Reps. Salazar and Torres Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Honor Diplomats for their Bravery and Heroism During the Holocaust
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) introduced H.R. 537, a bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats who, through their bravery and heroism, saved hundreds of thousands of Jewish families during the Holocaust. Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Senate version of the bill.
“Terrible circumstances have a way of bringing out both the worst and the best of humanity,” said Rep. Salazar. “60 diplomats during the Holocaust chose to put their own lives ahead of those of the refugees they were helping, finding them safety in places like Buenos Aires, Mexico City or South Florida. This Congress must recognize those actions as nothing short of what they were—heroic.”
“These diplomats risked their careers and their lives to help Jewish people flee Nazi persecution and the brutality of concentration camps,” said Rep. Torres. “I’m proud to be working in a bipartisan fashion to help honor those brave few souls who saved thousands of lives with a Congressional Gold Medal.”
“As we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the death camps, and what subsequently became known as the Holocaust, we are obligated to teach a new generation of what transpired not that long ago. Honoring a small group of diplomats, who understood the humanitarian urgency of saving lives by issuing visas, is that teaching moment. Thank you to Reps. Salazar and Torres for your key role in having the Congressional Gold Medal highlight their heroism and bravery," said Abe Foxman, Chairman of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Committee.
“I believe that in today’s world it may be more important to celebrate goodness and human decency than to just to condemn evil. We must teach future generations not only about the evil that man inflicted on man but also the courage and heroism of a small number of decent, moral public servants- diplomats who frequently violated their own countries' rules in order to save Jews," said Art Reidel, Co-Chair of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Committee.
BACKGROUND:
H.R. 537 would grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the 60 diplomats from around the world who, through various means, saved the lives of Jews fleeing Nazi tyranny. In most cases, diplomats would issue passports and travel visas to Jewish families often at great risk to their own lives. These actions alone saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jewish lives.
The text of the bill can be found HERE.
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