Nadler Statement on the Passing of Chairman Tom Lantos

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Congressman Tom Lantos, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

“Today, this Congress and this nation lost a great man.  I was deeply saddened to learn that my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from California, Congressman Tom Lantos, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only survivor of the Shoah to ever serve in the Congress, has passed.

“Throughout his life, Tom devoted himself to fighting for truth, justice and equality.  As a youth, he was a member of the anti-Nazi underground.  He survived the horrors of the Holocaust, saw evil firsthand and became a tireless advocate for human rights.

“He founded the Human Rights Caucus, and he guided the Foreign Affairs Committee to ensure that we would learn from the mistakes of history – that the oppressed must never be forgotten and that hatred must always be fought.  He was a staunch advocate for Israel and deeply committed to stopping anti-Semitism and hatred everywhere.  His life and his devotion should serve as an inspiration to us all.

“My thoughts and prayers – and the thoughts and prayers of a grateful nation – are with Tom’s family and friends during this sad time.”