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) sub-
mitted 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 cul-
tural sites and condemning instances where sites are 
desecrated. 
Whereas the Congress is committed to protecting and pre-
serving the cultural heritage of all national, religious, and 
ethnic groups, including sacred sites of such groups, in-
cluding 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 cul-
ture 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 estab-
lishment of the United States Commission for the Preser-
vation 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 associ-
ated with the heritage of United States citizens and ob-
taining 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 bilat-
eral 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 fun-
damental 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 his-
toric Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of 
Vilnius, Lithuania. 
Whereas cemeteries are sacred sites and are established to re-
main 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 ceme-
tery 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 be-
lieved 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 al-
lowed 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 af-
front to the international Jewish community, the Amer-
ican people, and everyone who values religious freedom 
and ethnic diversity around the world; 
Whereas the failure of the Government of Lithuania to pro-
tect the Jewish cemetery located in the Snipiskes area of 
Vilnius, Lithuania, violates the October 15, 2002, bilat-
eral 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 pro-
tect and preserve the cultural heritage of all national, re-
ligious, or ethnic groups that reside or resided in its ter-
ritory, 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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