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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Since 2005, the U.S. Department of State has been
3conducting discussions with Poland so that the nation may be
4admitted to the United States' visa waiver program, which
5allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United
6States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days with
7a passport, without having to obtain a visa; and
 
8    WHEREAS, President George W. Bush supported working with
9Congress and international partners to modify the visa waiver
10program; in 2006, the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism
11Partnership Bill was introduced, but the United States Senate
12took no action; the bill directed the Secretary of Homeland
13Security to establish a pilot program to expand the visa waiver
14program for countries that are cooperating with the United
15States on security and counterterrorism matters; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Citizens of 30 European countries, including
17Poland's neighbors Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, and
18Slovakia, are eligible for visa-free entry into the United
19States under the visa waiver program; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Poland has a very high ranking in human
21development, human rights, and standard of living, which are
22all criteria shared by countries eligible for the visa entry

 

 

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1program; due to their country's strong economy, citizens of
2Poland who have visas do not overstay them; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Admitting Poland into the visa entry program would
4bring more Polish tourists to Chicago; additionally, both
5Chicago and the Polish city of Warsaw are major financial
6centers; easing restrictions for travel between the two cities
7would benefit both economies; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Polish President Komorowski has recently reached
9out to President Obama to encourage him to resurrect
10negotiations easing restrictions for Polish citizens to travel
11to the United States; President Obama has pledged to work on
12the issue; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President
15of the United States to lift the restrictions currently in
16place that prevent Poland from being admitted to the visa
17waiver program; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19delivered to President Barack Obama.