[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2545-H2550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF POLAND
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1246) expressing sympathy to the people of
Poland in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash that killed the
country's President, First Lady, and 94 others on April 10, 2010.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1246
Whereas the Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other
people, including Poland's First Lady, deputy foreign
minister, deputy defense minister, dozens of members of
Parliament, the chiefs of the army and navy, and the
president of the national bank, were killed in a plane crash
in western Russia on April 10, 2010;
Whereas President Kaczynski and his colleagues were
traveling to Katyn, Russia for a memorial service to mark the
70th anniversary of the Soviet secret police killing of more
than 20,000 Polish officers, prisoners, and intellectuals who
were captured after the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939;
Whereas Ryszard Kaczorowski, who served as Poland's final
president in exile before the country's return to democracy,
perished;
Whereas Anna Walentynowicz, the former dock worker whose
firing in 1980 sparked the Solidarity strike that ultimately
overthrew the Polish communist government, was also killed in
the crash;
Whereas respected Chicago artist Wojciech Seweryn, whose
father was killed in Katyn, and who recently completed a
memorial to the victims of Katyn at St. Adalbert Cemetery in
Niles, Illinois, which Polish President Kaczynski planned to
visit in May, died in the crash as well;
Whereas Russia and Poland had begun to heal the deep wounds
from the Katyn tragedy, with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin recently joining Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a
ceremony marking the event at Katyn;
Whereas Prime Minister Putin, the first Russian leader ever
to attend the Katyn commemoration said ``we bow our heads to
those who bravely met death here'';
Whereas more than 9,000,000 Americans of Polish descent now
reside in the United States, including in major metropolitan
areas such as Chicago, Detroit, and New York City;
Whereas the American people stood in support of the
Solidarity movement as it fought against the oppression of
the Polish communist government through peaceful means,
eventually leading to Solidarity members being elected to
office in partially free democratic elections held on June 4,
1989;
Whereas Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) in 1999 and has since contributed to
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
Whereas the United States and Poland share a strong bond of
friendship and international cooperation: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) mourns the death of President Kaczynski and the
terrible loss of life that resulted from the plane crash of
April 10, 2010;
(2) expresses its deepest sympathies to the people of
Poland and the families of those who perished for their
profound loss;
(3) expresses strong and continued solidarity with the
people of Poland and all persons of Polish descent; and
(4) expresses unwavering support for the Polish government
as it works to overcome the loss of many key public
officials.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. DELAHUNT. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
I rise in strong support of this resolution, which expresses sympathy
for the people of Poland following the tragic plane crash last weekend
that killed their President and so many others.
I wish to thank my colleagues and friends, Representatives
Dahlkemper, Kanjorski, and Lipinski for quickly preparing a text that
enables this House to add its voice to the condolences being expressed
around the world on this sad occasion.
Last Saturday we woke to the terrible news of a plane crash in
western Russia. This accident took the lives of Polish President Lech
Kaczynski, his wife, the deputy foreign minister, the deputy defense
minister, the chiefs of the army and navy, the president of the
national bank, dozens of members of parliament, as well as civilian and
military staff.
Today, the House mourns the death of President Kaczynski and his
colleagues. We express our deepest sympathies to the people of Poland
as well to the families who have suffered such a grievous loss. We
think, too, of the millions of Americans who claim Polish ancestry, as
we know their hearts are also heavy.
We pledge to stand by the Polish Government as it seeks to
reconstitute itself and reaffirm our enduring friendship for Poland.
Madam Speaker, what makes this accident even more tragic is that it
occurred as President Kaczynski's delegation was traveling to
commemorate one of the most brutal events of World War II--the
execution of more than 20,000 Polish officers, prisoners, and
intellectuals in Katyn Forest by the Soviet Secret Police in 1939.
Earlier in the week, there were encouraging signs that Poland and
Russia were beginning to heal the deep wounds caused by these horrific
wartime events. Russian Prime Minister Putin joined Poland Prime
Minister Donald Tusk at a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of this
massacre--the first time a Russian leader has ever participated in this
memorial.
The Russian people have been very supportive and responsive in the
wake of the disaster, with Prime Minister Putin personally heading the
inquiry into the crash.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the International Relations
Committee of the Russian State Duma--described the death of the Polish
President as a great tragedy for both the Polish and the Russian
peoples. Observing that both countries were mourning together, he
solemnly noted, and these are his words: ``Katyn took some more
victims.''
If anything positive is to come from these tragic deaths, it may be
the development of closer ties between these two nations and their
citizens.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1430
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I am saddened by the need for this resolution. The
death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and 94 other
Polish officials and citizens in the plane crash in Russia on April 10
was sudden, unexpected, and truly a tragedy for the nation of Poland.
We have all seen the outpouring of grief and tributes since then by
the citizens of Poland in support and in honor of their late President
and all who died with him.
