[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E113-E114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF LECH WALESA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 1999

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lech Walesa, 1983 
Nobel Peace Prize winner, former President of Solidarity Union and the 
former President of Poland, on his visit to Cleveland.
  Mr. Walesa has been fighting for Democracy in Poland since he assumed 
the leadership of the independent trade union Solidarity in 1980. His 
rousing speech to striking workers from the top of a bulldozer began a 
social revolution and prompted talks with the government which resulted 
in legal recognition of Solidarity. After a military crackdown eighteen 
months later, which resulted in his spending a year in prison, Mr. 
Walesa continued his leadership of Solidarity underground. After his 
release, he returned to his mission of a Democratic Poland. He was 
awarded the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Mr. Walesa was also 
named Man Of The Year by Time magazine, The Financial Times, and The 
London Observer.
  In 1990, Mr. Walesa became the first democratically elected President 
of Poland. His leadership planted the seeds of freedom and democracy in 
Poland and ended Communist rule. After a term in office in which he set 
a path to secure Poland's commitment to a free

[[Page E114]]

market democracy and set a model for the rest of Eastern Europe to 
follow, he retired. Mr. Walesa now heads the Lech Walesa Institute 
whose goal is to advance the ideals of democracy throughout Eastern 
Europe.
  My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring Mr. Walesa for his 
long, hard struggle to bring democracy to the people of Poland.

                          ____________________