[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E201-E202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRESSMAN BENJAMIN A. GILMAN AWARDED COMMANDERS CROSS OF THE ORDER OF 
                     SERVICE OF THE POLISH REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call to the attention of my 
colleagues in this House the very high honor recently bestowed upon our 
colleague from New York, Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, the Chairman 
of the International Relations Committee. During a visit to Poland last 
month as head of a congressional delegation, Congressman Gilman was 
presented with the Commanders Cross of the Order of Service of the 
Republic of Poland by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Boleslaw 
Geremek. The award was made at the direction of the President of the 
Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski.
  The Order of Service is given to foreigners and to Polish citizens 
permanently resident abroad for distinguished service in support of 
cooperation between nations. The Commanders Cross is awarded to 
distinguished political leaders and leaders in the fields of culture, 
art, and science. The order was created by the Sejm (the Polish 
Parliament) in 1992. Previous recipients of this honor include Dr. 
Henry Kissinger, our former Secretary of State.
  The decision to decorate Congressman Gilman with the Commanders Cross 
of the Order of Service is a most appropriate recognition of his 
activities in support of cooperation between the United States and 
Poland, as well as cooperation with Poland and other countries of 
Central and Eastern Europe in their desire to be admitted to NATO. As 
the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations in the 104th 
and 105th Congress (since 1995) and as the Ranking Member of the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs during the 103rd Congress (1993-1994), 
Congressman Gilman was one of the leaders in the Congress in 
encouraging the expansion of NATO to encompass the newly democratic 
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland. Legislation 
that he introduced has provided important authorities to the 
Administration permitting the provision of assistance to these 
countries which have been proposed for membership in NATO, and the 
strong support in Congress for Congressman Gilman's legislation has 
been an important indicator of Congressional support for NATO 
expansion.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues in the Congress to join me in 
extending congratulations and best wishes to Ben Gilman for his 
receiving this most appropriate recognition of his outstanding 
contribution to the excellent relations between the United States and 
Poland.

[[Page E202]]



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