WASHINGTON — At an event marking Polish Constitution Day, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a founder of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Caucus on Poland and member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was presented with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland award. Murphy was selected for the prestigious award by then-President of Poland Bronis?aw Komorowski for his contributions and leadership in advancing transatlantic cooperation and Polish-American relations. Murphy was presented with the award on May 20, 2016, during a ceremony at Polish Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf’s residence in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, Murphy spoke about the importance of the U.S. alliance with Poland and emphasized his unwavering support for Poland’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.

“I’m honored to receive the Order of the Merit,” said Murphy. “I grew up listening to my mother tell stories of her childhood in the tight-knit Polish community of New Britain, and eating the wonderful Polish food my grandmother and aunts would prepare. That part of my heritage, combined with the strong and vibrant Polish-American community in Connecticut, has really informed my interest over the years in the relationship between Poland and the United States, and has driven me to fight for issues important to Polish-Americans. I’m honored and look forward to continuing my work with Ambassador Schnepf to cement our two nations’ strong bilateral relationship.”

Several hundred guests attended the ceremony. Among the guests in attendance were Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Heffern, well-known Polish-Americans such as Wladyslaw Zachariasiewicz, General Edward Rowny and Julian Kulski, as well as the President of the Constitutional Tribunal Professor Andrzej Rzeplinski