[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 629--HONORING THE LIFE OF, AND EXPRESSING THE 
     CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE ON THE PASSING OF, BRONISLAW GEREMEK

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 629

       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was born on March 6, 1932, in 
     Warsaw, Poland;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek led the democratic movement in 
     Poland in the 1970s, with his moral clarity and perseverance;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was spirited out of the Warsaw 
     Ghetto at the age of 7 and survived the Second World War in 
     hiding from the Nazis;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was educated at the Faculty of 
     History at the University of Warsaw and the Ecole Pratique 
     des Hautes Etudes in Paris and the Polish Academy of 
     Sciences;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was a distinguished professor of 
     history and received honorary degrees from University of 
     Bologna, Utrecht University, the Sorbonne, Columbia 
     University, and Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was a member of the Academia 
     Europea, the PEN Club, and the Societe Europeene de Culture 
     and served as a visiting scholar at the Woodrow Wilson 
     International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian 
     Institution;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek joined the Gdansk workers' 
     protest movement and became one of the leaders of the 
     independent trade union ``Solidarity'' and chaired the 
     Program Commission of the First National Convention of 
     Solidarity in 1981;
       Whereas, in December 1981, Bronislaw Geremek was detained 
     for his involvement with Solidarity following the imposition 
     of martial law in Poland;
       Whereas, in his capacity as leader of the Commission for 
     Political Reforms of the Civic Committee, Bronislaw Geremek 
     worked to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in 
     Poland;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was a founder of the Democratic 
     Union, a member of the Sejm, the lower house of parliament in 
     Poland, and chairman of the Political Council of the Freedom 
     Union from 1989 to 2001;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was the Minister of Foreign 
     Affairs for Poland from 1997 to 2000 and was a courageous 
     advocate for democracy and human rights;
       Whereas, in March 1999, Bronislaw Geremek led efforts of 
     the Government of Poland to join the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization, saying that ``Poland returns to where she has 
     always belonged: the free world'';
       Whereas, in 2001, Bronislaw Geremek was elected to the 
     European Parliament, where he was a member of the Alliance of 
     Liberal and Democrats for Europe;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was a member of the Global 
     Leadership Foundation;
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek was a recipient of the Order of 
     the White Eagle, Poland's most prestigious decoration;
       Whereas, through his valiant and persistent efforts, 
     Bronislaw Geremek helped consolidate freedom in Eastern 
     Europe and open the door to strong relations with the United 
     States and the West;
       Whereas the bravery of Bronislaw Geremek gave hope to those 
     around the world in their own struggles with oppression and 
     tyranny; and
       Whereas Bronislaw Geremek made an invaluable contribution 
     to his community, to Poland, and the world: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the life and accomplishments of Bronislaw 
     Geremek and expresses its condolences on his passing; and
       (2) requests that the Secretary transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this resolution to the family of the deceased and to the 
     Ambassador of Poland to the United States.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to offer a resolution honoring 
the life of Bronislaw Geremek and expressing the condolences of the 
Senate on his death. I am pleased that Senator Biden has agreed to 
cosponsor this important resolution.
  Minister Geremek was a freedom fighter and a former Foreign Minister 
of Poland. He began his fight for freedom at age seven when he escaped 
the Warsaw Ghetto and successfully hid from the Nazis through the end 
of World War II.
  Minister Geremek went on to become a professor of history and 
received honorary degrees from such prestigious institutions as the 
Sorbonne and Columbia University. In the 1970s, he joined the Gdansk 
workers' protest movement in Soviet-controlled Poland. With unwavering 
conviction, he became a leader of the independent trade union 
``Solidarity'' and helped usher in a new era that led to the fall of 
the Soviet Union. His efforts gave hope to many across Eastern Europe 
and around the world struggling against tyranny and oppression. While 
he guided his nation towards democracy in Eastern Europe, the 
political, social, and economic ramifications of his efforts were felt 
across the world.
  On July 13, 2008, this statesman who helped vanquish communism in 
Europe unexpectedly passed away. His life's work gave millions of 
people the freedom to choose their government, their economy, and their 
livelihood. For his sacrifices to Poland, Europe, and the world, he 
deserves the honor and respect of the United States Senate and our 
Nation. I ask for the support of my colleagues in passing this 
important resolution celebrating the life of Bronislaw Geremek.

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