House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Irena Sendler Resolution

HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE APPROVES
IRENA SENDLER RESOLUTION

Washington, D.C.–The House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously approved Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's (D-IL) resolution, H. Con. Res. 361, today honoring the life and heroism of Irena Sendler who recently passed away at the age of 98. Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker, repeatedly risked her own life to save 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust. Schakowsky's resolution currently has 60 cosponsors. The bipartisan resolution is expected to be voted on by the full House of Representatives in the next few weeks.

"I'm pleased that the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved my resolution today honoring Irena Sendler's amazing life. I hope the full House of Representatives will approve this resolution quickly so that we can pay proper tribute to Irena Sendler and her incredible story,... said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). "My resolution will not only commemorate Irena Sendler's life, but I hope it will also help inspire people to fight for human rights and social justice. Irena Sendler's heroic story stands as a testament to the human spirit because she was willing to risk everything to protect people that could not defend themselves....

Irena Sendler began her rescue efforts in 1940 when she disguised herself as a nurse to deliver food, clothes and medicine to Jews in the Warsaw ghetto. In 1942, Sendler joined the Polish underground organization Zegota, which provided safe passage for Jews who were facing disease, execution, or deportation to concentration camps. Sendler became one of Zegota's most successful workers and took charge of the children's division. Sendler logged the original names of every child she saved and buried a jar with the names in a friend's garden. In 1943, Sendler was arrested by the Gestapo and sentenced to death by a firing squad. Despite being tortured, Sendler never revealed the details of her rescue efforts or the names of the children she rescued. Sendler eventually escaped from prison and continued her invaluable work with Zegota. After the war, Sendler unearthed the jar to retrieve the names to reunite the 2,500 children with their families.

In 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Irena Sendler as "Righteous Among the Nations,... an honor given to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during Nazi rule. However, it would take another 38 years before her own country recognized her heroic efforts. In 2003, Sendler finally received the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian decoration. Sendler also received a personal letter from Pope John Paul II applauding her for her rescue efforts. Sender's life was chronicled in a documentary film and a play entitled "Life in a Jar.... In 2006, Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.