February 25, 2026
Ms. Kaptur (for herself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Keating, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Bishop, and Mrs. Dingell) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
Recognizing 250 years of Polish-American friendship and reaffirming the interest of the United States of America in the democracy, sovereignty, prosperity, and security of Poland.
Whereas relations between the Polish and American people have been core to the national histories of both nations since the first Polish settlers arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1608, beginning centuries of cooperation between what would become the United States of America and the Republic of Poland;
Whereas numerous Poles fought in the American Revolution, including General Tadeusz Kościuszko, who sailed to the American colonies in June 1776 to support American revolutionaries in their fight for self-determination, and oversaw the construction of fortifications in places such as West Point, New York;
Whereas the United States was the first major power to recognize the statehood of the Second Polish Republic in 1919;
Whereas the American Relief Administration provided significant humanitarian aid to Poland to assist in its recovery from the First World War, including the establishment of hundreds of kitchens which fed more than 1,500,000 mothers and children each day;
Whereas the Kościuszko Squadron, consisting of Polish soldiers and American volunteers, was formed in 1919 to defend Polish sovereignty during the Polish-Soviet War;
Whereas more than 5,500,000 Polish citizens signed the Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States in 1926 in honor of the 150th anniversary of American independence;
Whereas the United States supported the Polish resistance to Nazi occupation during the Second World War, including the provision of weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies through airdrops to support the Warsaw Uprising of 1944;
Whereas over 5,000 students have participated in the Poland-United States Fulbright Commission since 1959, fostering greater international collaboration and the development of scientific innovations;
Whereas numerous sister cities have been established between the United States and Poland, including Toledo and Poznan, Knoxville and Chełm, and Chicago and Warsaw in 1960;
Whereas, in 1986, the United States designated October as Polish American Heritage Month;
Whereas Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999, strengthening transatlantic security and successfully fulfilling Poland’s ambitious efforts to transform its political system, economy, and military, and becoming one of the United States strongest allies in Europe;
Whereas, when the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, Poland joined the rest of the NATO alliance in coming to the United States aid, ultimately deploying over 28,000 Polish soldiers and personnel to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and 2,500 soldiers to Iraq as part of United States-led operations;
Whereas Poland has helped lead the European response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022 by supporting Ukraine’s defense and by welcoming Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian forces, including over 1,000,000 that resettled in Poland and over 17,000,000 Ukrainian refugees that crossed the Polish border;
Whereas Poland is now a leader in the defense of Europe and the deterrence of Russian aggression, investing more than 4.7 percent of its gross domestic product in defense to take ownership of its own security in coordination with the United States and other allies;
Whereas approximately 10,000 military personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States are currently stationed in Poland, in part to deter Russia from expanding its war in Europe to include other countries that it has threatened, including Poland; and
Whereas both the United States of America and the Republic of Poland continue to acknowledge the continued successes of their mutual democracies, which lead to greater prosperity and freedom for all their citizens: Now, therefore, be it
Sec.
That the House of Representatives—
(1)
affirms the vital interest of the United States of America in Poland’s democracy, sovereignty, prosperity, and security;
(2)
recognizes that Poland is a steadfast ally for the United States of America and calls on American and Polish leaders to support continued efforts to bolster efforts by Poland and other allies to take greater ownership of their own defense, in close coordination with the United States;
(3)
calls for the continuation of stationing members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Poland to support defense planning, capacity-building, and training with the Armed Forces of Poland and other allied and partner forces; and
(4)
expresses its gratitude to the people of Poland for their more than 250 years of support for the American people and welcomes more than 250 years of continued friendship.