May 26, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3281 serve today in the Armed Forces of the President Lincoln once said ‘‘have laid 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. . This past weekend, on such a costly sacrifice upon the altar of HELSINKI COMMISSION Armed Forces Day, I had the honor of freedom.’’ The strength of these fami- Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, on June participating in the grand opening of lies to persevere is like no other, and 3, 1976, U.S. President Gerald Ford the Military Family Support Center their support to our goals of peace and signed into law a bill establishing the presented by the Cobb Chamber of freedom is simply humbling. Commission on Security and Coopera- Commerce. It remains humbling to me Memorial Day—and every day—I am tion in Europe, more commonly known every time I see Georgia communities again honored and reminded that we as the U.S. Helsinki Commission. come together to support our service- are the land of the free because of the I bring this 40th anniversary next men and servicewomen and their fami- brave. week to my colleagues’ attention today Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, Ameri- lies. because the commission has played a cans live free, secure, and stable lives Anyone who opens a newspaper today particularly significant role in U.S. thanks to generations of men and or turns on the TV knows that we live foreign policy. in a world of unknown and dangerous women in uniform who were willing to First, the commission provided the sacrifice their own lives. We must threats. Despite this, nearly 2.1 million U.S. Congress with a direct role in the never forget the tremendous debt we Americans have voluntarily raised policymaking process. Members and owe those brave Americans. It is in their right hands and sworn to defend staff of the commission have been inte- large part because of them that Amer- our Nation against all enemies, foreign grated into official U.S. delegations to and domestic. What makes these men ica serves as a beacon of hope, freedom, and equality to all the world. meetings and conferences of what is and women unique is that, despite This Monday, we will celebrate Me- historically known as the Helsinki these global threats, they choose to morial Day, a national day of solemn Process. The Helsinki Process started rise to the challenge. They come from remembrance and gratitude as we as an ongoing multilateral conference all walks of life. From coast to coast, honor the men and women who have on security and cooperation in Europe every Main Street, farm, or even next died defending our Nation. We honor that is manifested today in the 57- door, our selfless warriors voluntarily each and every American who has country, Vienna-based Organization for walk away from the comforts of home made the ultimate sacrifice on battle- Security and Cooperation in Europe, or to join the most elite force on this fields from Lexington, Concord, and OSCE. planet. They endure long hours in the Bunker Hill to Fort McHenry; from As elected officials, our ideas reflect- field, countless months away from Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg to ing the interests of concerned Amer- their families while downrange, and Belleau Wood and the Somme; from ican citizens are better represented in some even come face to face with those Pearl Harbor, Bastogne, and Iwo Jima U.S. diplomacy as a result of the com- who wish to do us harm. These coura- to Inchon, Bloody Ridge, and the mission. There is no other country that geous Americans are deployed in more Chosin Reservoir; from Ia Drang, Khe has a comparable body, reflecting the than 150 countries around the world. Sanh, and Hamburger Hill to Umm singular role of our legislature as a From humanitarian missions to coali- Qasr, Nasiriyah, Fallujah, and Kabul. separate branch of government in the tion force partnerships to counterter- We salute the centuries-old legacy of conduct of foreign policy. The commis- rorism operations, there is no mission, selflessness and sacrifice that defines sion’s long-term commitment to this no challenge they cannot rise to meet. our Nation. We are forever indebted to effort has resulted in a valuable insti- Our world is becoming increasingly our warfighters and their families. On tutional memory and expertise in Eu- unstable. With threats rising from old Memorial Day, we pause to reflect, to ropean policy possessed by few others foes to new ones in familiar places, remember, to pay respect, to give in the U.S. foreign affairs community. there is simply no shortage of chal- thanks. And we say a prayer for all the Second, the commission was part of a lenges our country faces in terms of men and women currently serving in larger effort since the late 1970s to en- national security. While the unknown harm’s way and look forward to the hance consideration of human rights as threatens global peace, one constant day when they may return home safely an element in U.S. foreign policy deci- known is the courage and dedication of to be with their families and friends. sionmaking. Representatives Millicent America’s Armed Forces. I am con- Memorial Day is not only a day for Fenwick of New Jersey and Dante Fas- stantly reminded that we are the land looking backward. It is also a day for cell of created the commission of the free because of the brave. looking forward. Those men and as a vehicle to ensure that human Now, this coming Monday gives us all women who lie buried gave their lives rights violations raised by dissident a moment to stop and pay respect to so that we could live in peace. Their groups in the Soviet Union and the the approximately 1.3 million