Sen. Moore attends Polish-American Congress meeting

BOSTON – The Polish-American Congress of Eastern Massachusetts met this week with the Massachusetts Legislature’s Polish Caucus. Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, and Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, serve as co-chairs of the Caucus which supports legislation recognizing the contributions of Polish-Americans to Massachusetts. Rep. Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, Rep. Michael Kane, D-Holyoke, and staff for Representative John Binienda, D-Leicester, attended.

Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, Co-Chairman of the Massachusetts Legislature’s Polish-American Caucus, poses with Anthony J. Bajdek, who is Vice President for American Affairs of the Polish American Conference.

The Polish Caucus and the Polish-American Congress meet together at least once a year to advance their common agenda. Massachusetts is the only state, so far, with a Polish Caucus in its state legislature. The Polish American community prides itself on its deeply-rooted commitment to the values of family, faith, democracy, hard work and fulfillment of the American dream.

Principal speaker for the meeting was Anthony J. Bajdek, Polish American Congress National Vice President for American Affairs, President of the Polish American Congress of Eastern Massachusetts, and Associate Dean (ret.) and Senior Lecturer in History at Northeastern University. The Polish American Congress represents at least 10 million Americans of Polish descent and origin. Its membership is comprised of fraternal, educational, veteran, religious, cultural, social, business, political organizations and individual membership.

Mr. Bajdek discussed on-going concerns with gaining Congressional support for passage of the “express visa” for citizens of Poland and naming General Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolution, as an honorary citizen of the United States. The Pulaski legislation has been approved by the U.S. Senate, but has languished in the U. S. House of Representatives.

Chairman Scibak reported that the Polish Caucus has sponsored House Bill No. 3035 designating October 30 each year as “Polish American Congress Day” and directing the Governor to annually issue a proclamation in honor of that day. The bill will be given a public hearing by the Committee on State Administration in the next few months.
The Polish American Congress, an "umbrella" organization, is a federation of over 3,000 Polish American organizations and clubs, ranging from national fraternal benefit societies, such as the Polish National Alliance, Polish Women's Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union, Polish Falcons and others, including veteran, cultural, professional, religious and social associations, with aggregate membership of over one million. The PAC by-laws also provide for individual membership, as well as associate membership.

With 41 State Divisions and Chapters, the Polish American Congress is represented in 23 states. The PAC promotes civic, educational and cultural programs designed to further not only the knowledge of Polish history, language and culture, but to stimulate Polish American involvement and accomplishments.

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