There is little that we can here do today to add to the honors
bestowed upon the departed by their very own countrymen, but we can,
however, offer our condolences to the strong and proud nation of
Poland, which has been and remains a friend and an ally of the United
States.
Despite the loss of their President, we can be certain that the
Polish people will continue on the road toward democracy, prosperity,
and security, the road that they have traveled since they broke free of
the grip of Communist authoritarian rule in 1989.
[[Page H2546]]
How proud we were, when they regained their freedom, that America has
stood by the people of Poland during those times when they suffered
under a Communist dictatorship and domination by the former Soviet
regime in Moscow. Similarly, the people of Poland now offer their
solidarity with those who seek freedom in my native homeland of Cuba.
Having suffered in the not-too-distant past under the crushing yoke of
the Soviet regime, many in Poland sadly know all too well the struggles
that the people of Cuba face each and every day under the stranglehold
of the Cuban dictatorship.
Poland's support for human rights and democracy in Cuba illustrates
it has not forgotten its past suffering nor the strength that it
received from the solidarity of others. And how proud we are today that
Poland has become an important member of both the North Atlantic
Alliance and the European Union and that it has become a strong voice
for those countries in Eastern Europe that are working to ensure that
they never again fall victim to the domination by a more powerful
neighboring state.
President Kaczynski was, in fact, an important leader in an effort to
ensure that the hard-won liberty and democracy today enjoyed by Poland
and other nations of Eastern Europe is not bartered away. He recognized
the temptations faced by other European states which eagerly expand
their commercial and military exports to Russia while increasing their
reliance on energy supplies from Russia. He would not succumb to those
Russian manipulations and coercions.
The late Polish President was a voice that may have been unwelcome
among some in the councils in Brussels, but it was a voice that was
heeded.
Moreover, Madam Speaker, under his leadership, Poland continued as a
strong friend and a staunch ally of the United States, supporting
military operations against extremists in Iraq and in Afghanistan,
supporting America's efforts to create long-range missile defenses for
both Europe and the United States, participating as a full partner in
NATO, and supporting the expansion of democracy everywhere.
There are those in Europe who, while enjoying the security commitment
provided by the United States through NATO, nevertheless feel free to
criticize America's initiatives to fight extremism and address threats
around the world. President Kaczynski was not one of those voices. In
fact, during his trip to the United States 3 years ago, he made a
special trip to visit the Reagan Library as a sign of his country's
appreciation for our former President's leadership in the efforts to
free his country from Communist domination. President Kaczynski valued
this support and offered Poland's support in return.
Madam Speaker, we express our condolences to the people of Poland on
the loss of their President, his wife, and so many of the leading
officials and countrymen. At this time, and in the future, America will
forever remain a friend of Poland.
With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to one of the original
sponsors of this resolution, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs.
Dahlkemper).
Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. I thank the gentleman; and I want to thank the
leadership for allowing myself and my colleagues, Mr. Lipinski and Mr.
Kanjorski, to bring forward this very important but very sad
resolution.
It is with a very heavy heart today that I rise to offer House
Resolution 1246 expressing sympathy to the people of Poland in the
aftermath of the tragic plane crash that killed the country's
President, First Lady, and 94 others on April 10, 2010. President Lech
Kaczynski, his wife Maria, Poland's army chief, navy chief commander,
governor of the Polish central bank, other lawmakers, aides, and state
officials were lost when their plane crashed in Western Russia.
The delegation was traveling to a memorial service to honor 22,000
Polish officers killed in Russia's Katyn forest by the Soviet secret
police in 1940.
We offer our condolences and sympathy to the Polish people and Polish
Americans as we mourn the loss of President Kaczynski, his wife, and
other great leaders lost in this tragedy.
President Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman and leader in the
Solidarity movement. He will be long remembered for his commitment to
freedom, democracy, and human dignity.
Today, we stand in solidarity with more than 38 millions Poles in
Poland and 9 million Americans of Polish descent now residing in the
United States, including more than 14,000 Polish Americans in my
hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. Polish Americans have made great
contributions to our Nation's livelihood and culture, and we are
grateful for their presence in the United States.
Our hearts go out to our Polish brothers and sisters across the globe
who share in this horrible loss. In this time of mourning, let us
remember the words of St. Peter, ``And the God of all grace, who called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little
while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and
steadfast.''
I urge my colleagues to stand in solidarity with Poland and support
our resolution.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield
such time as he may consume to our esteemed colleague, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Poe), a wonderful member of our Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the ranking member for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I also rise today to join all my colleagues in
mourning the death of President Lech Kaczynski and many others who died
in that plane crash on April 10, 2010. Poland lost some of its most
famous political figures. They were heroes among the Polish people. The
95 people that died that day included the President, a very pro-U.S.
and anti-Soviet individual, and his wife and numerous other political
government officials.
It's interesting to note why so many officials were going to Russia,
why they were on that particular plane headed to a specific event.
