2/23/2004 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Federal Relations Committee
5/27/2004 Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
10/7/2004 Passed by the Assembly (77-0-0)
10/14/2004 Filed with Secretary of State
 

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 122

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

211th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 23, 2004

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JOHN S. WISNIEWSKI

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA

District 15 (Mercer)

Assemblyman PETER C. EAGLER

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

    Urges President and Congress to make Republic of Poland eligible for United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    As introduced.

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 5/28/2004)

An Assembly Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to make the Republic of Poland eligible for the United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program.

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

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

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

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

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

Whereas, On April 15, 1991, the Republic of Poland unilaterally repealed the visa obligation to United States citizens traveling to Poland; and

Whereas, The United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program currently allows approximately 23 million citizens from 27 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having first to obtain visas for entry; and

Whereas, The countries that currently participate in the Visa Waiver Program include Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom; and

Whereas, It is appropriate that the Republic of Poland be made eligible for the United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to make the Republic of Poland eligible for the United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the presiding officers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation, and Przemyslaw Grudzinski, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the United States.

STATEMENT

    This resolution urges the President and the Congress of the United States to make the Republic of Poland eligible for the United States Department of State's Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program currently allows approximately 23 million citizens from 27 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having first to obtain visas for entry.

    The Republic of Poland is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an ally of the United States and in the global campaign against terrorism, and an active participant in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Iraqi reconstruction. It provides visa-free travel for citizens of the United States.