Ameri- dream and the dream of every Amer- Communist countries of Eastern Eu- cans who have given their lives in the ican serving in the field of battle is rope were no longer ignored in U.S. pol- defense of our great Nation. From the that someday no more Americans will icy. Revolutionary War to the Civil War, be called upon to give their lives for In keeping with the Helsinki Final from World War I to World War II, from their country, that someday war will Act’s comprehensive definition of secu- Korea to Vietnam, and from Iraq to Af- end and the world will be truly free. rity—which includes respect for human ghanistan, brave men and women have What better way, then, to honor their rights and fundamental freedoms as a answered the call to defend our home- memory than to do everything we can principle guiding relations between land and protect the helpless around to seek peace? states—we have reviewed the records of the world in the name of peace. Those On this day of remembrance, I hope all participating countries, including of us who are fortunate to work in this that all Americans remember the our own and those of our friends and al- grand Capitol Building need not look dream of those who committed the lies. any farther than across the river, on greatest sacrifice and pursue peace in From its Cold War origins, the Hel- the other side of the National Mall, all our endeavors. As President Lincoln sinki Commission adapted well to where the ‘‘gardens of stone’’ at Ar- put it so eloquently nearly 153 years changing circumstances, new chal- lington National Cemetery offer a so- ago, let us dedicate ourselves ‘‘to the lenges, and new opportunities. It has bering reminder of the price of free- great task remaining before us—that done much to ensure U.S. support for dom. from these honored dead we take in- democratic development in East-Cen- While Americans enjoy the long creased devotion to that cause for tral Europe and continues to push for weekend with family and barbecues, I which they gave the last full measure greater respect for human rights in would encourage everyone to take a of devotion—that we here highly re- Russia and the countries of the moment to remember the true meaning solve that these dead shall not have Caucasus and Central Asia. of the holiday: to honor the service- died in vain—that this nation, under The Commission has participated in members who have paid the ultimate God, shall have a new birth of free- the debates of the 1990s on how the price. dom—and that government of the peo- United States should respond to con- I also want to take a moment to ple, by the people, for the people, shall flicts in the Balkans, particularly Bos- honor and thank those families who not perish from the earth.’’ nia and Kosovo and elsewhere, and it

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:38 May 27, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G26MY6.060 S26MYPT1 smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with SENATE S3282 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 26, 2016 does the same today in regard to Rus- when foreign travel is not strongly en- merous to count are watershed mo- sia’s aggression towards Ukraine. It couraged and sometimes actively dis- ments in history, and they make up has pushed U.S. policy to take action couraged. only a small fraction of the various ac- to combat trafficking in persons, anti- Finally, let me say a few words about complishments Jewish Americans have Semitism and racism, and intolerance the Helsinki Commission staff, both made. and corruption, as well as other prob- past and present. The staff represents Such achievements, however, do not lems which are not confined to one an enormous pool of talent. They have come without concomitant struggles. country’s borders. a combination of diplomatic skills, re- Jewish Americans have been dedicated The Helsinki Commission has suc- gional expertise, and foreign language to promoting tolerance and under- ceeded in large part due to its leader- capacity that has allowed the Members standing because Jewish people have ship. From the House, the commission of Congress serving on the commission been challenged and persecuted has been chaired by Representatives to be so successful. Many of them de- throughout history whenever they Dante Fascell of Florida, my good serve mention here, but I must men- have professed their faith. Jewish friend STENY HOYER of Maryland, the tion Spencer Oliver, the first chief of Americans participated in the aboli- current chairman, CHRISTOPHER SMITH staff, who set the commission’s prece- tionist movement in the 19th century of New Jersey, and of dents from the very start. Spencer and joined the ranks of the Student Florida. From this Chamber, we have went on to create almost an equivalent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had Senators Alfonse D’Amato of New of the commission at the international during the civil rights movement in York, Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, level with the OSCE Parliamentary As- the 1960s. There is no question that the Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, sembly. Jewish tradition of diversity and inclu- Sam Brownback of Kansas and today’s One of his early hires and an even- sion has helped to make the United cochairman, ROGER WICKER of Mis- tual successor was Sam Wise, whom I States the force for equal rights, de- sissippi. would consider to be one of the diplo- mocracy, and opportunity that it is I had the honor, myself, to chair the matic heroes of the Cold War period for today. Though we face challenges to Helsinki Commission from 2007 to 2015. his contributions and leadership in the that ideal every day, we must