Well, that Polish delegation was traveling to Russia to commemorate the
70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.
On September 17, 1939, the Red Army invaded the territory of Poland
from the east. They captured hundreds of thousands of Poles and
deported them to prisoner of war camps in the western Soviet Union.
Once at the camps, the Poles were subjected to lengthy
interrogations; and if the prisoners could not be induced to adopt a
pro-Soviet attitude, they were declared ``hardened and uncompromising
enemies of Soviet authority.''
So on March 5, 1940, Joseph Stalin and three of his henchmen signed
an order to execute over 20,000 prisoners, all Poles, to weaken any
future Polish military. In the Katyn forest, Soviet secret police
executed more than 20,000 Polish nationals who were mainly officers in
the Polish military.
And beginning on April 3, the killings were methodical. After a
condemned person's information was checked, that individual was
handcuffed and led to a secret cell that was insulated with felt to
make sure that no noise could come from that cell. The sounds were also
masked by the operation of loud machines that were working in the
factories. And after being taken to the cell, the victim was
immediately shot in the back of the head. His body was taken out
through the opposite door in the cell and laid in one of the five or
six waiting trucks, whereupon the next condemned Pole was taken inside
and the same procedure was methodically followed again.
This occurred over 20,000 times; and the procedure went on every day,
every night, except, ironically, for the May Day celebration. In the
end, those 20,000 POWs and prisoners were executed without a trial,
just a summary judgment.
Those who died at the Katyn include an admiral, two generals, 24
colonels, 79 lieutenant colonels, 258 Polish majors, 654 captains, 17
naval captains, over 3,000 noncommissioned officers. It included even
seven chaplains, three landowners, a prince, 43 public officials, 85
privates, and 131 other refugees.
Also among the dead were 20 university professors, 300 doctors,
several hundred lawyers, engineers, teachers, and more than 100 writers
and journalists, as well as about 200 pilots, all
[[Page H2547]]
leaders in the Polish community. The effort of the Soviet Union was to
destroy those leaders and destroy Poland as well. These were all Poles,
all victims of the terror of communism.
For over half a century, Moscow even denied this ever occurred. The
Soviet government had suppressed all the information about the
shootings and blamed it on the Nazis. In 1992, Russia finally released
the documents showing that the entire Politburo, including Joseph
Stalin, signed an order dated March, 1940, to kill these Polish
officers.
Poland had a rough history in the last century. They were invaded by
the Nazis, and many of the Poles were taken to Germany and died in
concentration camps. And then the Soviets invaded the same country
trying to drive out the Nazis; and they, too, took many Poles and put
them in concentration camps, where many of them died.
In the United States, we celebrate the end of World War II in 1945,
but the Poles, they don't celebrate the end of World War II in 1945.
They celebrate it in 1989, when the wall finally fell and the Soviets
left town. It was a long war for our friends in Poland.
So now, Madam Speaker, we know the rest of the story and why
President Kaczynski and so many Poles were on that plane that crashed
in Russia. Now they, too, ironically, have died on the same land where
thousands of other Poles died over 70 years ago.
It is appropriate today that we pay homage to all of those Poles who
have lived and died in a quest for Polish liberty, those Poles who have
always been an ally of the United States, and we grieve while they
grieve in Poland.
And that's just the way it is.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to another original
sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).
Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise to share my deepest sympathies
and solemn condolences with the people of Poland and all those who are
impacted by this tragic plane crash. President Kaczynski will be deeply
missed. He was determined to ensure the strength, prosperity, and
sovereignty of Poland and was a strong ally of the United States.
{time} 1445
Chicago also mourns the loss of one of our own, Wojciech Seweryn, who
perished in the crash.
The Polish and American people have long shared a deep attachment to
the values of freedom and independence. Today, with over 9 million
people of Polish ancestry in the U.S., including roughly 1 million in
Illinois, Poland remains one of America's closest allies. Our two
nations continue to cooperate closely on issues of national security,
regional and global security, democratization, and human rights. Our
friendship and partnership have been and will continue to be steadfast.
Nothing we say today will make up for the tremendous loss that Poland
has suffered and continues to grieve. However, as a proud Polish
American, I hope that by sharing our own grief, sympathy, and unity
with the Polish people, we will be able to help them gather the resolve
and strength needed to get through such difficult times.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I know that Mr. Delahunt has about
10 speakers, so I'm going to continue to reserve for a while.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the dean of the
House, Chairman John Dingell.
(Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I commend, congratulate, and thank my
good friends on the committee for their kindness, and I thank my good
friend from Massachusetts for yielding this time to me.
I rise in strong support of the resolution expressing the sympathy of
the United States for the people of Poland in the aftermath of the
tragic plane crash that killed the country's President, First Lady, and
94 other Poles. My thoughts and prayers are with the Polish people at
this difficult time.
