[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 401 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 401

Observing the 20th anniversary of Ukrainian independence and expressing 
strong and continued support to the Ukrainian people for their efforts 
     toward ensuring democratic principles, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 15, 2011

  Mr. Levin (for himself, Mr. Holden, Ms. Schwartz, Mr. Quigley, Mr. 
 Rangel, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. 
    Bartlett, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Towns, and Mrs. Lowey) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Observing the 20th anniversary of Ukrainian independence and expressing 
strong and continued support to the Ukrainian people for their efforts 
     toward ensuring democratic principles, and for other purposes.

Whereas on August 24, 1991, the people of Ukraine proclaimed they would no 
        longer be subject to Soviet rule, inspiring the world with their call 
        for democracy and the rule of law;
Whereas on December 1, 1991, Leonid M. Kravchuk was freely elected to a five-
        year term as Ukraine's first president, and at the same time, a national 
        referendum on independence was approved by more than 90 percent of the 
        voters;
Whereas a new, democratic constitution was adopted on June 28, 1996, mandating a 
        pluralistic political system with protection of basic human rights and 
        liberties;
Whereas the Ukrainian people, most dramatically during the 2004 Orange 
        Revolution, clearly proved their ability to resolve political 
        differences through nonviolent protest by engaging in peaceful 
        demonstrations in Kiev and elsewhere to protest the unfair runoff 
        presidential election on November 21, 2004, and the declaration by the 
        Ukrainian Central Election Commission that Viktor Yanukovych had won a 
        majority of the votes;
Whereas on December 26, 2004, the Ukrainian Supreme Court ruled the November 21, 
        2004, presidential vote invalid, allowing the people of Ukraine to again 
        voice their desire for a more democratic, transparent, and fair election 
        process, leading to the election of Viktor Yushchenko on January 10, 
        2005;
Whereas the elections to Ukraine's parliament, known as Verkhovna Rada, were 
        held on March 26, 2006;
Whereas Ukraine currently faces a political crisis that could jeopardize that 
        country's hard-fought and substantial democratic gains;
Whereas the United States has expressed concern about the Government of Ukraine 
        infringing on constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and of the 
        press, including reports of intimidation and violence against 
        journalists by national and local officials;
Whereas in April 2011, an independent team from the Freedom House concluded an 
        assessment of Ukraine's democracy and human rights situation, 
        downgrading Ukraine from Free to Partly Free due to the centralization 
        and consolidation of power under the Yanukovych Administration and 
        subsequent erosion of basic freedoms of assembly and speech;
Whereas the United States has expressed concern about the appearance of 
        politically motivated prosecutions of opposition figures in Ukraine, 
        including that of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko; and
Whereas the United States Congress has consistently demonstrated strong 
        bipartisan support for an independent, democratic Ukraine: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) observes the 20th anniversary of Ukrainian 
        independence, reflecting on the democratic reforms that have 
        been accomplished and efforts that still must be made;
            (2) urges the Government of Ukraine to refrain from actions 
        that undermine democratic principles, human rights, and the 
        rule of law in Ukraine; and
            (3) expresses strong and continuing support for the efforts 
        of the Ukrainian people to continue to work toward ensuring 
        democratic principles, a free-market economy, and full respect 
        for human rights, which enable Ukraine to achieve its potential 
        as an important strategic partner of the United States in that 
        region of the world.
                                 <all>