II 

Calendar No. 715 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2844 

To designate Poland as a program country under the visa waiver program 

established under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 

Mr. SANTORUM (for himself and Ms. MIKULSKI) introduced the following bill; 

which was read the first time 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2004 

Read the second time and placed on the calendar 

A BILL 

To designate Poland as a program country under the visa 

waiver program established under section 217 of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 The Congress makes the following findings: 

5 (1) Since the founding of the United States, 

6 Poland has proven its steadfast dedication to the 

7 causes of freedom and friendship with the United 
2 

•S 2844 PCS 

1 States, exemplified by the brave actions of Polish pa2 triots such as Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz 

3 Kosciuszko during the American Revolution. 

4 (2) Polish history provides pioneering examples 

5 of constitutional democracy and religious tolerance. 

6 (3) The United States is home to nearly 

7 9,000,000 people of Polish ancestry. 

8 (4) Polish immigrants have contributed greatly 

9 to the success of industry and agriculture in the 

10 United States. 

11 (5) Since the demise of communism, Poland has 

12 become a stable, democratic nation. 

13 (6) Poland has adopted economic policies that 

14 promote free markets and rapid economic growth. 

15 (7) On March 12, 1999, Poland demonstrated 

16 its commitment to global security by becoming a 

17 member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

18 (8) On May 1, 2004, Poland became a member 

19 state of the European Union. 

20 (9) Poland was a staunch ally to the United 

21 States during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

22 (10) Poland has committed 2,300 soldiers to 

23 help with ongoing peacekeeping efforts in Iraq. 

24 (11) The Secretary of Homeland Security and 

25 Secretary of State administer the visa waiver pro-
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•S 2844 PCS 

1 gram, which allows citizens from 27 countries, in2 cluding France and Germany, to visit the United 

3 States as tourists without visas. 

4 (12) On April 15, 1991, Poland unilaterally re5 pealed the visa requirement for United States citi6 zens traveling to Poland for 90 days or less. 

7 (13) More than 100,000 Polish citizens visit the 

8 United States each year. 

9 SEC. 2. RENDERING POLAND VISA WAIVER PROGRAM 

10 COUNTRY. 

11 Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, 

12 and notwithstanding section 217(c) of the Immigration 

13 and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)), Poland shall be 

14 deemed a designated program country for purposes of the 

15 visa waiver program established under section 217 of such 

16 Act. 
Calendar No. 715 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2844 

A BILL 

To designate Poland as a program country under 

tion 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. the visa waiver program established under secSEPTEMBER 24, 2004 

Read the second time and placed on the calendar