Our History
The Polish American Congress was established in response to the threat to Poland’s freedom caused by German and Soviet aggression in September 1939 and to express in one voice; support for the restoration of a free and sovereign Poland once the war was won. The Congress of Polonia met in Buffalo, New York, from May 28 to June 1, 1944. Composed of roughly 2,600 delegates representing Polish and Polish-American organizations, the Congress created the PAC, defining its goal of a free Poland and underscoring its support for the US war effort against the Axis powers.
The PAC was the first umbrella organization representing a majority of Polish-Americans, who had been represented by a wide range of smaller, mostly local organizations. Creation of PAC was enthusiastically welcomed by most of the Polish-American community. Shortly after its creation, it boasted 6 million members and followers.
The Congress elected Karol Rozmarek as the first president of the PAC. He was succeeded in 1968 by Aloysius Mazewski, who served until his death in 1988. Under Mazewski, Leonard F. Walentynowicz served as executive director of the PAC for a number of years. Edward Moskal was elected president in 1988, and he, too, served as president for the remainder of his life. Its current president is Frank J. Spula.
About Polish American Congress
The Polish American Congress is a National Umbrella Organization, representing 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.
Recent News
Statement by President of PAC on 3SI
Szanowna Pani Olga Sowińska Kongres 60 Milionów Szanowna Pani, Jeszcze raz serdecznie dziękuję za zaproszenie mnie do udziału w panelu dyskusyjnym podczas Kongresu 60 Milionów w Rzeszowie zaplanowanego na październik 2020 r. Wyrażam żal, że nie będę na tym ważnym...
Good News: The Three Seas Initiative House Resolution Moves Forward
by John Czop House Resolution 672, the Three Seas Resolution will get marked up by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on 1 October. It has 41 co-sponsors, with an approximately even split between Republican and Democrat co-sponsors. The next...
The Repression of Belarus’s Democratic Movement
by John Czop PAC Director of Policy and Planning Over the past week, the brutal repression of Belarus's democratic movement by the Lukashenko regime recalls the theme of Professor Zbigniew Brzezinski's keynote speech, at the November 2005 symposium: "Poland's Foreign...
REQUEST FOR ACTION ON 80th ANNIVERSARY KATYŃ COMMEMORATIVE CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION
This is the moment for members of the POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS to phone their members of Congress at their District Offices. Please ask your United States Senators to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 566, a non-controversial description of why Stalin ordered the mass...
Featured Stories
The Importance of Solidarity in Defending Central and East Europe from Kremlin Aggression
As we remember the heroes of Solidarnosc 40 years after the declaration of Martial Law in Poland, the legacy forged from the sacrifices and sufferings of those who fought for the freedom and dignity of their homeland remains alive today. The courageous efforts of the...
Surviving in a Multipolar World: How East-Central Europe can Prosper in an Uncertain Future
As recent years have seen heightened geopolitical instability and conflict throughout the globe, it has increasingly become clear that the post-Cold War world order is unraveling. As revanchist powers assert their dominance over their claimed spheres of influence, the...
The Kremlin’s Hand: How Moscow Benefits from the Polish-Belarusian Border Crisis
As world attention focuses upon the worsening engineered migrant crisis along the Polish-Belarusian border, the EU can no longer ignore the impending humanitarian disaster unfolding along its eastern flank. As Polish border services contended with increasingly hostile...
The Three Seas Initiative: Freeing East-Central Europe One Pipeline at a Time
Established by the Presidents of Poland and Croatia in 2015 as a strategy of ensuring the security of East-Central Europe by facilitating cooperation between the countries of the region, the Three Seas Initiative has grown in scope and potential as it has proven it...
Latest Press
CEEC Statement on Ukraine Talks
ON POLAND’S INDEPENDENCE DAY POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS PRESIDENT SPULA CALLS FOR POLAND’S ALLIES TO SUPPORT HER AGAINST RUSSIAN INTIMIDATION
Poland and America are partners in freedom. The democratic revolutions of the late eighteenth century which challenged authoritarian governments in nearly all countries of the Atlantic world only succeeded in America. The democratic revolution prevailed in America...
Grand opening of Polish Heritage Center in Texas
by Dr. Mark Pienkos Polish American Congress First Vice President The brand new $14M Polish Heritage Center in Panna Maria, TX was officially opened on Saturday, October 23, 2021 with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring many dignitaries, including Bishop Emeritus John...
Sixty Years of Studying Poland – a conversation with Prof. Norman Davies
This event will take place on September 23 at 12:00 p.m. (NYC time). Read more about it and register here: https://www.thekf.org/kf/events/KF_Online_Programs/sixty-years-of-studying-poland-a/
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