American Polish Advisory Council
Invests Capitol Hill

• PostEagle
• June 30, 2015
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – APAC Goes to Congress. The American Polish Advisory Council has inaugurated its now-annual networking event with members of the U.S. Congressional and Senate Caucus on Poland – and with other supportive House and Senate members – here on May 12, 2015 on Capitol Hill’s Rayburn House Office Building. The groundbreaking event was spearheaded by the APAC’s President Edward L. Rowny, Executive Director Darek Barcikowski and Chairwoman of the Political Committee Agnes Marczak.

In photo:  Networking With the Congressional and Senate Caucus on Poland. U.S. Congresswoman Marcy C. Kaptur (D-Oh.) and Lieutenant General/Ambassador Edward L. Rowny (retired) – President of the American Polish Advisory Council, share a light moment during the presentation of the APAC’s award honoring the Congresswoman. U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), also named an honoree, was unavoidably absent due to pressing senatorial obligations. 

“This event is aligned with APAC’s core mission which is to facilitate access to legislators and decision makers for our community so that out interests can be adequately represented and our issues prominently addressed,” said President Rowny.

Amongst in his remarks, Executive Director Barcikowski stated that “We are committed to ensuring that the collective voice of the over 10 million Polish Americans in the United States is heard loud and clear here on Capitol Hill, and that our concerns are part of the dialogue that shapes these efforts.”

Representative Marcy Kaptur, a much recognized leader on Polish American issues, said that “I am a lover of Poland and a citizen of great expectations for her future.” Included in her words were references to building even stronger political and military ties between the U.S. and Poland. She mentioned her immigrant family’s humble beginnings in a Polish village many years ago. Kaptur encouraged more Polish Americans to run for Congress, and emphasized the critical importance of Poland’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (“JOLT Act”) during the present 114^th Congress. The APAC has taken a strong leadership role regarding this corrective legislation, in cooperation with Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf and his political staff at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.

In attendance at the seminal conclave were many Polonia leaders, key staff members of congressional Representatives and Senators (due to the Congress being in joint session), and a Polish Embassy delegation led by Charge d’Affaires Maciej Pisarski.

The APAC Vision: “The American Polish Advisory Council is a Washington, D.C. based bi-partisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to engage Polish Americans politically and represent Polish American interests in Washington and beyond” (APAC press release). You are invited to visit the APAC website – www.apacouncil.info – for its much more comprehensive Mission Statement, and other organizational information and activities reports.

In Photo: Some of the participants and guests.

Richard P. Poremski
Polish American Journal
Washington, DC Bureau
May 28, 2015