[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 579--DESIGNATING DECEMBER 13, 2006, AS A DAY OF 
REMEMBRANCE TO HONOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IMPOSITION OF MARTIAL 
               LAW BY THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IN POLAND

  Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Santorum) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 579

       Whereas, on May 9, 1945, Europe declared victory over the 
     oppression of the Nazi regime;
       Whereas Poland and other countries in Central, Eastern, and 
     Southern Europe soon fell under the oppressive control of the 
     Soviet Union;
       Whereas for decades the people of Poland struggled heroicly 
     for freedom and democracy against that oppression, paying at 
     times the ultimate sacrifice;
       Whereas, in 1980, the Solidarity Trade Union was formed in 
     Poland;
       Whereas membership in the Solidarity Trade Union grew 
     rapidly in size to 10,000,000 members, and the Union obtained 
     unprecedented moral power that soon threatened the Communist 
     government in Poland;
       Whereas, on December 13, 1981, the Communist government in 
     Poland crushed the Solidarity Trade Union, imprisoned the 
     leaders of the Union, and imposed martial law on Poland;
       Whereas, through his profound influence, Pope John Paul II 
     gave the people of Poland the hope and strength to bear the 
     torch of freedom that eventually lit up all of Europe;
       Whereas the support of the Polish-American community while 
     martial law was imposed on Poland was essential in 
     encouraging the people of Poland to continue to struggle for 
     liberty;
       Whereas the people of the United States were greatly 
     supportive of the efforts of the people of Poland to rid 
     themselves of an oppressive government;
       Whereas the people of the United States expressed their 
     support on Christmas Eve 1981 by lighting candles in their 
     homes to show solidarity with the people of Poland who were 
     suffering under martial law;
       Whereas, in 1989, the people of Poland finally won the 
     right to hold free parliamentary elections, which led to the 
     election of Poland's first Prime Minister during the post-war 
     era who was not a member of the Communist party, Mr. Tadeusz 
     Mazowiecki; and
       Whereas, in 2006, Poland is an important member of the 
     European Union, one of the closest allies of the United 
     States, a contributing partner in the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organisation, and a reliable partner in the war on terrorism 
     that maintains an active and crucial presence in Iraq and 
     Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates December 13, 2006, the 25th anniversary of 
     the imposition of martial law by the Communist government in 
     Poland, as a Day of Remembrance honoring the sacrifices paid 
     by the people of Poland during the struggle against Communist 
     rule;
       (2) honors the people of Poland who risked their lives to 
     restore liberty in Poland and to return Poland to the 
     democratic community of nations; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to remember 
     that the struggle of the people of Poland greatly contributed 
     to the fall of Communism and the ultimate end of the Cold 
     War.

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