[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5519]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   MOURNING THE LOSS OF PRESIDENT OF POLAND AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 
                           POLISH DELEGATION

  The SPEAKER. The Chair would ask all present to rise for the purpose 
of a moment of silence.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of 
order.
  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Illinois is 
recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. We have all heard of the tragic events that occurred 
over the weekend in Russia where an official delegation from Poland, 
including President Lech Kaczynski, the First Lady, and 94 others, were 
killed in a plane crash.
  This tragedy is made only more painful by the fact that they were 
traveling to commemorate the Katyn massacre, the 1940 murder of more 
than 20,000 Polish officers, intellectuals, and others by the Soviet 
secret police.
  The citizens of the United States and Poland have a deep and long-
lasting friendship based on mutual values and respect, and we are proud 
to call Poland a trusted and close ally.
  Today we are joined by Polish Ambassador Robert Kupiecki and others 
from the Polish Embassy. As we mourn the loss of the President and 
other members of the Polish delegation, we extend our most solemn 
condolences to their families, the people of Poland, and those of 
Polish descent everywhere.
  I now request that we observe a moment of silence to honor those who 
passed away in this tragic event.


                           Moment of Silence

  The SPEAKER. The Chair asks that the House now observe a moment of 
silence in solidarity with the people of Poland and in remembrance of 
those who lost their lives in that terrible tragedy.

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