IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 614 

Celebrating the 99th anniversary of Polish independence. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 9, 2017 

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mrs. 

WALORSKI, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. HIGGINS of New York, Mr. 

ROKITA, Ms. ESTY of Connecticut, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 

TONKO, Mr. SIRES, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. COHEN, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. 

PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. BISHOP of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Celebrating the 99th anniversary of Polish independence. 

Whereas the strong ties between Poland and the United 

States are cemented with the shared devotion to the values of human rights, civil liberties, and democracy, as 

well as the resolve to the North Atlantic military alliance’s role in maintaining Eastern Europe’s and global 

security; 

Whereas Poles have been present on American soil since before the birth of the United States, where Polish generals 

Taddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski bravely fought 

for independence and freedom for both the United States 

and Poland; 


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•HRES 614 IH 

Whereas the shared values of the United States and Poland 

go back to the 1700s; 

Whereas, on May 3, 1791, Poland adopted the first constitution in Europe based on the ideas of liberty and constitutional monarchy, which paved the way for future democratic reforms and equal rights for all; 

Whereas, in October 1795, Poland fell victim of the third 

partition between the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of 

Prussia, and the Habsburg Monarchy, and as a result 

lost its sovereignty for the next 123 years; 

Whereas Poles’ steadfast fight to regain independence culminated in the November Uprising of 1830 and the January Uprising of 1863, in which hundreds of Poles sacrificed their lives for the reconstitution of Poland’s sovereignty; 

Whereas Poland’s national identity was preserved through 

fostered education and economic empowerment of the 

masses, coined in the ‘‘organic work’’ ideology, that recognized modernization of the Polish society as a prerequisite for preservation of Polish nationhood; 

Whereas President Woodrow Wilson’s and Igancy 

Paderewski’s focused advocacy for the cause of Poland’s 

independence were critical for the recognition of Polish 

sovereignty after the end of the First World War; and 

Whereas, on November 11, 1918, the Regency Council of Poland named Jozef Pilsudski the Commander in Chief of 

Poland and entrusted him to build a government for the 

newly reconstituted Poland, marking the creation of the 

Second Republic of Poland: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 614 IH 

1 (1) celebrates the 99th anniversary of Polish 

2 independence and values the opportunity to remem3 ber the historic events and courageous individuals 

4 that brought about reconstitution of Poland’s sov5 ereignty; 

6 (2) honors the resolve and sacrifice of the peo7 ple of Poland, who did not lose their determination 

8 to advance the cause of Polish independence during 

9 123 years of partitions; and 

10 (3) reaffirms the close bonds between Poland 

11 and the United States based on the love of freedom, 

12 thirst for liberty, and shared commitment to democ13 racy, as well as a strong military cooperation to cre14 ate a more secure and democratic world. 

Æ 


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