[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8633-H8635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REMEMBERING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UKRAINIAN FAMINE-GENOCIDE OF 
                               1932-1933

  Mr. SCOTT of GEORGIA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1314) remembering the 75th anniversary 
of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 and extending the deepest 
sympathies of the House of Representatives to the victims, survivors, 
and families of this tragedy, and for other purposes, as amended.

[[Page H8634]]

  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1314

       Whereas in 1932 and 1933, an estimated seven to 10 million 
     Ukrainian people perished at the will of the totalitarian 
     Stalinist government of the former Soviet Union, which 
     perpetrated a premeditated famine in Ukraine in an effort to 
     break the nation's resistance to collectivization and 
     communist occupation;
       Whereas the Soviet Government deliberately confiscated 
     grain harvests and starved millions of Ukrainian men, women, 
     and children by a policy of forced collectivization that 
     sought to destroy the nationally conscious movement for 
     independence;
       Whereas Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin ordered the borders 
     of Ukraine sealed to prevent anyone from escaping the man-
     made starvation and preventing any international food aid 
     that would provide relief to the starving;
       Whereas numerous scholars worldwide have worked to uncover 
     the scale of the famine, including Canadian wheat expert 
     Andrew Cairns who visited Ukraine in 1932 and was told that 
     there was no grain ``because the government had collected so 
     much grain and exported it to England and Italy,'' while 
     simultaneously denying food aid to the people of Ukraine;
       Whereas nearly a quarter of the rural population of Ukraine 
     was eliminated due to forced starvation, while the entire 
     nation suffered from the consequences of the prolonged lack 
     of food;
       Whereas the Soviet Government manipulated and censored 
     foreign journalists, including New York Times correspondent 
     Walter Duranty, who knowingly denied not only the scope and 
     magnitude, but also the existence, of a deadly man-made 
     famine in his reports from Ukraine;
       Whereas noted correspondents of the time were castigated by 
     the Soviet Union for their accuracy and courage in depicting 
     and reporting the famine in Ukraine, including Gareth Jones, 
     William Henry Chamberlin, and Malcolm Muggeridge, who wrote, 
     ``[The farmers] will tell you that many have already died of 
     famine and that many are dying every day; that thousands have 
     been shot by the government and hundreds of thousands 
     exiled'';
       Whereas in May 1934, former Congressman Hamilton Fish 
     introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives 
     (House Resolution 399 of the 73d Congress) which called for 
     the condemnation of the Soviet Government for its acts of 
     destruction against the Ukrainian people;
       Whereas the United States Commission on the Ukraine Famine, 
     formed on December 13, 1985, conducted a study with the goal 
     of expanding the world's knowledge and understanding of the 
     Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, and concluded that the victims 
     were ``starved to death in a man-made famine'' and that 
     ``Joseph Stalin and those around him committed genocide 
     against Ukrainians in 1932-1933'';
       Whereas on May 15, 2003, in a special session, the 
     Ukrainian Parliament acknowledged that the Ukrainian Famine 
     (Holodomor) was engineered by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet 
     Government deliberately against the Ukrainian nation and 
     called upon international recognition of the Holodomor;
       Whereas with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, archival 
     documents became available that confirmed the deliberate and 
     pre-meditated deadly nature of the famine, and that exposed 
     the atrocities committed by the Soviet Government against the 
     Ukrainian people; and
       Whereas on October 13, 2006, the President of the United 
     States signed into law Public Law 109-340 that authorized the 
     Government of Ukraine ``to establish a memorial on Federal 
     land in the District of Columbia to honor the victims of the 
     Ukrainian famine-genocide of 1932-1933,'' in recognition of 
     the upcoming 75th anniversary of the tragedy in 2008: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) solemnly remembers the 75th anniversary of the 
     Ukrainian Famine (Holodomor) of 1932-1933 and extends its 
     deepest sympathies to the victims, survivors, and families of 
     this tragedy;
       (2) condemns the systematic violations of human rights, 
     including the freedom of self-determination and freedom of 
     speech, of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Government;
       (3) encourages dissemination of information regarding the 
     Ukrainian Famine (Holodomor) in order to expand the world's 
     knowledge of this man-made tragedy; and
       (4) supports the continuing efforts of Ukraine to work 
     toward ensuring democratic principles, a free-market economy, 
     and full respect for human rights, in order to enable Ukraine 
     to achieve its potential as an important strategic partner of 
     the United States in that region of the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to support this resolution that allows the House of 
Representatives to pause in remembrance of the 75th anniversary of the 
Ukrainian famine of 1932 and 1933 and extend its sympathies to the 
victims, survivors and relatives of this tragedy. I commend my 
distinguished colleague, Representative Levin of Michigan, and the 
cochair of the Ukrainian Caucus in the House for introducing this 
important resolution.
  At the beginning of the 20th century, Mr. Speaker, Ukraine was so 
renowned for its rich soil and high grain production that it was known 
as the ``bread basket of Europe.'' Such bounty serves only to amplify 
the magnitude of the country's loss: The deaths of nearly one-quarter 
of its entire rural population as a result of the Soviet policy of 
forced collectivism in 1932 and 1933.
  This premeditated famine was intended to break the nation's 
resistance to Communist occupation and destroy its movement for 
independence. While 7 to 10 million Ukrainians were starving to death, 
millions of tons of grain were kept in reservoirs, sold or sent to 
other parts of the Soviet Union. Further compounding this tragedy, 
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin ordered that the borders of Ukraine be 
sealed and that anyone trying to relocate family or children be 
severely punished or killed.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States of America has never forgotten this 
tragedy that occurred in Ukraine 75 years ago. As early as May 1934, 
former Congressman Hamilton Fish introduced a resolution in this House 
that called for condemnation of the Soviet Government for its acts of 
destruction against the Ukrainian people.
  The United States Commission on the Ukrainian Famine, which was 
established in December of 1985, worked to uncover the scale and the 
reasons for and the consequences of this terrible manmade famine. And 
in October 2006, President Bush signed a law authorizing the Government 
of Ukraine to construct a memorial in the District of Columbia to honor 
the victims of the famine.
  Today, 17 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine is a 
strong ally of the United States. We fully support the efforts of this 
young democracy to strengthen its political institutions, its rule of 
law and civil society. It's so appropriate that we pause today to 
remember the victims of the famine and reaffirm our continued 
friendship and solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
  I strongly support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of House Resolution 1314, 
commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian famine, Holodomor, 
of 1932 and 1933.
  The former Communist state known as the Soviet Union was controlled 
by a brutal regime that oppressed its own people as well as that of its 
neighbors. The scars left by the inhumane practices and policies of the 
Soviet leadership are still felt, despite the passage of 75 years since 
the famine in Ukraine and the passage of almost two decades since the 
Soviet regime's demise.
  During 1932 and 1933, Joseph Stalin's Communist regime intentionally 
confiscated grain harvest from the Ukrainian people and prevented any 
foreign food from being shipped in to help those who were starving to 
death.

