[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 40 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATO FREEDOM CONSOLIDATION ACT OF 2007

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                               speech of

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2007

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today In support of H.R. 987, the 
NATO Freedom Consolation Act. In particular, I want to applaud my 
friend Mr. Tanner, and the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
for taking care to support Ukraine's progress towards NATO membership 
and designating that country as eligible for assistance under the NATO 
Participation Act.
  Last week, I participated in a meeting between Members of the 
Congressional Ukrainian Congress and Members of the Ukrainian 
Parliament. During that meeting, it was suggested that policymakers 
here in Washington might be experiencing ``Ukraine fatigue.''
  We are not Ukraine fatigued; we are Ukraine concerned. We have seen 
clearly, both during the Orange Revolution and in last year's 
parliamentary elections, that democracy works in Ukraine, but we are 
concerned by what it has produced.
  President Yushchenko, and indeed many in Ukraine, have signaled a 
strong desire to join NATO. While there have been differences of late 
over the pace at which Ukraine should make progress towards that goal, 
this legislation takes exactly the right approach in reinforcing our 
commitment to help Ukraine achieve it.
  In particular, we can assist Ukraine in continuing a variety of 
reforms that not only move the country towards NATO eligibility, but 
also help the Ukrainian people build a properous and stable country 
more broadly. Further, it is critical that we help the Ukrainian people 
understand what NATO membership means, both its benefits and its 
responsibilities.
  Again Madam Speaker, I strongly support this legislation to 
facilitate further expansion of NATO, particularly with regard to 
assistance for Ukraine, and I urge its passage.

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