As an American of Polish descent, proud of my heritage, I grieve at
this loss. And what a sad time it occurs when the Poles were going to
Smolensk, Russia to commemorate the killing of 20,000 Polish officers
and intelligentsia under the direct orders of the Soviet dictator,
Joseph Stalin.
I am grieving about the situation in Poland, but I am proud that the
Polish people have established a democracy which is not only a friend
of the United States, but which is able to survive these difficult
times and maintain not only its friendship for America, but its
leadership in the world and its superb work in maintaining a democracy
for which the Poles have yearned so long.
Mr. DELAHUNT. I thank the gentleman.
I now yield to the Speaker of the House, the gentlelady from
California (Ms. Pelosi).
Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank Mr.
Delahunt and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for giving us this opportunity
to come to the floor to express our sympathy to the people of Poland.
Our country is blessed with many Polish Americans. It is a blessing
to our country. They are mourning this loss, and all Americans join
them. And today, Congress officially joins in that mourning.
The United States and, indeed, the entire world mourn the loss of
President Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynski and all who perished
in last weekend's tragic crash. The United States stands with our
friend and ally and the people of Poland as they grieve the loss of
their President and First Lady, the Chiefs of the Army and Navy, the
President of the National Bank, the Deputy Foreign Minister, and dozens
of other Cabinet officials and members of Parliament.
The scope of this tragedy is indescribable, the pain of the loss is
unimaginable, and our thoughts and prayers rest with the families,
friends, and loved ones of the victims. Their loss strikes a blow to
the hearts of Polish citizens, all Polish Americans--my nieces are
Polish American--and all who believe in a future of peace and
prosperity for Poland and for every nation.
I would like to talk about the President. Few leaders have proven
greater champions of progress in human dignity than President
Kaczynski. He was a true advocate of liberty for Poland, for Poland's
families, workers, and citizens. His life was defined by a long
struggle for freedom and by the ultimate victory of democracy and human
rights.
As a leader in the Solidarity movement, he helped turn the tides of
history against the tyranny and oppression of communist rule. As Mayor
of Warsaw and as President of Poland, he worked to make the promise of
a more just future a reality for the Polish nation. Together with so
many who lost their lives in the tragedy, President Kaczynski sought to
rebuild Poland, to make his country safer and more secure, and to write
a new chapter for future generations.
Again, as I say, we have been blessed in our country with a strong
Polish American community, and I know all of them join us in this
resolution which remembers the lives lost in this horrible tragedy: the
President; so many Polish military and political leaders, past and
present; and distinguished citizens. It recalls the life of Poland's
final President in exile who led the charge to close the doors of
political oppression and open an age of democratic freedom.
This resolution honors the life of a former dock worker whose actions
ignited the Solidarity movement that changed the course of Polish
history. The resolution reminds us of a Polish American artist from
Chicago who just finished a memorial to the victims of the Katyn
massacre, where his own father had perished.
The United States Congress joins Poland and countries across the
globe in mourning the death of such extraordinary leaders. In the words
of this resolution, we express strong and continued solidarity with the
people of Poland and all persons of Polish descent. And we are so
blessed that the dean of our delegation in the Congress, Mr. Dingell,
shares that honor and brings luster to his Polish heritage, as well as
other Members of our Congress as well. And the resolution offers our
unwavering support for the Polish Government as it works to overcome
the loss of many key officials. Let us strive to live up to their
legacy of hope for a brighter future for Poland, Europe, and all
humanity.
This morning, I had the privilege of joining Congresswoman Marcy
Kaptur--and Congressman Mike Quigley
[[Page H2548]]
was there before us--and other Members who have gone to the Polish
Embassy to sign the book of condolences. We are very proud that in
doing so we joined President Barack Obama, who had earlier, a few days
ago, signed that book. I know it is a comfort to the people of Poland.
Ambassador Kupiecki, who may be with us here or shortly will join us in
the gallery, told us how the people of Poland were so pleased and
comforted by the fact that President Obama would be attending the
funeral in Poland on Sunday. He will bring with him all the sympathy of
the American people and all of the prayers to help mourn the loss that
the people have suffered.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman and Madam Ros-Lehtinen, for giving us
the opportunity to share our grief over this terrible loss.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that for the
remainder of our time Judge Poe be allowed to manage our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Quigley).
Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, last night I spoke of the great tragedy
that has befallen Poland. Today I rise to honor a great man, artist,
and activist who was also killed in the crash that took Poland's
President and 95 others. One of my constituents, Wojciech Seweryn, was
aboard the plane on his way to participate in the commemorative events
planned to honor those 20,000 Poles who died some 70 years ago.
A Polish artist and influential member of Chicago's Polish community,
Mr. Seweryn's father died at Katyn, and Seweryn himself spearheaded the
construction of a memorial to the event in a cemetery in Niles,
Illinois. Seweryn was on hand last year when the monument was
dedicated, as he was at many important events in Chicago's Polish
community.