not for- That time, and all my service on the Helsinki Process. get that this country was and remains commission, from 1993 to the present, In closing, I again want to express a beacon for those suffering under the has been enormously rewarding. my hope that my colleagues will con- weight of oppression around the world. I think it is important to mention sider the value of the Helsinki Com- We cannot understate the role that that the hard work we do on the Hel- mission’s work over the years, enhanc- Israel plays in Jewish American soci- sinki Commission is not a job require- ing the congressional role in U.S. for- ety and in the lives of Jewish people ment for a Member of Congress. eign policy and advocating for human around the world. Our homeland is the Rather than being a responsibility, it rights as part of that policy. focal point of our religion and our cul- is something many of us choose to do Indeed, the commission, like the Hel- ture. Further, our two nations are built because it is rewarding to secure the sinki Process, has been considered a on a common set of core democratic release of a longtime political prisoner, model that could be duplicated to han- principles and representative govern- to reunify a family, to observe elec- dle challenges in other regions of the ment, but we have more than political tions in a country eager to learn the world. I also hope to see my colleagues philosophies in common; we share a meaning of democracy for the first increase their participation on Hel- strong belief in the promotion of equal- time, to enable individuals to worship sinki Commission delegations to the ity, freedom, and tolerance. The United in accordance with their faiths, to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well States will always stand by Israel, and know that policies we advocated have as at Helsinki Commission hearings. we will always support the safety of meant increased freedom for millions For as much as the commission has ac- the Israeli people. As a U.S. Senator, I of individuals in numerous countries, complished in its four decades, there have been proud to take part in efforts and to present the United States as a continues to be work to be done in its to strengthen the relationship between force for positive change in this world. fifth, and the challenges ahead are no our two nations. Without our home- Several of us have gone beyond our less than those of the past. land, Jewish Americans may never responsibilities on the commission to f have been able to make the myriad participate in the leadership of the contributions they have made to our JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Rep- Nation. These Jewish Americans’ ac- MONTH resentative HASTINGS served for 2 years complishments embody the positive as assembly president, while Rep- Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I values that form the foundation of our resentative HOYER, Representative wish to recognize and celebrate the shared culture and history. Our diver- ROBERT ADERHOLT of Alabama, and I month of May as Jewish American Her- sity makes the United States of Amer- have served as vice presidents. Senator itage Month. Since the founding of our ica strong, and Jewish Americans have WICKER currently serves as chairman of Nation, Jewish Americans have indeli- played an integral role in shaping and the assembly’s security committee. bly shaped American society. As a nurturing that diversity. Representative Hilda Solis of Cali- proud Jewish American, I am honored f fornia had served as a committee chair to have the opportunity to acknowl- and special representative on the crit- edge the outstanding contributions of THE MALMEDY MASSACRE ical issue of migration. Today, Rep- our vibrant community in the past, Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, today I resentative SMITH serves as a special present, and future. wish to honor the sacrifice of our sol- representative on similarly critical In the 109th Congress, Representative diers at the Malmedy massacre. issue of human trafficking, while I and then- As we prepare for Memorial Day, it is serve as special representative on anti- Senator Arlen Spector authored a con- important to remember the 87 Ameri- Semitism, racism, and intolerance. current resolution calling for a procla- cans who were killed in action during Our engagement in this activity as mation each year to observe American the Malmedy massacre and honor the elected Members of Congress reflects Jewish History Month. On April 20, brave few who survived this terrible or- the deep, genuine commitment of our 2006, President George W. Bush pro- deal. One of the survivors of this mas- country to security and cooperation in claimed that May 2006 would be Jewish sacre, Harold W. Billow, is a proud resi- Europe, and this rebounds to the enor- American Heritage Month. dent of Pennsylvania. mous benefit of our country. Our Jewish Americans have fought tire- On December 17, 1944, Mr. Billow and friends and allies appreciate our en- lessly to realize the American Dream Battery B, 285th Field Artillery Obser- gagement, and those with whom we and to enrich our society. Jewish vation Battalion were riding in a con- have a more adversarial relationship Americans have been instrumental in voy of vehicles towards the Belgian are kept in check by our engagement. I eliminating disease such as the polio town of St. Vith. The convoy was at- hope my colleagues would consider this epidemic, and they have split the atom. tacked outside of Malmedy by a Nazi point today, especially during a time These achievements and others too nu- SS unit called Kampfgruppe Peiper.

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