Celebrating 90 Years Of United States-Polish Diplomatic Relations

Floor Speech

Celebrating 90 Years Of United States-Polish Diplomatic Relations

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. LIPINSKI, for introducing this legislation commemorating the 90th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-Polish Diplomatic Relations.

The Polish people and the people of the United States have a long history of friendship that dates back to the American war of independence when Polish patriot Casimir Pulaski volunteered to serve in the Continental Army and led his own cavalry regiment in fighting the British.

We have stood shoulder to shoulder during dark times in both our histories, and in more recent times, we rejoiced together as the iron curtain that had enshrouded Poland and Eastern Europe was cast aside.

And, in 1999, the United States and NATO welcomed Poland into our security partnership.

In 2008, America signed a cooperative security agreement with Poland to further our mutual security interests. This included the establishment of a missile defense system to protect both Europe and the United States from ballistic missile attacks from rogue states such as Iran.

This agreement was signed as a result of the strong courage of Poland's leaders who believed the United States government when it promised to help protect their homeland.

Ironically, on September 17, 2009--the 70th anniversary of the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland--the Administration withdrew U.S. support for this mutual missile defense system in Europe. The Administration must now respond to find other ways that our cooperative partnership may be advanced.

As a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the author of the NATO First Act, I believe the United States must remain committed to working with the Polish people to sustain our mutual partnership.

I urge support of H. Res. 266.

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