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 de-
mocracy, called for the withdrawal of all Soviet troops 
from Hungary, announced Hungary’s withdrawal from 
the Warsaw Pact, and requested United Nations assist-
ance in establishing Hungarian neutrality; 
Whereas the Soviet Union launched a massive military coun-
teroffensive against the revolt on November 4, 1956, 
sending tens of thousands of additional troops from the 
Soviet Union and launched air strikes, artillery bombard-
ments 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;
•HRES 479 EH 
Whereas Prime Minister Imre Nagy was seized by Soviet se-
curity 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 gov-
ernment; 
Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hungarians fled their country 
in the aftermath of the Soviet suppression of the Hun-
garian uprising, and over 47,000 of these people eventu-
ally were able to settle in the United States, where they 
have contributed to the cultural diversity and the eco-
nomic strength of this country; 
Whereas the uprising of the Hungarian people in 1956 dra-
matically confirmed the widespread contempt in which 
the Hungarians held the Soviet Union and the underlying 
weakness of the communist system imposed by Soviet au-
thorities 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 pro-
claimed its independence, and in 1990 the Hungarian 
Parliament officially designated October 23 as a Hun-
garian 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 Hun-
garian Revolution of 1956;
•HRES 479 EH 
Whereas on March 12, 1999, the Government of Hungary, 
reflecting the will of the Hungarian people, formally ac-
ceded to the North Atlantic Treaty and became a mem-
ber 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 com-
munism in 1989 throughout Central and Eastern Eu-
rope, including Hungary, and two years later in the So-
viet 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 Hun-
garian 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 integra-
tion 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
•HRES 479 EH 
(4) reaffirms the friendship and cooperative rela-
tions 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.