Document Download

FLOOR SITUATION
H.R. 3320 is being considered on the House floor under suspension of the rules and will require a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This legislation was introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) on August 2, 2007. The bill was sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and was ordered to be reported under suspension of the rules.

H.R. 3320 is expected to be considered on the House floor on November 13, 2007.


SUMMARY
H.R. 3320 authorizes the Secretary of State to provide $5,000,000 to the Museum for the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland to assist in the development of the permanent collection. This money will remain available until fully expended.


BACKGROUND
In 1996, Yeshayahu Weinberg, a founding director of Tel Aviv's Diaspora Museum and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, created an international team of experts with the goal of establishing a Museum of the History of Polish Jews. This museum will preserve and present the history of the Jewish people in Poland and the wealth of their culture spanning a period of 1,000 years.

In 1997, the City of Warsaw donated a parcel of land, opposite the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Memorial, for the explicit use for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

In 2005, the Government of Poland and the City of Warsaw agreed to provide 40,000,000 Polish zlotys (roughly $16 million in today’s dollar amount) for the construction of the museum.

The museum is currently in its final design phase.


COST
At the time of publication the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had not yet scored the legislation.

STAFF CONTACT
For questions or further information contact Luke Hatzis at (202) 226-2302.