4/14/2010- Congress Mourns the Death of Polish President and Public Officials

For Immediate Release                                                 Contact: Erica Daughtrey

April 14, 2010                                                              201-222-2828

Washington, DC- Today, Congressman Sires joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in mourning the tragic death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others, including the First Lady and other top Polish officials, who were killed in a plane crash in western Russia on April 10, 2010. 

“Two years ago I had the great honor of meeting President Kaczyniski on a trip to Poland, and was immediately impressed with his devotion to the Polish nation and people.  I am deeply saddened by this horrific tragedy, and today, my colleagues and I express our sincerest sympathies to the people of Poland and the families of those who perished for their profound loss,” expressed Congressman Sires. 

H.Res. 1246 was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives in the aftermath of the plane crash in Russia last week that killed 96 people, including Poland’s President, First Lady, deputy foreign minister, dozens of members of Parliament, the chiefs of the army and navy, and the president of the national bank.  President Kaczynski and his colleagues were traveling to Katyn, Russia for a memorial service to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet secret police killing of more than 20,000 Poles who were captured after the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939. 

“Over the course of history the Polish people have displayed their unwavering resilience and patriotism in the face of adversity.  Undoubtedly they will overcome this terrible loss of so many key public officials, and our nation will stand in solidarity with the Polish people and government during this difficult time,” stated Congressman Sires.

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