Poles in Chicago make up the largest ethnically Polish population of
any city outside of Poland, second only to Warsaw, the capital of
Poland. The Polish American community will undoubtedly struggle to fill
the void left by many, but particularly Mr. Seweryn and all those lost
a few short days ago.
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentlelady
from New York (Ms. Velazquez).
(Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the
resolution. All of us mourn the loss of those who helped spread the
light of freedom during the Cold War.
Our Nation enjoys deep ties to Poland. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in my
district, has one of the most vibrant Polish American communities in
the Nation. During the 1980s, many Poles took refuge in this Little
Poland when martial law was imposed against Solidarity back home.
Just 2 years ago, President Kaczynski came to Greenpoint. He
worshipped in our churches. He met with local leaders, and he visited
with the people of Little Poland. His trip there was an inspiring
moment for many New Yorkers. Today there are heavy hearts in
Greenpoint, as there are in Polish American communities throughout the
Nation.
In coming weeks, the Polish people will grieve their loss. We join
them in mourning, but we can be comforted that Poland will recover,
carry forward, and grow stronger.
The fact that this crash occurred while traveling to a ceremony for
another tragedy is a sad irony; however, it also reminds us of the
Polish people's strength in the face of adversity. That unyielding
spirit shall remain an important part of Poland's identity and of her
many sons and daughters who reside in the United States.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Ohio, Representative Kucinich.
Mr. KUCINICH. Thank you very much, Mr. Delahunt.
On Saturday, I received a call from the leader of Cleveland's Polish
community, John Borkowski, who informed me of the tragedy that befell
the nation of Poland.
Cleveland has a very large Polish American community, which is very
proud of its heritage and very involved in promoting the social and
cultural aspects of the Polish ethnic heritage. The loss of the
humblest citizen on that plane was a great tragedy for Poland. The
total loss is a tragedy of monumental proportions.
I am glad to see the United States Congress recognizing the tragedy
that has befallen the Polish people and also joining in in mourning the
loss of President Kaczynski, the First Lady, and 94 others.
I would like to insert in the Record a column by Roger Cohen that I
think puts an appropriate frame on this important discussion today in
which we recognize the grief of the Polish people and show solidarity
with them.
Finally, I would just like to say, niech zyje Polska--long live
Poland.
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my strong support of and condolences
for the people of Poland as they mourn the loss of their President,
Lech Kaczynski, the First Lady, and 94 others after a tragic plane
crash this past Saturday.
In addition to President Kaczynski, his wife, and key public
officials, prominent figures in Polish history perished in the plane
crash as well--former labor leaders, intellectuals, and historians--
figures that shaped Polish history, revolutionized Polish political
discourse, and preserved Polish heritage.
In cruel irony, they were traveling to Russia to commemorate the 1940
Katyn massacre when 20,000 Polish prisoners--including Army officers
and the leading Polish intellectuals of the time--were brutally
murdered by Soviet Forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin was to join
the Polish delegation in their commemoration of the massacre, the first
time a high-ranking Russian official has done so since the massacre
occurred 70 years ago.
Roger Cohen, writing yesterday in the New York Times, remarked,
``Poland should shame every nation that believes peace and
reconciliation are impossible, every state that believes that sacrifice
of new generations is needed to avenge the grievances of history . . .
It is Poland that is now at peace with its neighbors and stable. It is
Poland that has joined Germany in the European Union. So do not tell me
that cruel history cannot be overcome.''
Let us use this unimaginable tragedy to follow Poland's example to
promote peace, reconciliation, and diplomacy in the world.
[From the New York Times, Apr. 13, 2010]
The Glory of Poland
(By Roger Cohen)
New York.--My first thought, hearing of the Polish tragedy,
was that history's gyre can be of an unbearable cruelty,
decapitating Poland's elite twice in the same cursed place,
Katyn.
My second was to call my old friend Adam Michnik in Warsaw.
Michnik, an intellectual imprisoned six times by the former
puppet-Soviet Communist rulers, once told me:
``Anyone who has suffered that humiliation, at some level,
wants revenge. I know all the lies. I saw people being
killed. But I also know that revanchism is never ending. And
my obsession has been that we should have a revolution that
does not resemble the French or Russian, but rather the
American, in the sense that it be for something, not against
something. A revolution for a constitution, not a paradise.
An anti-utopian revolution. Because utopias lead to the
guillotine and the gulag.''
Michnik's obsession has yielded fruit. President Lech
Kaczynski is dead. Slawomir Skrzypek, the president of the
National Bank, is dead. An explosion in the fog of the forest
took them and 94 others on the way to Katyn. But Poland's
democracy has scarcely skipped a beat. The leader of the
lower house of Parliament has become acting president pending
an election. The first deputy president of the National Bank
has assumed the duties of the late president. Poland, oft
dismembered, even wiped from the map, is calm and at peace.
