Political Quotes

“I rise today to speak about S. Res. 124 that Senator Wicker and I introduced last year celebrating the heritage of Romani Americans. I applaud the passage of this resolution which was voted on favorably in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today and will now be moved to the Senate floor for consideration. This resolution is significant as it expresses remembrance for the genocide of the Roma by the Nazis, commends the work of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in promoting this remembrance and awareness, and further expresses support for the annual International Roma Day to honor the history, culture, and heritage of the Romani people in the United States. Roma have been part of every single wave of European migration to the United States from the Colonial period to today, and there are now an estimated 1 million Americans who have some Romani ancestry. S. Res. 124 is the first resolution considered in Congress to acknowledge Romani Americans and to celebrate their heritage and history. Its passage will be a milestone for this community. When Senator Wicker and I introduced S. Res. 124, we observed that Romani people enrich the fabric of our Nation and strengthen the transatlantic bond. The resolution mentions two dates of particular importance on both sides of the Atlantic. First, April 8 was the date of the first World Romani Congress, held near London.…”