romani people together from across Europe and the United States with the goal of promoting transnational cooperation among Romani peo- ple in combating social marginalization and building a positive future for Romani people everywhere; Whereas April 8 is therefore celebrated globally as Inter- national Roma Day; Whereas Romani people were victims of genocide carried out by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners, and an esti- mated 200,000 to 500,000 Romani people were killed by Nazis and their allies across Europe during World War II; Whereas, on the night of August 2–3, 1944, the so-called ‘‘Gypsy Family Camp’’ where Romani people were in- terned at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liquidated, and in a single night, between 4,200 and 4,300 Romani men, women, and children were killed in gas chambers; Whereas many countries are taking positive steps to remem- ber and teach about the genocide of Romani people by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners; and Whereas the United States Congress held its first hearing to examine the situation of Romani people in 1994: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) remembers the genocide of Romani people 2 by Nazi Germany and its Axis partners and com- 3 memorates the destruction of the ‘‘Gypsy Family 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Dec 08, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR124.ATS SR124 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 SRES 124 ATS Camp’’ where Romani people were interned at 1 Auschwitz; 2 (2) commends the United States Holocaust Me- 3 morial Museum for its role in promoting remem- 4 brance of the Holocaust and educating about the 5 genocide of Romani people; 6 (3) supports International Roma Day as an op- 7 portunity to honor the culture, history, and heritage 8 of the Romani people in the United States as part 9 of the larger Romani global diaspora; and 10 (4) welcomes the Department of State’s partici- 11 pation in ceremonies and events celebrating Inter- 12 national Roma Day and similar engagement by the 13 United States Government. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Dec 08, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR124.ATS SR124 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB