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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hr137ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 137

 Congratulating the Kalmyk community of the United States on the 50th 
  anniversary of their emigration to the United States from displaced 
              persons camps in Germany after World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 8, 2001

Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Cardin, 
    Mr. Wamp, and Mr. Hastings of Florida) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Congratulating the Kalmyk community of the United States on the 50th 
  anniversary of their emigration to the United States from displaced 
              persons camps in Germany after World War II.

Whereas the Kalmyk people have inhabited the Russia steppes--the vast arid lands 
        in the southern region of Russia--for hundreds of years;
Whereas the Kalmyk people were one of the seven ``punished peoples'' exiled en 
        masse to Siberia during World War II by Soviet leader Josef Stalin;
Whereas, while the Kalmyk people were in internal exile in the former Soviet 
        Union, they lost their citizenship and mention of their existence was 
        eradicated from Soviet newspapers and books, including reference books;
Whereas, following World War II, a group of approximately 800 Kalmyk people were 
        held in displaced persons camps in the Western zone of Germany until 
        1951;
Whereas on July 28, 1951, the Attorney General of the United States issued a 
        ruling clearing the way for the Kalmyk people in the displaced persons 
        camps in Germany to enter the United States;
Whereas in the fifty years that the Kalmyk emigres and their families have lived 
        in the United States they have survived and prospered, contributing to 
        American society;
Whereas the Kalmyk community, as the first community of Tibetan Buddhists to 
        settle in the United States, has sought to preserve their unique 
        culture, and many have continued to practice their Tibetan Buddhist 
        religion;
Whereas in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the participating countries specifically 
        consider the development of contacts to be ``an important element in the 
        strengthening of friendly relations and trust among people''; and
Whereas since the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, the Kalmyk community 
        of the United States has actively re-established contact with the Kalmyk 
        people in Russia and has developed a consistent exchange of students, 
        professionals, and relatives, thereby contributing to mutual 
        understanding between peoples and nations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the Kalmyk community of the United States 
        on the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the Kalmyk 
        community in this country; and
            (2) encourages the continued exchange of men and women of 
        various ages and with breadth of training and experience in the 
        interest of the Kalmyk people and the United States.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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