IV 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 401 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

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.