[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 295 Engrossed in House (EH)]


  2d Session

                            H. CON. RES. 295

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

   Expressing the sense of Congress that the 65th anniversary of the 
    Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933 should serve as a reminder of the 
  brutality of the government of the former Soviet Union's repressive 
                 policies toward the Ukrainian people.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 295

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas this year marks the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-
        1933 that caused the deaths of at least 7,000,000 Ukrainians and that 
        was covered up and officially denied by the government of the former 
        Soviet Union;
Whereas millions of Ukrainians died, not by natural causes such as pestilence, 
        drought, floods, or a poor harvest, but by policies designed to punish 
        Ukraine for its aversion and opposition to the government of the former 
        Soviet Union's oppression and imperialism, including the forced 
        collectivization of agriculture;
Whereas, when Ukraine was famine-stricken, the government of the former Soviet 
        Union exported 1,700,000 tons of grain to the West while offers from 
        international relief organizations to assist the starving population 
        were rejected on the grounds that there was no famine in Ukraine and no 
        need for the assistance;
Whereas the borders of Ukraine were tightly controlled and starving Ukrainians 
        were not allowed to cross into Russian territory in search of bread;
Whereas, in his book ``The Harvest of Sorrow'', British historian Robert 
        Conquest explains, ``A quarter of the rural population, men, women, and 
        children, lay dead or dying, the rest in various stages of debilitation 
        with no strength to bury their families or neighbors.'';
Whereas the Commission on the Ukraine Famine was established on December 13, 
        1985, to conduct a study with the goal of expanding the world's 
        knowledge and understanding of the famine and to expose the government 
        of the former Soviet Union for its atrocities in the famine;
Whereas the Commission's report to Congress confirmed that the government of the 
        former Soviet Union consciously employed the brutal policy of forced 
        famine to repress the Ukrainian population and to oppress the 
        Ukrainians' inviolable religious and political rights; and
Whereas the Commission on the Ukraine Famine presented 4 volumes of findings and 
        conclusions, 10 volumes of archival material, and over 200 cassettes of 
        testimony from famine survivors to the newly independent Government of 
        Ukraine in 1993, during the official observances of the 60th anniversary 
        of the Ukrainian famine in Kyiv, Ukraine: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the victims of the government of the former Soviet 
        Union-engineered Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933 be solemnly 
        remembered on its 65th anniversary;
            (2) the Congress condemns the systematic disregard for 
        human life, human rights, human liberty, and self-determination 
        that characterized the repressive policies of the government of 
        the former Soviet Union during the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-
        1933;
            (3) on the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 
        1932-1933, in contrast to the policies of the government of the 
        former Soviet Union, Ukraine is moving toward democracy, a 
        free-market economy, and full respect for human rights, and it 
        is essential that the United States continue to assist Ukraine 
        as it proceeds down this path; and
            (4) any supplemental material that will assist in the 
        dissemination of information about the Ukrainian Famine of 
        1932-1933, and thereby help to prevent similar future 
        tragedies, be compiled and made available worldwide for the 
        study of the devastation of the famine.

SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

    The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall--
            (1) transmit a copy of this resolution to--
                    (A) the President;
                    (B) the Secretary of State; and
                    (C) the co-chairs of the Congressional Ukrainian 
                Caucus; and
            (2) request that the Secretary of State transmit a copy of 
        this resolution to the Government of Ukraine.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 10, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.