``Katyn is the place of death of the Polish
intelligentsia,'' Michnik, now the soul of Poland's
successful Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, said when I reached him
by phone. ``This is a terrible national tragedy. But in my
sadness I am optimistic because Putin's strong and wise
declaration has opened a new phase in Polish-Russian
relations, and because we Poles are showing we can be
responsible and stable.''
Michnik was referring to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's
words after he decided last week to join, for the first time,
Polish officials commemorating the anniversary of the murder
at Katyn of thousands of Polish officers by the Soviet Union
at the start of World War II. Putin, while defending the
Russian people, denounced the ``cynical lies'' that had
hidden the truth of Katyn, said ``there is no justification
for these crimes'' of a ``totalitarian regime'' and declared,
``We should meet each other halfway, realizing that it is
impossible to live only in the past.''
The declaration, dismissed by the paleolithic Russian
Communist Party, mattered
[[Page H2549]]
less than Putin's presence, head bowed in that forest of
shame. Watching him beside Poland's prime minister, Donald
Tusk, I thought of Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl hand-
in-hand at Verdun in 1984: of such solemn moments of
reconciliation has the miracle of a Europe whole and free
been built. Now that Europe extends eastward toward the
Urals.
I thought even of Willy Brandt on his knees in the Warsaw
Ghetto in 1970, a turning point on the road to a German-
Polish reconciliation more miraculous in its way even than
the dawning of the post-war German-French alliance. And
now perhaps comes the most wondrous rapprochement, the
Polish-Russian.
It is too early to say where Warsaw-Moscow relations are
headed but not too early to say that 96 lost souls would be
dishonored if Polish and Russian leaders do not make of this
tragedy a solemn bond. As Tusk told Putin, ``A word of truth
can mobilize two peoples looking for the road to
reconciliation. Are we capable of transforming a lie into
reconciliation? We must believe we can.''
Poland should shame every nation that believes peace and
reconciliation are impossible, every state that believes the
sacrifice of new generations is needed to avenge the
grievances of history. The thing about competitive
victimhood, a favorite Middle Eastern pastime, is that it
condemns the children of today to join the long list of the
dead.
For scarcely any nation has suffered since 1939 as Poland,
carved up by the Hitler-Stalin nonaggression pact,
transformed by the Nazis into the epicenter of their program
to annihilate European Jewry, land of Auschwitz and Majdanek,
killing field for millions of Christian Poles and millions of
Polish Jews, brave home to the Warsaw Uprising, Soviet pawn,
lonely Solidarity-led leader of post-Yalta Europe's fight for
freedom, a place where, as one of its great poets, Wislawa
Szymborska, wrote, ``History counts its skeletons in round
numbers''--20,000 of them at Katyn.
It is this Poland that is now at peace with its neighbors
and stable. It is this Poland that has joined Germany in the
European Union. It is this Poland that has just seen the very
symbols of its tumultuous history (including the Gdansk dock
worker Anna Walentynowicz and former president-in-exile
Ryszard Kaczorowski) go down in a Soviet-made jet and
responded with dignity, according to the rule of law.
So do not tell me that cruel history cannot be overcome. Do
not tell me that Israelis and Palestinians can never make
peace. Do not tell me that the people in the streets of
Bangkok and Bishkek and Tehran dream in vain of freedom and
democracy. Do not tell me that lies can stand forever.
Ask the Poles. They know.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
(Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
{time} 1500
Mr. PASCRELL. The very people who stand on this floor today spoke
with us, Mr. Delahunt, 10 years ago, when we fought to make sure that
Poland was a member of NATO. Ironically, as you stand to manage the
resolution, House Resolution 1246, your career has been filled with
building bridges between communities. This tragedy is ironic in that,
hopefully, it will lead--and the signs are there--to greater
relationships between Russia and Poland.
Madam Speaker, Poland is our ally. In Saint John Kanty church in
Clifton--in my district--and members in Passaic, in Wallington and in
Garfield, there are Polish Americans who send out their deepest
sympathies to the families.
Picture the President of the United States, God forbid, and his
family and all of the dignitaries of the government--the FBI, the head
of the CIA--going to the 9/11 commemoration in New York City and the
plane's going down and the whole government wiped out. This is the
magnitude that we are looking at today. Our prayers go to the Polish
people. We are all Poles today, and until all of these folks are
buried, we wish them the best and their families the best.
In closing, this is a very special friend of the United States of
America.
Polish Outreach Letter
I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic plane crash
on April 10, 2010 that took the lives of 97 people, including
high ranking Polish government officials, dignitaries,
military leaders, President Lech Kaczynski and his wife,
Maria Kaczynska. President Kaczynski served the Polish nation
admirably, from his election as Mayor of Warsaw in 2002, to
his Presidential election in 2005. He worked tirelessly for
the people of Poland. His fight for freedom and democracy in
Poland made him a great ally for the United States.
