IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 292 

Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 4, 2019 

Mr. HASTINGS (for himself and Mr. WATKINS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

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 particularly 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 important contributions in many fields including agriculture, 

art, crafts, literature, medicine, military service, music, 

sports, and science; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 292 IH 

Whereas, on April 8, 1971, the First World Romani Congress 

met in London, bringing Roma together from across Europe and the United States with the goal of promoting 

transnational cooperation among Roma in combating social marginalization and building a positive future for 

Roma everywhere; 

Whereas April 8 is therefore celebrated globally as International 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 interned 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 remember and teach about the genocide of Roma by Nazi Germany 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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) remembers the genocide of Roma by Nazi 

3 Germany and its Axis partners and commemorates 

4 the 75th anniversary of the destruction of the 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 292 IH 

1 ‘‘Gypsy Family Camp’’ where Romani people were 

2 interned at Auschwitz; 

3 (2) commends the United States Holocaust Me4 morial Museum for its role in promoting remem5 brance of the Holocaust and educating about the 

6 genocide of Roma; 

7 (3) supports International Roma Day as an op8 portunity to honor the culture, history, and heritage 

9 of the Romani people in the United States as part 

10 of the larger Romani global diaspora; and 

11 (4) welcomes the Department of State’s partici12 pation in ceremonies and events celebrating Inter13 national Roma Day and similar engagement by the 

14 United States Government. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS