U.S. Representative Mike Quigley traveled to Poland

 

CHICAGO—Over the July 4 weekend, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) traveled to Poland and attended a conference in Krakow commemorating the 10^th anniversary of the Community of Democracies.  He also paid his respects at the grave of former President Lech Kaczynski, and delivered a resolution on behalf of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the entire House of Representatives expressing condolences for his passing.

 

“It was truly an honor to both represent the entire House of Representatives in Poland and pay my respects to a fallen president,” said Quigley.  “I made a commitment to the Polish community of my district that I would visit their homeland, and I come home with a newfound respect for Poland’s commitment to democratic institutions.”

 

In Krakow, Quigley attended a panel discussion featuring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Quigley continues to press Secretary Clinton and President Obama for action on including Poland in the Visa Waiver Program.

   

Earlier this summer, Quigley introduced and unanimously passed a resolution commending the Community of Democracies and Poland’s contributions. He delivered copies of the resolution, H. Res. 1143, to foreign dignitaries from Poland, Portugal and Lithuania.

 

  Congressman Quigley (right) presents a copy of the House of Representatives resolution expressing sympathy for the loss of President Lech Kaczynski  to Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.  

The Community of Democracies was launched in Warsaw under the guidance of then-U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and then-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Bronislaw Geremek and has since established working groups all over the world.  

 

Secretary Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek attended the prominent conference, along with representatives from more than 100 countries, including foreign ministers, activists, academics, business leaders, and representatives of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 

 

 

Conressman Quigley (right) meets with former Polish President Lech Walesa during his trip to Poland over the July 4 weekend.

 

Quigley represents over 110,000 Polish-American constituents. His district is home to one of the largest populations of Poles in the United States.

 

During his two days in Krakow, Quigley visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, the site of a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.