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Congressman Paul Tonko spoke on the House floor this afternoon in support of a resolution expressing sympathy for the people of Poland in the wake of the plane crash Saturday in Russia that took the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others.

Congressman Tonko is a co-sponsor of H. Res. 1246, which passed the House unanimously.

Congressman Tonko acknowledged the outpouring of support from Polish-Americans in the 21st Congressional District.

Here is the text of Congressman Tonko’s remarks:

“I rise to express my deepest sympathy to the people of Poland in the wake of last week’s tragic plane crash and to express my support for the resolution by the Gentle lady from Pennsylvania that we passed this afternoon.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski along with the First Lady Maria, military chiefs, civil leaders from across the political spectrum, and senior religious clergy perished in Saturday’s crash on their way to Katyn, Russia to commemorate another great tragedy in Poland’s history.

At a time when global and domestic strife dominate our consciousness, these leaders were traveling in a historic effort to heal the deep wounds of the Katyn Massacre in Polish and Russian history.

These were men and women who stood up to tyranny and helped shape their nation’s democratic transformation, but this loss was not Poland’s alone.

From the outpouring of support by our nation’s 9 million Americans of Polish descent, including those in New York’s 21st Congressional District and my own family, to the President and First Lady’s attendance at President Kaczynski’s funeral this Sunday, America stands next to Poland in mourning.

The solidarity of the Polish people in their grief and their quiet resolve to carry on is an inspiration to us all. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were lost and all those they led.”

Congressman Tonko is planning on attending a memorial service for the victims Friday night in Albany at the Polish Community Center on Washington Avenue. The service starts at 730 p.m.

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