My deepest condolences go out to the Polish people, as well
as the Polish-American community during this time of
mourning. The tragic events of last week are made even more
poignant by the location of the crash site, as the flight was
en route to Smolensk Air Base in Russia to commemorate the
70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre. The massacre of
20,000 Polish military officers in 1940 still resonates as
one of history's worst wartime atrocities. This horrific
event is magnified by the sudden loss of relatives of
massacre victims who were on board the flight traveling to
commemorate the anniversary.
Remembering the Katyn Massacre and Poland's wartime
contributions is why I am a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 715,
recognizing the 70th anniversary of the Soviet and Nazi
invasion of Poland and the pivotal role Poland has assumed at
freedom's edge since gaining independence. This resolution
commends the people of Poland for their historic struggle
against communism and fascism, recognizes our continued
friendship with our Polish allies and honors the historic
ties between the United States and Poland.
As you know, I am deeply committed to serving my many
constituents in the Polish-American Community. Please be
assured that I will continue to work hard to foster
relationships between our two nations, and to represent the
Polish American community in New Jersey. Please count on me
if ever I may assist you regarding any federal matter. I
would like to remind you that my website,
www.pascrell.house.gov is frequently updated and provides a
good way to communicate with me.
Sincerely,
Bill Pascrell, Jr.,
Member of Congress.
Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to a distinguished
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentlewoman from Nevada
(Ms. Berkley).
Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for giving me this time to offer
my condolences to the people of Poland.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with Polish Americans, with our
Nation and, indeed, with the whole world in expressing our deepest
sympathies to the people of Poland following this weekend's tragedy
that killed their President, the First Lady and a number of other
Polish military and civic leaders and dignitaries. We remember these
men and women who gave their lives while in the service of Poland, and
we send our sincerest condolences to those families who have lost loved
ones.
President Kaczynski fought for freedom during the Cold War and
brought our two nations closer together during his tenure in office.
His legacy will not be forgotten. America stands with our ally Poland,
and we pledge our continued support during this time of transition.
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as chairman of
the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue, I call on my colleagues to
ensure U.S. support for Poland's needs after this heartbreaking and
breathtaking incident and to support this resolution expressing our
condolences to the people of Poland.
Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the
distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, thank you for bringing this resolution to
the floor.
Madam Speaker, on Saturday, I was emailed by Stanley Kobylak, a
leader of the Polish community in the Toledo, Ohio/Rossford area,
informing me of this tragic situation. I rise in support of this
important resolution, offering sympathy to the liberty-loving nation
and people of the Republic of Poland, our great ally.
Poland is one of America's longest and most steadfast allies from the
time of our own Republic's founding, made possible by the valiance of
Polish Generals Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kosciuszko.
Poland's highest leaders, including its President and First Lady,
Lech and Maria Kaczynski, were among the victims of that terrible crash
as they wended their way to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the
Katyn massacre when over 22,000 Polish officers, intellectuals and
leaders were murdered at the hands of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Army
in and around that forest during World War II. The truth of that
slaughter was hidden for over 70 years, and now the entire world knows
of that sacred ground.
Madam Speaker, please allow me to extend condolences on behalf of my
constituents in Ohio to the friends and
[[Page H2550]]
families of those who perished, to the people of Poland, to the nation
of Poland, and to the people of Polish heritage throughout the world.
Let this moment be one of recommitment to Poland's highest aspirations
and full expression of its own history.
So long as we are alive, there will be a Poland.
Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, we sometimes forget how great an ally Poland is to the
United States. They have not only had a quest for freedom for their own
people, but they have been an ally to this Nation. As the United States
and other NATO countries are engaged in the battle against terrorism in
Afghanistan, there are over 2,000 members of the Polish military who
are there as well, side by side with the United States and with other
NATO forces, the freedom fighters that they are, helping to seek
freedom and liberty in Afghanistan and against those international
terrorists who do us all harm.
I think Mr. Pascrell, the gentleman from New Jersey, said it well
today. ``We are all Poles,'' and we honor them, and we suffer their
loss and their grief at this time because of the tragedy that occurred
not only on Saturday but at the massacre that occurred in that forest
in the Soviet Union many, many years ago.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DELAHUNT. I would just echo the eloquent sentiments expressed by
my friend from Texas.
I have no further requests for time.
Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my
sincere condolences to the People of Poland and all Americans of Polish
descent who are grieving in the wake of the tragic plane crash on April
10th in which President Lech Kaczynski and dozens of the country's top
political and military leaders were killed.
One out of every four inhabitants of Riverhead, New York in the first
Congressional district of New York claim Polish heritage. This thriving
ethnic enclave has been a growing community devoted to family,
religion, and tradition since the turn of the twentieth century.
After arriving in America, Polish families established family farms
and villages throughout the East End of Long Island. Hard work enabled
Riverhead's Polish Town to grow as new immigrants added their talents
and skills to those of their neighbors, and the community's special
character endures today.
