[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF POLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 2010

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, it is with profound sorrow 
that I rise today in support of House Resolution 1246, which expresses 
sympathy to the people of Poland in the aftermath of the tragic events 
of April 10th.
  On behalf of the people of Connecticut, I join the citizens of Poland 
and the millions of individuals of Polish descent residing around the 
world in mourning the death of President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady 
Maria Kacynski and the other 94 passengers involved in the tragic plane 
crash on April 10, 2010.
  The death of Lech Kaczynski is a loss not only for the people of 
Poland but for the international community as a whole. President 
Kaczynski was a public servant in the highest sense. From his days as 
an anti-communist activist in the 1970's to his stint as the mayor of 
Warsaw, he brought with him a desire for change and improvement. During 
his time as president, Lech Kaczynski worked closely with the Russians 
to mend wounds from the Katyn tragedy, and on December 21, 2008 he took 
a historic step toward restoring relations between the government of 
Poland and its Jewish community when he became the first Polish head of 
state to attend religious services at a synagogue in Poland.
  Under President Kaczynski, the bond between Poland and the United 
States grew. President Kaczynski was a strong supporter of American 
stability measures, such as missile defense systems, in the region. In 
losing President Kaczynski, America loses a great ally.
  Once again, I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the 
people of Poland and the millions of citizens of Polish descent 
residing around the world for this terrible loss.

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