III 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 361 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 31, 2008 
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Commemorating Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery 
saved the lives of thousands during the Holocaust and 
remembering her legacy of courage, selflessness, and 
hope. 
Whereas on May 12, 2008, Irena Sendler, a living example 
of social justice, died at the age of 98; 
Whereas Irena Sendler repeatedly risked her own life to res-
cue over 2,500 Jewish children in Poland’s Warsaw ghet-
to from Nazi extermination during the Holocaust; 
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HCON 361 RFS 
Whereas inspired by her father, a physician who spent his ca-
reer treating poor Jewish patients, Irena Sendler dedi-
cated her life to others; 
Whereas Irena Sendler became an early activist at the start 
of World War II, heading the clandestine group Zegota 
and driving an underground movement that provided safe 
passage for Jews from the Warsaw ghetto, who were fac-
ing disease, execution, or deportation to concentration 
camps; 
Whereas Irena Sendler became one of Zegota’s most success-
ful workers, taking charge of the children’s division and 
using her senior position with the city’s welfare depart-
ment to gain access to and from the ghetto and build a 
network of allies to help ferry Jewish children from the 
Warsaw ghetto; 
Whereas Irena Sendler was arrested by the Gestapo on Octo-
ber 20, 1943, tortured, and sentenced to death by firing 
squad; 
Whereas Irena Sendler never revealed details of her contacts, 
escaped from Pawiak prison, and continued her invalu-
able work with Zegota; 
Whereas in 1965, Irena Sendler was recognized as ‘‘Right-
eous Among the Nations’’ by the Yad Vashem Holocaust 
memorial in Israel; 
Whereas in 2006, Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel 
Peace Prize; 
Whereas Irena Sendler was awarded the Order of the White 
Eagle, Poland’s highest civilian decoration; 
Whereas Irena Sendler’s life has been chronicled in the docu-
mentary film, ‘‘Tzedek: The Righteous’’ and ‘‘Life in a 
Jar’’, a play about her rescue efforts; 
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HCON 361 RFS 
Whereas Irena Sendler, a woman who risked everything for 
the lives of others and whose bravery is unimaginable to 
many of us, expressed guilt for not being able to do more 
for the Jewish people; and 
Whereas Americans, as well as the world community, are re-
minded not only of the horrible cruelty at the time of the 
Holocaust, but also the incredible difference one person 
can make by knowing Irena Sendler’s story: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) mourns the loss of Irena Sendler, a woman 
whose bravery and heroic efforts saved over 2,500 
Jewish children during the Holocaust; 
(2) pays its respect and extends its condolences 
to the Sendler family; 
(3) honors her legacy of courage, selflessness, 
and hope; and 
(4) remembers the life of Irena Sendler for her 
heroic efforts to save over 2,500 Jewish children 
during the Holocaust, and for her unwavering dedi-
cation to justice and human rights. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2008. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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