Madam Speaker, Poland and the United States share a long history of
mutual support. In this Congress, General Casimir Pulaski, legendary
Polish commander of the American Cavalry during the Revolutionary War,
was given our nation's highest honor as an Honorary Citizen. Just as
General Pulaski supported America in our hour of need, today we stand
with all who are suffering from this terrible loss and pledge our
continued support of Poland and its people.
Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise to join so many of my House
colleagues in mourning the loss of President Lech Kaczynski and First
Lady Maria Kaczynska, who died last Saturday in a plane crash in
western Russia along with dozens of other distinguished civilian and
military leaders of Poland. We mourn their loss and join in sending our
sincere condolences to the people of Poland, and especially the family
and friends of those who perished in this tragic accident.
Poland is a close friend and ally of the United States. Our two
countries are linked by longstanding ties of family and friendship. My
home state of Michigan has a large and vibrant Polish-American
community. We stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time
as we pay our respects to all of those who were lost in this tragedy.
I also wish to express my appreciation to Representatives Dahlkemper
and Lipinski for introducing the resolution before the House. I am
pleased to join them in cosponsoring it and urge its passage.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 1246
with a heavy heart to express my deepest condolences to the country of
Poland, its people, and the Polish American community. This weekend the
country of Poland suffered a tragic loss. Saturday, I awoke to news
that the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, Poland's first lady Maria
Kaczynski, President of the Polish central bank, Slawomir Skrzypek, and
many other high ranking military officials all died in a plane crash.
The President and these other leaders were in route to Russia to
commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tragic massacre at Katyn.
Although these leaders will be missed, I have faith that many
talented people in Poland will help their country emerge from this time
of sorrow and mourning. I want to let the people of the country of
Poland know that I and Metro Detroit's Polish American community extend
our deepest sorrow and extend to you our thoughts and prayers in your
time of need.
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, today, I offer my deepest condolences to
the country of Poland, its citizens, and the families of President
Kaczynski, his wife and all those killed on April 10, 2010. That is why
I rise today in support of H. Res. 1246, a resolution expressing
sympathy for the people of Poland in the aftermath of the tragic plane
crash that killed the country's President, First Lady and 94 others
this past Saturday.
Implausibly, this untimely tragedy occurred while President Kaczynski
was on his way to commemorate the unspeakable injustices carried out
upon the Polish people during the Katyn massacre.
His ability to commemorate this massacre alongside Russian leaders
for the first time, speaks volumes to his skill and understanding as a
politician and a world leader.
Through my position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the
Subcommittee on Europe, I have witnessed President Kaczynski's efforts
to strengthen US-Poland relations. He was truly one of America's most
valued and trusted allies.
His work for human rights and freedoms, not only benefited the people
of Poland, but the entire international community. He will be long
remembered and sorely missed.
Most notably, he will remain a champion for democracy, a man whose
journey took him from the Gdansk Shipyards to the presidency of a free
people. His legend will live in the hearts and minds of all those who
yearn for a better, more peaceful world.
Mr. KING of New York. Madam Speaker, all the world mourns the
horrific plane crash which took the lives of Polish President Lech
Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and so many of Poland's leading political,
military, and financial officials. This horrible tragedy will be felt
for years to come by so many and my thoughts and prayers are with
Poland on this day.
I want to particularly acknowledge the tragic loss of Janusz
Kochanowski. Dr. Kochanowski was a true scholar, a champion of human
rights, and a good friend of the United States who unfortunately was on
board that fateful flight. He was a lawyer, a professor, a diplomat,
and most recently the Polish Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection
(ombudsman). It was in this position that he was an outspoken advocate
on behalf of the Polish people including rebuking his own government
for its refusal to provide swine flu vaccines to the public amid the
global panic.
Once again, let me express my condolences to Dr. Kochanowski's wife,
Ewa, and his two children, Marta and Mateusz, on this tragic loss.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res.
1246 to pay tribute to Polish President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady
Maria Kaczynska, and the other Polish officials who were lost in the
catastrophic plane crash on April 10, 2010. I would like to express my
deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the people and government of
Poland, the families of those who perished, and Polish Americans,
especially those who call Northwest Indiana home, in the wake of this
tragedy. This is a devastating loss for Poland, the United States, and
the world.
Poland is a very dear friend to the United States, and President
Kaczynski was one of America's valued and trusted allies. President
Kaczynski played a key role in the Solidarity movement, and was widely
admired in the United States as a champion for democracy and an
advocate for freedom and human rights in Poland, and around the world.
There is a significant sense of sadness throughout Indiana's First
Congressional District, where Polish communities have gathered together
to honor and mourn those lost. I share the sadness, and join the Polish
people, in Northwest Indiana and around the world, in mourning.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1246.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DELAHUNT. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________