[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 579 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 579

Designating December 13, 2006 as a Day of Remembrance to honor the 25th 
     anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the Communist 
                         government in Poland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 21, 2006

  Ms. Mikulski (for herself and Mr. Santorum) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating December 13, 2006 as a Day of Remembrance to honor the 25th 
     anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the Communist 
                         government in Poland.

Whereas, on May 9, 1945, Europe declared victory over the oppression of the Nazi 
        regime;
Whereas Poland and other countries in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe soon 
        fell under the oppressive control of the Soviet Union;
Whereas for decades the people of Poland struggled heroicly for freedom and 
        democracy against that oppression, paying at times the ultimate 
        sacrifice;
Whereas, in 1980, the Solidarity Trade Union was formed in Poland;
Whereas membership in the Solidarity Trade Union grew rapidly in size to 
        10,000,000 members, and the Union obtained unprecedented moral power 
        that soon threatened the Communist government in Poland;
Whereas, on December 13, 1981, the Communist government in Poland crushed the 
        Solidarity Trade Union, imprisoned the leaders of the Union, and imposed 
        martial law on Poland;
Whereas, through his profound influence, Pope John Paul II gave the people of 
        Poland the hope and strength to bear the torch of freedom that 
        eventually lit up all of Europe;
Whereas the support of the Polish-American community while martial law was 
        imposed on Poland was essential in encouraging the people of Poland to 
        continue to struggle for liberty;
Whereas the people of the United States were greatly supportive of the efforts 
        of the people of Poland to rid themselves of an oppressive government;
Whereas the people of the United States expressed their support on Christmas Eve 
        1981 by lighting candles in their homes to show solidarity with the 
        people of Poland who were suffering under martial law;
Whereas, in 1989, the people of Poland finally won the right to hold free 
        parliamentary elections, which led to the election of Poland's first 
        Prime Minister during the post-war era who was not a member of the 
        Communist party, Mr. Tadeusz Mazowiecki; and
Whereas, in 2006, Poland is an important member of the European Union, one of 
        the closest allies of the United States, a contributing partner in the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and a reliable partner in the war on 
        terrorism that maintains an active and crucial presence in Iraq and 
        Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates December 13, 2006, the 25th anniversary of 
        the imposition of martial law by the Communist government in 
        Poland, as a Day of Remembrance honoring the sacrifices paid by 
        the people of Poland during the struggle against Communist 
        rule;
            (2) honors the people of Poland who risked their lives to 
        restore liberty in Poland and to return Poland to the 
        democratic community of nations; and
            (3) calls on the people of the United States to remember 
        that the struggle of the people of Poland greatly contributed 
        to the fall of Communism and the ultimate end of the Cold War.
                                 <all>