LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION supporting the admittance of the Republic of
Poland to the United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program

WHEREAS, The Republic of Poland is a free, democratic and independent
nation and has demonstrated itself to be an indispensable ally in the
global campaign against terrorism; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, the United States and the Republic of Poland became
formal allies when Poland was granted membership in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization; it is one of America's most loyal and friendly
associations in Central and Eastern Europe, and continues to be excluded
from the privilege of visa-free travel; and
WHEREAS, The Republic of Poland actively participated in Operation
Iraqi Freedom and the Iraqi reconstruction, shedding blood along with
American soldiers; and
WHEREAS, On April 15, 1991, the Republic of Poland unilaterally
repealed the visa obligation of United States citizens traveling to
Poland; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program
currently allows approximately 23 million citizens from 27 countries to
travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days
without having to obtain visas for entry; and
WHEREAS, The countries which currently participate in the Visa Waiver
Program are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San
Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom; and
WHEREAS, Today, official estimates indicate that the size of our
nation's Polish American community exceeds ten million individuals, the
vast majority of whom continue to maintain close ties with their fami-
lies, friends, and professional counterparts in Poland; and
WHEREAS, The Republic of Poland is an active member of the European
Union with a vibrant and stable economy; every year, its citizens
increase in travel destinations worldwide, frequently on a visa-free
basis; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, in order to visit the United States, Polish
citizens have to undergo an expensive and cumbersome visa process with
no assurance of success; in this day and age of expanding globalism, it
is imperative that we encourage tourism to our great Nation; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that it is appropri-
ate that the Republic of Poland be made eligible for the United States
Department of State's Visa Waiver Program and inappropriate that Polish
citizens be treated as having a lesser or inferior status; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
support the admittance of the Republic of Poland to the United States
Department of State's Visa Waiver Program.