[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 59 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______


                205TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLISH CONSTITUTION

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Polish-American community and Polish people around the world on a very 
important occasion in world history. May 3, 1996, marks the 205th 
anniversary of the adoption of Poland's first constitution.
  The concept of a constitutional democracy was introduced to Poland by 
Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. The 
similarities between the Constitution of the United States and Poland 
are numerous, including protection of sovereignty and national unity, 
securing of individual and religious freedom for all persons, 
separation of powers encompassed in the judicial, legislative, and 
executive branches, and power derived from the will of the people. 
These strong principles have endured in both countries, and has made 
Poland an independent nation and leader in Central-Eastern Europe.
  I am pleased to be able to join Senator Dole and my other Senate 
colleagues in cosponsoring Senate Joint Resolution 51 which 
commemorates this very important anniversary. My home State of Michigan 
has been blessed with a wonderful Polish-American community and I 
extend my warmest congratulations to them and to the national Polish-
American community on the commemoration of this anniversary.

                          ____________________