The passage through Congress of the first resolution to recognise the existence of Jewish refugees from the Middle East has suffered a major setback with the death of one of its driving forces, Congressman Tom Lantos, yesterday.
Tom Lantos, 80, a champion of human rights worldwide and the only Holocaust survivor in Congress, had been suffering from cancer of the aesophagus. He was to have shepherded House resolution no. 185 through the Foreign Affairs Committee, of which he was chairman. The resolution was due for 'marking up' - a prelude to being voted on by the full House of Representatives - on the day he died. It is not clear what happens next.
Photograph of Tom Lantos courtesy of CNN
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