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 con-
sequential history, encompassing a fundamental commit-
ment to democratic principles, freedom, the rule of law, 
and human rights; 
Whereas shared values have formed the bedrock of the endur-
ing friendship between the United States and Poland, 
and an unwavering commitment to the North Atlantic 
military alliance and the broader transatlantic relation-
ship 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 trav-
eled to the United States to promote the idea of an inde-
pendent 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 Pol-
ish 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 Wil-
son 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 indis-
putably 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 Eu-
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•HRES 1198 IH 
rope’s first constitution in 1791, embodying the prin-
ciples 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 Revolu-
tion, issued the Proclamation of Po5aniec on May 7, 
1794, which provided for personal freedoms to Polish 
serfs and reduced compulsory serfdom, among other lib-
erties 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 Eu-
rope 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 Pol-
ish 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 Po-
land 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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•HRES 1198 IH 
Whereas the brave Polish resistance fighters and soldiers val-
iantly 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 op-
erations 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 ac-
ceding 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 Na-
tional 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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•HRES 1198 IH 
Whereas, in March of 2023, the United States Army estab-
lished the United States Army Garrison in Poland, rep-
resenting an undying commitment to the NATO alliance 
and to the defense of global democracy; 
Whereas the contributions of up to 10,000,000 Polish Ameri-
cans 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) commemorates the 105th anniversary of the 
establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland 
and the United States, recognizing the historic 
events and courageous individuals that led to the re-
constitution of Poland’s sovereignty; 
(2) honors the unwavering determination and 
sacrifices of the Polish people, who never wavered in 
their pursuit of independence and liberty during 123 
years of foreign partitions and 43 years of Soviet oc-
cupation; and 
(3) reaffirms the enduring bonds between Po-
land and the United States, forged by a shared love 
of freedom, an unquenchable thirst for liberty, a mu-
tual commitment to the rule of law, and a steadfast 
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