IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 255 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States commitment 

to preservation of religious and cultural sites and condemning instances 

where sites are desecrated. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2007 

Mr. FERGUSON (for himself, Mr. CROWLEY, and Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United 

States commitment to preservation of religious and cultural sites and condemning instances where sites are 

desecrated. 

Whereas the Congress is committed to protecting and preserving the cultural heritage of all national, religious, and 

ethnic groups, including sacred sites of such groups, including cemeteries in the United States and abroad; 

Whereas the Holocaust annihilated much of Europe’s Jewish 

population and in many countries, none were left to care 

for the communal properties that represent a historic culture in the area and constitute an integral part of the 

Jewish religion; 


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•HCON 255 IH 

Whereas the Holocaust and 45 years of atheistic, Communist 

governments created a critical need that led to the establishment of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad; 

Whereas the United States Commission for the Preservation 

of America’s Heritage Abroad is tasked with identifying 

and reporting on cemeteries, monuments, and historic 

buildings in Eastern and Central Europe that are associated with the heritage of United States citizens and obtaining assurances from the governments of those regions 

that the properties will be protected and preserved; 

Whereas the United States Commission for the Preservation 

of America’s Heritage Abroad has in effect over 20 bilateral agreements between the United States and foreign 

governments assuring the protection and preservation of 

cultural property; 

Whereas many properties continue to be endangered and 

many governments and communities continue to face fundamental and compelling challenges in the preservation of 

these properties; 

Whereas the Congress is outraged that news reports indicate 

construction continues within the boundaries of the historic Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of 

Vilnius, Lithuania. 

Whereas cemeteries are sacred sites and are established to remain undisturbed in perpetuity, and the sanctity of a 

cemetery is determined by the bodies buried therein; 

Whereas, while vandalism of headstones or construction of a 

commercial building on the site disgraces the cemetery, 

it does not change its status; 


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•HCON 255 IH 

Whereas experts within Lithuania and from around the world 

community believe that the cemetery located in the 

Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, is a Jewish cemetery and is therefore sacred ground; 

Whereas the Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area 

of Vilnius, Lithuania, is known by scholars in Lithuania 

and around the world as the first Jewish cemetery in 

Vilnius and dates back to the 13th century, and it is believed that before the government closed the cemetery in 

the early 1800s, more than 50,000 Jews were buried 

there; 

Whereas the fact that the Government of Lithuania has allowed construction to take place at the Jewish cemetery 

located in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, and 

that desecration continues into the 21st century is an affront to the international Jewish community, the American people, and everyone who values religious freedom 

and ethnic diversity around the world; 

Whereas the failure of the Government of Lithuania to protect the Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of 

Vilnius, Lithuania, violates the October 15, 2002, bilateral agreement between Lithuania and the United States 

on the protection and preservation of certain cultural 

properties, including cemeteries; and 

Whereas specifically, Article 1 of the bilateral agreement 

states: ‘‘[E]ach party will take appropriate steps to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of all national, religious, or ethnic groups that reside or resided in its territory, including victims of genocide during the Second 

World War. The term ‘cultural heritage’ for purposes of 

this agreement means . . . cemeteries, and memorials to 

the dead . . .’’: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HCON 255 IH 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) expresses strong support for the work of the 

4 United States Commission for the Preservation of 

5 America’s Heritage Abroad and for the European 

6 countries that continue to work to preserve sacred 

7 historical sites, despite ongoing challenges; 

8 (2) expresses strong sentiments to the Govern9 ment of Lithuania that the people of the United 

10 States believe the Jewish cemetery located in the 

11 Snipiskes area of Vilnius, Lithuania, must not be 

12 further desecrated; 

13 (3) declares that constructive bilateral relations 

14 between Lithuania and the United States are impor15 tant to the governments, citizens, and shared agen16 das of both countries; and 

17 (4) declares that if the Government of Lith18 uania fails to immediately stop construction and pro19 tect the Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes 

20 area of Vilnius, Lithuania, it will jeopardize its im21 portant relationship with the United States and its 

22 standing in the international community. 

Æ 


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