H.Res. 1082

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1082 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1082

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.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

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RESOLUTION

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 Kosciuszko, 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 Kosciuszko 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 Che5m, 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
Resolved, 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.
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