[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO TOMASZ MERTA

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I rise as a result of the 
resolution offered earlier today commemorating the tragic deaths of so 
many Polish leaders, especially the death of Tomasz Merta, who is the 
Minister of Culture in Poland.
  I worked with Tomasz Merta a couple times over the last 25 years. In 
the early 1990s, he was a very young man, was still in his twenties, 
and he worked with Ohio State's Mershon Center, where I worked, helping 
his country's government transition from communism to democracy. We 
worked on everything from curricula writing to training teachers.
  I worked with him again when I was a Member of Congress. This time I 
went to Ukraine, and he helped us train Ukrainian teachers, helped 
write curriculum, and help those Ukrainian teachers teach government 
courses on civic education in Kiev.
  So Tomasz Merta, born in 1965, graduate of Warsaw University, got a 
Ph.D. His whole career was all about love of country, all about 
democracy, all about doing the right thing. He, in the nineties and 
since, was a prolific writer. He wrote articles about democracy, 
articles about teaching democracy, articles about building democracy. 
He was so important to this country. He was one of the youngest leaders 
who was killed on this terrible, tragic flight.
  He had a terrific future. He was the Secretary of State and the 
Minister of Culture and National Heritage. We will all miss him. 
Tomasz, as his nickname was--Tomek is his real name. Tomasz is like 
Thomas and Tommy. Tomasz was a devoted husband, the father of three 
daughters.
  I last saw him several years ago in Kiev. I so appreciate what he 
did. As I will say now in Polish: I offer my deep condolences to the 
people of Poland for this tragic loss.
  Tomasz and some of his friends taught me some Polish. I must admit I 
read it, but the pronunciation he helped me with--he and Alicija and 
others in Poland. I am so sad about his loss. I am so sad for his 
country. I am so sad for his wife and his three beautiful daughters. I 
know that country will mourn his loss as it mourns the loss of so many 
other Polish patriots.
  I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________