Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur meets with former Poland president Lech Walesa in D.C. relative to the 30th-year anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Walesa also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, union organizer, and former leader of the Solidarity Movement....A Democrat and the longest serving woman in Congress, Kaptur's 9th congressional district extends to Cleveland
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| U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat whose 9th congressional district extends to Cleveland, and former Poland president Lech Walsea, also the former leader of the Solidarity Movement, a Polish trade union and anti-Soviet social movement |
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| U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat whose 9th congressional district extends to Cleveland, watches on before delivering a floor speech in Congress honoring the 30th-year anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
WASHINGTON, DC – Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat whose 9th congressional district extends to Cleveland, joined members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the National Endowment for Democracy on Tuesday to honor the former Poland president Lech Walsea, who was president of Poland from 1990-1995.
He also co-founded the Solidarity Movement in 1990, a polish non-governmental trade union and anti-Soviet social movement.
Poland's communist government attempted to destroy the union by instituting martial law in 1981, followed by several years of political repression, but in the end was forced into negotiation.
A passionate union organizer, Walsea had been arrested several times for his participation in dissent rallies spearheaded by his union and its supporters.
The Washington D.C. event with Kaptur that Walsea attended on Tuesday was also to reflect on and discuss Democratic achievements in Congress and elsewhere as well as challenges facing Poland going forward.
It corresponded with the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Poland’s Independence Day, the Berlin Wall a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989 and cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany, including East Berlin.
Construction of the Wall was commenced by the German Democratic Republic on Aug 13, 1961.
“It is such a privilege to join the National Endowment for Democracy for this momentous celebration honoring the former president of Poland, statesman, dissident, union organizer, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walesa,” said Rep. Kaptur during a floor speech to Congress on Tuesday. “This week, the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall and Poland’s Independence Day.
The federal lawmaker said she was ecstatic to celebrate the "historic occasion with President Walesa, whose leadership of the Solidarity Worker Movement played a central role in bringing democracy to millions in Central and Eastern Europe during the collapse of the Soviet Union.”
And she elaborated on her Polish heritage.
“As an American of Polish heritage, who represents thousands of Polish Americans, I am keenly aware of Poland’s heroic struggle toward liberty," the congresswoman said. "I was proud to celebrate with the Polish people their liberation from the Soviet empire."
In Congress, Kaptur has fought to strengthen U.S., Poland relations and advance legislation to carry on Poland’s steady progress, including the Enterprise Funds, increased development assistance, civil society exchanges, and inclusion in the defense security perimeter of free nations.
“As we look to counter increased Russian influence and democratic erosion, we must look to the inspiration and example of President Walesa’s leadership to map the way forward,'" said Kaptur. " We must increase U.S. funding and exchanges for civil society organizations on the front lines of today’s struggle for liberty. "
The congresswoman said the fall of the Berlin Wall serves as a reminder to the "testament to what’s possible when we join our democratic allies with a shared vision for the world — one of liberty, justice, and equality for all.”
Earlier this year, Rep. Kaptur, the longest serving woman in the United States Congress, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Poland Caucus, introduced the “Paweł Adamowicz Democratic Leadership Exchange Act of 2019”, which would establish increased democratic exchange between the United States and Poland.
The program would grant elected officials and civil society leaders from both countries the opportunity to travel to the partner nation for 1-2 weeks, in order to participate in educational conferences and gain important leadership skills, and build transatlantic networks between the two NATO allies.
Kaptur said that these valuable experiences would further strengthen the historic partnership between the U.S. and Poland and equip participants with the relationships and experience necessary to enrich their home country’s democratic institutions upon their return home. Gdansk, Poland is the sister-city to Cleveland, Ohio.
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