CHICAGO – Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today met with Bronislaw Komorowski, President of Poland, and was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Chicago); Robert Kupiecki, Ambassador of Poland; Zygmunt Matynia, Polish Consul General; Boguslaw Winid, Under Secretary of State and Polish Permanent Representative to NATO and the EU; and Jaromir Sokolowski, Under Secretary of State joined Senator Kirk and President Komorowski for the meeting. The group discussed U.S.-Polish relations and today’s passage of legislation in the Senate Appropriations Committee that will provide a path for Poland‘s participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
The Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland is an honor bestowed by the President of Poland upon foreigners or Polish citizens residing abroad in recognition of distinguished contributions and great services rendered to the Polish nation, primarily in the area of international diplomacy. Senator Kirk has long acted as a staunch supporter of Poland and U.S.-Polish relations. Notably, Senator Kirk has prioritized legislation advocating the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to include Poland, has fought to strengthen U.S.-Polish cooperation on ballistic missile defense, and has established a Polish Advisory Board, which meets regularly to address the unique issues facing Illinois’s Polish community.
“I am deeply honored that President Komorowski has chosen to present me with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Republic of Poland,” Senator Kirk said. “Poland has long been a strong ally of the United States, and I look forward to furthering my work in the Senate to strengthen the burgeoning relationship between our two nations.”
“I met with my dear friend Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois today,” President Komorowski said. “He has always been a strong supporter of Poland, Polish people and his extensive Polish-American constituency in Chicago, for which I am very grateful. I am particularly thankful for his leadership with regards to the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program and Poland’s inclusion in it, so that Polish citizens can finally join their European counterparts and travel to the U.S. visa-free. Occasions such as this are a privilege of my office, and today I am particularly pleased to present the Senator with the Commander’s Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland.”
In January 2012, Senator Kirk and Congressman Quigley traveled to Poland and met with President Komorowski to continue the ongoing U.S.-Polish dialogue through advancing key initiatives such as the VWP legislation. For more information on the Visa Waiver Program, click here