QUIGLEY GETS VISA WAIVER EXTENSION FOR POLAND INTO IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL Polish citizens traveling to the United States would no longer need visas

Ann Arbor, MI – Former President of the Republic of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski returns to the University of Michigan in October to lecture in an undergraduate course entitled “Eastern Europe between the Soviet Union and the European Union,” offered by the Center for Russian and East European Studies and the Slavic Department. Few are better qualified to lecture on the topic. Born in 1954, Aleksander Kwaśniewski first entered government in 1985 holding a number of posts before his election as Poland’s president in 1995. During his presidency, Kwaśniewski co-authored the constitution of the Third Republic of Poland, signing it into law in 1997. He piloted his country to membership in NATO and has been an active supporter of further alliance enlargement. Kwaśniewski campaigned for approval of the European Union accession treaty in 2003 and saw Poland become a member on May 1, 2004 before completing his term a year later.

FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE QUIGLEY Serving Illinois’ 5th District   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009 CONTACT Aviva Gibbs (773) 267-5926 aviva.gibbs@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) introduced legislation extending the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  This move is part of a broader effort to ultimately extend visa waiver privileges to Poland, a country that has proven its steadfast dedication to the cause of freedom and friendship with the United States.  Extending the VWP will allow for further time for development and implementation of safe and secure exit plan strategies so that the VWP can be a established as a permanent program.