Below, Gutierrez release....

Illinois Marks $15 Million U.S. Contribution to

Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation in Poland with Event at

Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Rep. Gutierrez Spearheaded Congressional Effort that

Resulted in State Department Grant

(Washington, D.C.) - Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez will join the Polish Consul General, the President of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, and Illinois leaders, dignitaries, Holocaust survivors, and Members of Congress at an event to mark a $15 million grant to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation to preserve the memory of the atrocities of the Holocaust. The grant, announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in July, resulted in part from a Congressional effort, led by Rep. Gutierrez, to urge the President and the Secretary to fund the preservation of the museum marking the epicenter of the Holocaust. Chicago area Members of Congress who supported Rep. Gutierrez in this effort include Reps. Daniel Lipinski, Mike Quigley, Bobby Rush, Jan Schakowsky, and Aaron Schock. In total, forty-five Members of Congress joined Rep. Gutierrez' effort to urge the President and Secretary of State to invest in the preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau site.

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2012, the U.S. Department of State will contribute $15 million over five years to a 120 million Euro endowment to safeguard and preserve the Auschwitz-Birkenau site. Many are already concerned that the site is the target of vandalism and that the buildings are falling into disrepair.

"The Holocaust was a crucial turning point in world history, but is also deeply connected to the history of the United States and to thousands and thousands of Chicagoland families," Rep. Gutierrez said. "I am pleased that the Obama administration followed through on our request and that the Polish Consul and the Illinois Holocaust Museum are joining us in acknowledging this investment in the world's collective ability to remember what happened and to ensure those atrocities never happen again."

This event is jointly hosted by the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago and the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

WHAT: Program to Acknowledge $15 Million U.S. State Department Grant to Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation

WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. CT

WHERE: Pritzker Hall of Reflection, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

(9603 Woods Dr, Skokie, Il 60077 - 847-967-4800)

SPEAKERS: Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, Member of Congress

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Member of Congress

Rep. Mike Quigley, Member of Congress

Zygmunt Matynia, Consul General in Chicago, Republic of Poland

Dan Elbaum, Regional Director, American Jewish Communities

Fritzie Fritzshall, Holocaust Survivor and President, Illinois Holocaust Musuem and Education Center

Richard S. Hirschhaut, Executive Director, Illinois Holocaust Musuem and Education Center, Master of Ceremonies

HONORED GUESTS:

American Jewish Committee

Anti-Defamation League

German Consul General in Chicago

Jewish United Fund

Kostiuszko Foundation-Polish Cultural Center

Polish American Association

Polish American Congress

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