A resolution celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 141 Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 4, 2019 Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. WICKER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. 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 particu- larly 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 impor- tant 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 Eu- VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR141.IS SR141 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 141 IS rope and the United States with the goal of promoting transnational cooperation among Roma in combating so- cial marginalization and building a positive future for Roma everywhere; Whereas April 8 is therefore celebrated globally as Inter- national 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 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 2019 is the 75th anniversary of that tragic event; Whereas many countries are taking positive steps to remem- ber and teach about the genocide of Roma by Nazi Ger- many 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 (1) remembers the genocide of Roma by Nazi 2 Germany and its Axis partners and commemorates 3 the 75th anniversary of the destruction of the 4 ‘‘Gypsy Family Camp’’ where Romani people were 5 interned at Auschwitz; 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR141.IS SR141 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 141 IS (2) commends the United States Holocaust Me- 1 morial Museum for its role in promoting remem- 2 brance of the Holocaust and educating about the 3 genocide of Roma; 4 (3) supports International Roma Day as an op- 5 portunity to honor the culture, history, and heritage 6 of the Romani people in the United States as part 7 of the larger Romani global diaspora; and 8 (4) welcomes the Department of State’s partici- 9 pation in ceremonies and events celebrating Inter- 10 national Roma Day and similar engagement by the 11 United States Government. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR141.IS SR141 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS