[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE 205TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLAND'S CONSTITUTION

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President. I rise today in support of Senate 
Joint Resolution 51, a resolution to commemorate the 205th anniversary 
of Poland's constitution. This resolution was introduced by my good 
friend, the distinguished Republican leader and senior Senator from 
Kansas, Bob Dole. The purpose of the resolution is to salute and 
congratulate Polish people around the world, including Americans of 
Polish descent, as on May 3, 1996 they commemorate the 205th 
anniversary of the first Polish constitution, to recognize the rebirth 
of Poland as a free and independent nation in the spirt of the 1791 
constitution, and to urge the people and state and local governments of 
the United States to observe this anniversary with appropriate 
ceremonies and activities.
  The Polish constitution of 1791 is closely related to our own 
constitution, because it was heavily influenced by a Polish hero of the 
American Revolution, General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who returned to his 
native land after the war, carrying with him the concepts we fought to 
establish and preserve in the revolution. While Poland enjoyed this new 
constitution for less than 2 years, it established principles and 
ideals that still live in modern Poland.
  Polish people have made major contributions to the United States in 
all fields of endeavor. The first manufacturing facility in America was 
established by a Pole in Jamestown, VA. The first institution of higher 
learning in New Amsterdam was established by Dr. Alexander Kurcyusz. In 
addition to General Kosciuszko, another famous Pole, Count Casimir 
Pulaski, aided our fight for independence from Great Britain. He is 
known as the ``Father of the American Cavalry'' because General 
Washington put him in charge of developing and leading that arm in the 
war. He had a brilliant career in the Continental Army. Unfortunately, 
he was mortally wounded in the siege of Savannah and later buried at 
sea.
  More modern Polish-Americans who made notable contributions range 
from Arthur Rubenstein to Stan Musial and Leon Jawarski. In every 
field, Polish-Americans worked hard to make America what it is today.
  New York is home to a great many Americans of Polish descent. Almost 
1.2 million New Yorkers claim a Polish heritage. According to the 
Census Bureau, about 17 percent of all U.S. residents who speak Polish 
at home live in New York.
  I am confident that our adoption of this resolution will be met with 
appreciation and that May 3 will be a date that will be met with 
appropriate celebration in the Polish-American community. I again 
express my strong support for this resolution and I urge my colleagues 
to vote for it.

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