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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 479 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 479

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                       December 6, 2005
Whereas on October 23, 1956, university students marching through the streets of 
        Budapest were joined by workers and others until their numbers reached 
        some 100,000 Hungarian citizens protesting against the communist 
        government of Hungary and its domination by the Soviet Union, whereupon 
        the Hungarian Security Police opened fire on the crowd and killed 
        hundreds;
Whereas the Hungarian government under Prime Minister Imre Nagy released 
        political prisoners, including major church leaders, took steps to 
        establish a multi-party democracy, called for the withdrawal of all 
        Soviet troops from Hungary, announced Hungary's withdrawal from the 
        Warsaw Pact, and requested United Nations assistance in establishing 
        Hungarian neutrality;
Whereas the Soviet Union launched a massive military counteroffensive against 
        the revolt on November 4, 1956, sending tens of thousands of additional 
        troops from the Soviet Union and launched air strikes, artillery 
        bombardments and coordinated tank-infantry actions involving some 6,000 
        tanks which, remarkably, the outnumbered and under-equipped Hungarian 
        Army and Hungarian workers resisted for several days;
Whereas Prime Minister Imre Nagy was seized by Soviet security forces despite 
        assurances of safe passage for him to leave the Yugoslav Embassy in 
        Budapest where he sought asylum, and he was taken to Romania and was 
        subsequently tried and executed;
Whereas an estimated one thousand two hundred Hungarians were tried and executed 
        by the post-1956 Hungarian government;
Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hungarians fled their country in the aftermath of 
        the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and over 47,000 of 
        these people eventually were able to settle in the United States, where 
        they have contributed to the cultural diversity and the economic 
        strength of this country;
Whereas the uprising of the Hungarian people in 1956 dramatically confirmed the 
        widespread contempt in which the Hungarians held the Soviet Union and 
        the underlying weakness of the communist system imposed by Soviet 
        authorities in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the strength of 
        popular support for democratic principles and the right of the Hungarian 
        people to determine their own national destiny;
Whereas on October 23, 1989, the Republic of Hungary proclaimed its 
        independence, and in 1990 the Hungarian Parliament officially designated 
        October 23 as a Hungarian national holiday, indicating that the legacy 
        of the 1956 Revolution continues to inspire Hungarians to this day;
Whereas the people of Hungary are beginning a year-long celebration to mark the 
        50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956;
Whereas on March 12, 1999, the Government of Hungary, reflecting the will of the 
        Hungarian people, formally acceded to the North Atlantic Treaty and 
        became a member of NATO and on May 1, 2004, Hungary became a full member 
        of the European Union; and
Whereas Hungary and the United States continue to expand their friendship and 
        cooperation in all realms: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the people of Hungary as they mark the 50th anniversary 
        of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution which set the stage for the ultimate 
        collapse of communism in 1989 throughout Central and Eastern Europe, 
        including Hungary, and two years later in the Soviet Union itself;
            (2) expresses condolences to the people of Hungary for those who 
        lost their lives fighting for the cause of Hungarian freedom and 
        independence in 1956, as well as for those individuals executed by the 
        Soviet and Hungarian communist authorities in the five years following 
        the Revolution, including Prime Minister Imre Nagy;
            (3) welcomes the changes that have taken place in Hungary since 
        1989, believing that Hungary's integration into NATO and the European 
        Union, together with similar developments in the neighboring countries, 
        will ensure peace, stability, and understanding among the great peoples 
        of the Carpathian Basin; and
            (4) reaffirms the friendship and cooperative relations between the 
        governments of Hungary and the United States and between the Hungarian 
        and American people.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
```