IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1198 

Commemorating the 105th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland 

and the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 6, 2024 

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. KEATING, and Mr. 

TURNER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 105th anniversary of diplomatic 

relations between Poland and the United States. 

Whereas the United States and Poland have shared a consequential history, encompassing a fundamental commitment to democratic principles, freedom, the rule of law, 

and human rights; 

Whereas shared values have formed the bedrock of the enduring friendship between the United States and Poland, 

and an unwavering commitment to the North Atlantic 

military alliance and the broader transatlantic relationship has contributed to security in Europe and across the 

globe; 

Whereas the United States-Poland friendship predates the 

founding of the United States itself, with Polish generals 


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•HRES 1198 IH 

Tadeusz Kos ́ciuszko and Casimir Pulaski bravely fighting 

for the independence and freedom of both nations during 

the United States Revolutionary War; 

Whereas, during World War I, prominent Polish figures such 

as Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Henryk Sienkiewicz traveled to the United States to promote the idea of an independent Poland; 

Whereas many people in the United States of Polish descent 

came to Europe to fight for a sovereign Poland, with the 

most famous example being the Blue Army of General 

Jo ́zef Haller, consisting of over 20,000 Americans of Polish descent, largely inspired by Paderewski; 

Whereas, in a historic moment, President Woodrow Wilson 

delivered a compelling speech to Congress on January 22, 

1917, passionately advocating for Poland’s independence 

as a justified war aim; 

Whereas the pivotal role played by President Woodrow Wilson and Ignacy Paderewski in advocating for Poland’s 

independence was instrumental in securing recognition of 

Polish sovereignty following World War I; 

Whereas, on January 8, 1918, President Wilson announced 

his famous ‘‘Fourteen Points’’, with point 13 explicitly 

stating: ‘‘An independent Polish state should be erected 

which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a 

free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and 

economic independence and territorial integrity should be 

guaranteed by international covenant’’; 

Whereas Poland’s embrace of democratic values dates back to 

the 1700s, culminating in the historic adoption of EuVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:37 May 07, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1198.IH HR1198

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•HRES 1198 IH 

rope’s first constitution in 1791, embodying the principles of liberty and constitutional monarchy; 

Whereas Poland became the first European nation to strive 

toward ensuring liberty for all its citizens when Tadeusz 

Kosciuszko, upon his return from the American Revolution, issued the Proclamation of Po5aniec on May 7, 

1794, which provided for personal freedoms to Polish 

serfs and reduced compulsory serfdom, among other liberties and rights; 

Whereas, in the wake of Poland’s remarkable constitutional 

achievement, the nation would face tragic annihilation in 

history, including the third partition of Poland in 1795, 

that resulted in Poland being erased from the map of Europe for 123 years and its territory divided among the 

empires of adjoining nations Russia, Prussia, and the 

Hapsburg Empire; 

Whereas, despite centuries of adversity, Poland’s resilient 

spirit endured, as evidenced by the November Uprising of 

1830 and the January Uprising of 1863, where countless 

Poles laid down their lives to preserve the dream of Polish sovereignty; 

Whereas, during this period of foreign domination, Poland 

persevered in safeguarding its national identity through 

initiatives such as the ‘‘organic work’’ ideology, which 

recognized the importance of modernizing Polish society 

to ensure the survival of Polish nationhood; 

Whereas, on November 11, 1918, the Regency Council of Poland appointed Jo ́zef Pi5sudski as Commander in Chief 

of Poland, marking the formation of the Second Republic 

of Poland and a triumphant return to independence; 


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Whereas the brave Polish resistance fighters and soldiers valiantly fought against tyranny on all fronts during World 

War II, only to find their liberation from Nazi oppression 

followed by domination by the Soviet Union; 

Whereas, on September 18, 1944, as part of the allied 

FRANTIC–7 mission, though the Royal Air Force, 12 

United States citizens, including 2d Lt. Clyda Arrants, 

1st Lt. Joseph Vigna, 1st Lt. Robert Peters, 1st Lt. 

Francis Akins, 2d Lt. Forrest Shaw, Flight Officer Ely 

Berenson, 2d Lt. Myron Merrill, Technical Sgt. Frank 

De Cillis, Staff Sgt. Paul Haney, Staff Sgt. George 

MacPhee, Staff Sgt. Walter Shimshock, and 1st Lt. Paul 

Hibbard, were killed in the skies over Poland during operations to supply Polish resistance units during the 

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising; 

Whereas Poland’s indomitable spirit was exemplified by the 

Solidarity movement, led by Lech Wa5esa, which played 

a pivotal role in defeating Communism and ultimately led 

to the fall of the Soviet Empire, ushering in a new era 

of liberty for millions across Europe; 

Whereas Poland joined the community of democracies by acceding to the NATO alliance in 1999 and the European 

Union in 2004, further cementing its commitment to 

democratic principles; 

Whereas Poland’s ongoing steadfast relationship with the 

United States is demonstrated by the Illinois-Poland National Guard Partnership, a program of the United 

States European Command State Partnership Program, 

through which nations share in military excellence and in 

friendship; 


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Whereas, in March of 2023, the United States Army established the United States Army Garrison in Poland, representing an undying commitment to the NATO alliance 

and to the defense of global democracy; 

Whereas the contributions of up to 10,000,000 Polish Americans to the United States have been invaluable, with 

many serving in political leadership, defending liberty in 

the Armed Forces, driving innovation in factories, and 

leading in creative and economic spheres; and 

Whereas the United States and Poland have been resolute in 

their joint commitment to support Ukraine as it defends 

against Russia’s war of aggression: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commemorates the 105th anniversary of the 

3 establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland 

4 and the United States, recognizing the historic 

5 events and courageous individuals that led to the re6 constitution of Poland’s sovereignty; 

7 (2) honors the unwavering determination and 

8 sacrifices of the Polish people, who never wavered in 

9 their pursuit of independence and liberty during 123 

10 years of foreign partitions and 43 years of Soviet oc11 cupation; and 

12 (3) reaffirms the enduring bonds between Po13 land and the United States, forged by a shared love 

14 of freedom, an unquenchable thirst for liberty, a mu15 tual commitment to the rule of law, and a steadfast 


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1 partnership in advancing security and democracy 

2 worldwide. 

Æ 


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