IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 253 
Celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2021 
Mr. HASTINGS (for himself and Mr. MEEKS) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in ad-
dition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subse-
quently 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 particu-
larly 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 impor-
tant contributions in many fields, including agriculture, 
art, crafts, literature, medicine, military service, music, 
sports, and science; 
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•HRES 253 IH 
Whereas, on April 8, 1971, the First World Romani Congress 
met in London, bringing Roma together from across Eu-
rope and the United States with the goal of promoting 
transnational cooperation among Roma in combating so-
cial marginalization and building a positive future for 
Roma everywhere; 
Whereas April 8 is therefore celebrated globally as Inter-
national 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 in-
terned 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 many countries are taking positive steps to remem-
ber and teach about the genocide of Roma by Nazi Ger-
many 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) remembers the genocide of Roma by Nazi 
Germany and its Axis partners and commemorates 
the destruction of the ‘‘Gypsy Family Camp’’ where 
Romani people were interned at Auschwitz; 
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•HRES 253 IH 
(2) commends the United States Holocaust Me-
morial Museum for its role in promoting remem-
brance of the Holocaust and educating about the 
genocide of Roma; 
(3) supports International Roma Day as an op-
portunity to honor the culture, history, and heritage 
of the Romani people in the United States as part 
of the larger Romani global diaspora; and 
(4) welcomes the Department of State’s partici-
pation in ceremonies and events celebrating Inter-
national Roma Day and similar engagement by the 
United States Government. 
Æ 
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