Since being released from the shackles of socialism in 1989, Poland has been one of the most stalwart allies of the United States. The country has continually stood by America, acting in a way only the closest of allies do. Despite this immense support Poles have shown for Americans, they continue to suffer from strict Visa guidelines, preventing them from freely coming into the United States. Although the request to add Poland to the Visa Waiver program has so far been denied, the United States Congress is now taking up this cause as a top priority.

Representative Rahm Emanuel brought this issue to the attention of Congress as a whole on July 27, when he praised the 9/11 bill, which calls for the renovation of the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program is a program the United States has that lets citizens of select countries travel easily to the United States without having to acquire a visa. This program allows such citizens to remain in America for 90 days without a visa. Emanuel is a representative in the state of Illinois, which comes as no surprise since Illinois is home to the largest Polish American population in the country.

While Rahm Emanuel has been a leader of the move to add Poland to the Visa Waiver Program, the issue has been supported by both Republicans and Democrats. In 2006, President Bush voiced his support for the addition of deserving nations to this program, one of which is Poland. Although the Visa Waiver program is yet to be reworked, the passage of this bill is a major step in the process, along with Emanuel’s proposed Visa Waiver Modernization Act of 2007, and is sure to be a major victory for all countries looking to get into the program, as well as for the United States.

News release from the Office of Congressman Rahm Emanuel