If you're not of Polish ancestry, you probably don't check the website msz.gov.pl very often.

But if you look there today, you'll see photos of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) in Poland chatting with the foreign minister.

Kirk and Quigley are overseas pushing to have Poland join a list of 36 nations that quality for America's visa waiver program, which allows visitors with a passport to come to the United States without having to get a visa as well. Many Poles are offended that Poland, a longtime U.S. ally that has contributed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, is not one of the lucky 36. Poland's consul general in Chicago, Zyfmunt Matynia, calls it "a question of honor."

Poland repealed its visa requirement for U.S. travelers in 1991.

On Oct. 27, Calumet City passed a resolution supporting the visa waiver for Poland, Matynia said. So has Tinley Park.

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