Wexler Appointed by Secretary Clinton to US Delegation to Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets
Conference to take place from June 26 to June 30

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, was appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the United States Delegation to the Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets.  Leading the delegation will be Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, former Treasury Deputy Secretary and former Department of State Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, and Ambassador J. Christian Kennedy, Department of State Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues.  Other members of the delegation include Holocaust survivor and renowned author Ellie Wiesel and Holocaust Survivor Alex Moscovic of Hollywood, Florida.  Congressman Wexler is the lead sponsor of a Congressional Resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 89, that strongly supports the goals and objectives of the Prague Conference.

“I am honored to be part of the American delegation to the Prague Holocaust Era Assets Conference and look forward to working with American and international partners to ensure that the Conference is successful and addresses outstanding Holocaust-related issues.  It is my goal at the Conference to be as strong an advocate as possible for Holocaust Survivors in Florida and across the globe, and to make certain that healthcare and social needs of Survivors are a central focus of the Conference,” said Wexler.  “The Conference is also a critical opportunity to address anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial rhetoric.  I hope all Prague Conference participants will join me in condemning the deadly attack that took place last week at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.  This unconscionable attack is a reminder that the U.S., Europe, and the international community must educate their children about the horrors of the Holocaust and remain vigilant in combating anti-Semitism and hate.”

The Prague Conference will include representatives from 49 countries and take place in the Czech Republic from June 26-30, 2009.  Congressman Wexler will deliver a keynote speech at the Prague Conference on Monday, June 29.  The Prague Conference is a follow-up to the 1998 Holocaust Era Assets Conference that took place in Washington, D.C.

 The Conference will provide governments, non-governmental organizations, Holocaust survivors, and the international community with an historic opportunity to address a multitude of outstanding Holocaust-era related issues.  According to the Conference organizers, the Conference will focus on progress made since the 1998 Washington Conference in areas involving the recovery of looted art and objects of cultural, historical, and religious value and in areas involving property restitution, financial compensation schemes, and the social needs of Holocaust survivors.

Congressman Robert Wexler is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Recently, Congressman Wexler served as an advisor on Middle East issues to President Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.

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