PRINTER'S NO. 2914
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
191
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, FREEMAN, MADDEN, KULIK, BOBACK, HARKINS,
JAMES, ROTHMAN, MILLARD, RYAN, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS,
KINSEY, SANCHEZ, JONES, NEILSON, DELLOSO AND DeLUCA,
MARCH 31, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 31, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States and the President of
the United States to increase admission of Ukrainian refugees
in America and to direct humanitarian aid to Poland to assist
the millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad.
WHEREAS, As of March 15, 2022, more than 2.97 million
refugees have fled Ukraine since February 24 due to the Russian
invasion; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 1.8 million Ukrainian refugees have
fled directly to Poland; and
WHEREAS, The number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland
approximately matches the total population of Warsaw, Poland's
capital and largest city; and
WHEREAS, Humanitarian services in major cities such as Krakow
and Warsaw are at capacity and overcrowded; and
WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of refugees are arriving in Poland
every day, making this the fastest-growing refugee crisis since
World War II; and
WHEREAS, Women and children are among those making the
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journey into Poland, many waiting up to 24 hours to be admitted
into the country; and
WHEREAS, Countries bordering Ukraine have offered refugees
shelter at reception centers for refugees who do not have any
relatives to stay with; and
WHEREAS, The European Union has offered Ukrainian refugees
the right to live, work and receive benefits within any member-
country for up to three years without needing to obtain special
legal status; and
WHEREAS, Poland has requested more money from the European
Union to provide for the refugees currently located inside the
country; and
WHEREAS, The United States has signaled that Europe should be
the primary destination for Ukrainian refugees; and
WHEREAS, The United States has only admitted 514 Ukrainian
refugees since the beginning of the conflict; and
WHEREAS, Refugee resettlement in the United States was
accelerated following the military withdrawal from Afghanistan
through a process known as humanitarian parole; and
WHEREAS, The United States Government must do more to support
the people of Ukraine who have been forced to flee their home
country by welcoming more refugees into America and by providing
support and resources to Poland; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth have an obligation to
support Poland's noble efforts as the history and culture of
this Commonwealth has been greatly enriched by Polish
immigration; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has long been a destination for Polish
immigrants coming to the United States, as early as the 18th
century; and
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WHEREAS, People from Poland represented the largest group of
immigrants into Pennsylvania until 1901; and
WHEREAS, Polish immigrants settled in regions of this
Commonwealth that were booming with heavy industrial sites such
as anthracite mines and steel mills; and
WHEREAS, These regions primarily included Allegheny, Luzerne,
and Northumberland Counties; and
WHEREAS, Polish immigrants dominated the steel, leather,
meatpacking, oil and shipping industries in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In honor of this Commonwealth's ties to Polish
heritage, several cities have sister cities located in Poland;
and
WHEREAS, The sister city of Erie is Lublin, Poland, and the
sister city of Philadelphia is ToruĊ, Poland; and
WHEREAS, As thousands of Ukrainians continue to face
uncertainty and seek refuge in Poland each day, the help of the
United States Government has never been more critical; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Congress
of the United States and the President of the United States to
increase admission of Ukrainian refugees in America and to
direct humanitarian aid to Poland to assist the millions of
Ukrainian refugees abroad.
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