IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 893 

Recognizing the memorials and monuments to the Katyn Massacre are important historical reminders of the heinous acts that took the lives of 

approximately 22,000 innocent Polish prisoners of war at the order 

of Joseph Stalin. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2018 

Mr. SIRES (for himself and Ms. KAPTUR) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the memorials and monuments to the Katyn 

Massacre are important historical reminders of the heinous acts that took the lives of approximately 22,000 

innocent Polish prisoners of war at the order of Joseph 

Stalin. 

Whereas nearly 10,000,000 Americans today claim Polish ancestry, providing unwavering support for close United 

States-Poland relations; 

Whereas Poland is a valued ally in the North Atlantic Treaty 

Organization, and over 2,000 United States military personnel are deployed in various operations in Poland; 

Whereas Poles have been an integral part of America’s history, settling in the United States before American indeVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 May 16, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR893.IH HR893

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•HRES 893 IH 

pendence, where Polish generals Taddeus Kosciuszko and 

Casimir Pulaski bravely fought for independence and 

freedom for both the United States and Poland; 

Whereas Poland was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany 

and the Soviet Union in World War II, and many PolishAmericans were refugees from the devastation of World 

War II and the persecution created by the dual occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia; 

Whereas in 1940 in the Katyn Forest and NKVD headquarters in nearby Smolensk, Russia, 22,000 Polish prisoners of war were murdered on the orders of Joseph Stalin, including Chief Rabbi of the Polish Army Baruch 

Steinberg, and over 400 other Jewish servicemen of the 

Polish armed forces; 

Whereas until the 1990s, the Soviet Union denied its implication in the crime and worked to cover up the atrocities 

committed during the Katyn Massacre; 

Whereas in 1951, the House of Representatives established a 

Select Committee to Conduct an Investigation and Study 

of the Facts, Evidence, and Circumstances of the Katyn 

Forest Massacre; 

Whereas the Committee determined unanimously that the Soviet Union was responsible for the executions, and recommended a trial before the International World Court 

of Justice; 

Whereas memorials have been erected around the country to 

honor the tens of thousands of victims of the Katyn Massacre, including in Baltimore, Maryland, Niles, Illinois, 

Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and Jersey City, New Jersey; 

and 


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•HRES 893 IH 

Whereas these memorials stand as an irreplaceable reminder 

for not only Polish-Americans, but all Americans of the 

crimes committed by totalitarian regimes: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, that the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the memorials and monuments to 

3 the Katyn Massacre are important historical remind4 ers of the heinous acts that took the lives of approxi5 mately 22,000 innocent Polish prisoners of war at 

6 the order of Joseph Stalin; and 

7 (2) applauds the sacrifices and contributions of 

8 Polish-Americans to the prosperity, diversity, and 

9 strength of the United States. 

Æ 


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