SJ0017

LRB095 10613 MJR 30836 r






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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Republic of Poland is a free, democratic, and 
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independent
nation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1999, the United States and the Republic of 
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Poland became
formal allies when Poland was granted membership 
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in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Republic of Poland has proven to be an 
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indispensable ally in  the global campaign against terrorism; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Republic of Poland has actively participated 
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in Operation Iraqi
Freedom and the Iraqi reconstruction, 
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shedding blood along with American
soldiers; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The President of the United States and other high 
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ranking officials have described Poland as "one of our closest 
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friends"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On April 15, 1991, the Republic of Poland 
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unilaterally repealed the visa obligation to United States 
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citizens traveling to Poland; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States Department of State's Visa 
 


 






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LRB095 10613 MJR 30836 r




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Waiver Program
currently allows approximately 23 million 
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citizens from 27 countries to travel to the United States for 
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tourism or business for up to 90 days without having first to 
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obtain visas for entry; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The countries that currently participate in the 
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Visa Waiver Program include Andorra, Australia, Austria, 
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Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, 
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Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the 
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Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, 
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Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the 
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United Kingdom; and
 
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    WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the Republic of Poland be 
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made eligible for the United States Department of State's Visa 
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Waiver Program; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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CONCURRING HEREIN, that we respectfully urge the President of 
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the United States and the Congress of the United States to make 
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the Republic of Poland eligible for the United States 
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Department of State's Visa Waiver Program; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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transmitted to the President of the
United States, the 
 


 






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presiding officers of the United States Senate and the House of 
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Representatives, all members of the                        Illinois Congressional 
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delegation, and to Dr. Janusz Reiter, the Ambassador of the 
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Republic of Poland to the United
States.