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.

Bill: 115-hres-893
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8]
Introduced: 2018-05-15
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Conflicts and wars

Crime victims

Detention of persons

Europe

Human rights

Monuments and memorials

Poland

Russia

War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

World history
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Recognizes that the memorials and monuments to the 1940 Katyn Massacre are important historical reminders of the killing of approximately 22,000 Polish prisoners of war at the order of Joseph Stalin.</p> <p> Applauds the contributions of Polish Americans to the United States. </p>

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 893 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 independence, 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 Polish-Americans 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 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

that the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes 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; and (2) applauds the sacrifices and contributions of Polish-Americans to the prosperity, diversity, and strength of the United States.