[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1207-E1208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE

                                 ______


                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, the American Overseas Interests Act, H.R. 
1561, does not encourage economic and democratic reforms in the New 
Independent States.
  The bill cuts aid to Ukraine and other New Independent States by 
nearly $100 million.
  At a time when Ukraine is receiving a more significant share of 
United States assistance to the NIS, this bill negates the gains that 
have been made.
  However, one positive step in the bill in the increase of our 
assistance to the victims of Chernobyl.
  This bill provides a $10 million commitment to help the victims of 
the Chernobyl disaster, especially the children.
  Thyroid cancer is plaguing the children in the region.
  There are hundreds of thousands of people with severe health 
problems.
  And the worst is yet to come, because many of the effects of the 
Chernobyl nuclear disaster will not be known until later this decade.
  There is a desperate need for this aid.
  Ukraine faces a severe shortage of medical supplies and effective 
health care.
  Our aid to Ukraine and other New Independent States is less than 10 
percent of the foreign aid budget, which is less than 2 percent of our 
Federal budget.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased we were able to help the victims of 
Chernobyl. [[Page E1208]] 
  But the bill on balance will not provide much help to Ukraine.
  We must do better than this to build democracy and continue economic 
reforms in Ukraine.


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