[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 148 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     RESIDENCY FOR VOVA MALOFIENKO

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to express my 
pleasure that legislation providing permanent residency in the United 
States for 13-year-old Vova Malofienko and his family, residents of 
Short Hills, NJ, passed the Senate. Vova Malofienko has leukemia from 
his having lived 30 miles from the Chornobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine 
during and after the infamous disaster. His leukemia is in remission 
only because of the emergency medical treatment he's received in the 
United States.
  Were Vova forced to return to Ukraine, the United States would be 
placing an innocent child near the front of the line on death row. Vova 
was one of eight children of Chornobyl who came to the United States in 
1990--and when the seven others later returned to Ukraine, they died 
one by one because of inadequate cancer treatment. Not a child 
survived.
  On behalf of the Malofienkos, I thank my colleagues for their 
invaluable support of this legislation. We are a compassionate nation 
that has opened its heart to Vova and his family, who came in dire 
medical need.
   Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to tell my 
colleagues a bit more about Vova and his family. Vladimir ``Vova'' 
Malofienko was born on June 29, 1984 in Chernigov, Ukraine. His mother, 
Olga Matsko, was born on September 29, 1959 in Piratin, Ukraine, and 
his father, Alexander Malofienko, was born on December 25, 1957 in 
Chernigov, Ukraine.
  Vova was only 2 when the Chornobyl reactor exploded in 1986 and 
exposed him to radiation. He was diagnosed with leukemia in June 1990 
at age 6. Vova and his mother came to the United States later in 1990 
on a B-1 visitor's visa so that Vova could attend a cancer treatment 
camp for children, sponsored by the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund. 
Vova was invited to stay in the United States to receive more extensive 
treatment and chemotherapy. In November of 1992, Vova's cancer went 
into remission. Vova's father, Alexander Malofienko joined the family 
in 1992, also on a B-1 visa.
  Vova and his family have wanted to remain in the United States 
because of the extraordinary health concerns facing Vova. Regrettably, 
as I mentioned earlier, Vova is the only survivor from a group of eight 
children of Chornobyl who came to the United States together in 1990. 
The seven other children returned to Ukraine and have since died. Now 
that Vova is in remission, it would indeed be tragic to return him to 
an environment which would once again endanger his life. The air, food, 
and water in Ukraine are contaminated with radiation that people 
residing there for several years have grown accustomed to, but which 
could be perilous to Vova's weakened immune system.
  Furthermore, treatment available in Ukraine is not as sophisticated 
and up to date as treatment available in the United States. Before Vova 
came to the United States, no aggressive treatment for his leukemia had 
been provided. Although Vova completed his chemotherapy in 1992, he 
continues to need medical follow-up on a consistent basis, including 
physical examinations, lab work and radiological examinations to assure 
early detection and prompt and appropriate therapy in the unfortunate 
event the leukemia recurs.
  According to Dr. Peri Kamalakar, Director of the Valerie Fund 
Children's Center at Newark Beth Israel hospital, where Vova has 
received care, Vova's cancer is considered high risk with a threat of 
relapse. He is also at risk to develop significant later complications 
secondary to the intensive chemotherapy he received, including heart 
problems and secondary cancers. Another significant risk is relapse in 
the bone marrow, testis, or central nervous system. Dr. Kamalakar has 
concluded that Vova's chance for a permanent cure is considerably 
better if he stays in the United States.
  I am pleased that this bill has passed today. It is now up to the 
House of Representatives to send this bill to the President and allow 
Vova and his family to remain in the United States. Finally, I would 
like to thank all of the Senators, from both sides of the aisle, who 
were involved in negotiations on these private relief bills.

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