[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY OF POLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate the country of Poland and its citizens for their 
successful Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
  On October 23rd, a Conservative Law and Justice candidate Lech 
Kaczynski defeated Civic Platform candidate Donald Tusk in the 
Presidential Election runoff. A month earlier, in the Parliamentary 
elections, the Law and Justice Party won a plurality by capturing 27 
percent of the vote while the Civic Platform party garnered the 2nd 
highest amount at 24 percent.
  In addition to the remarkable political reform that has swept Poland 
over the last 15 years, there has been considerable economic progress 
as well. The Polish GDP continues to grow and because of its skilled 
workforce and a competitive free market economy, it has received 
significant foreign investment.
  Poland has been a strong ally to the United States in our war on 
terror and has provided considerable aid to the military and diplomatic 
efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, I am confident that when President-Elect Kaczynski is 
sworn in on December 23rd, U.S.-Polish relations will continue to grow 
and prosper under his leadership.

                          ____________________