                              {time}  1600

  The famine inflicted on Ukraine by the Stalinist regime during those 
years killed millions of Ukrainians. It is one of the most stark 
examples of the former Soviet regime's cruel and horrific policies.
  Among other items, this resolution notes the 75th anniversary of the 
Ukrainian famine and expresses sympathy to the victims, survivors and

[[Page H8635]]

families of that man-made calamity; condemns the violation of human 
rights, the freedom of speech and of the self-determination of the 
Ukrainian people by the former Soviet regime; encourages expanding the 
world's knowledge about this man-made disaster; and, lastly, supports 
continued efforts in Ukraine to strengthen the principles of democracy 
and of a free-market economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is now my distinct pleasure to 
yield 3 minutes to the distinguished Congressman from Michigan, 
Congressman Sander Levin, who is the sponsor of this resolution and is 
the very distinguished cochair of the Ukraine Caucus in the House of 
Representatives.
  (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LEVIN. Thank you very much, Mr. Scott, and I thank the chairman 
and the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for bringing 
this to the floor.
  I rise in support of this resolution, marking the 75th anniversary of 
the man-made famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in 1932 and 
1933.
  Recognizing this tragedy and remembering its victims are important 
for all of humanity, including 1.5 Ukrainian-Americans. It has special 
meaning to the people of Ukraine, who continue to struggle toward a 
more free, democratic, open society, and indeed to all of us who value 
freedom.
  During the famine-genocide of 1932-33, 7 to 10 million Ukrainians 
were deliberately and systematically starved to death. We are familiar 
in this House with the terrible suffering caused by famines that are 
the result of natural forces, but the famine of 1932-33 is all the more 
tragic because it resulted from criminal acts and deliberate decisions 
by Soviet officials. Despite efforts by the Soviet Government at the 
time and afterward to hide the planned and systematic nature of this 
famine-genocide, it is clear that the Soviet Union used food as a 
weapon.
  We in this country must persist in standing with those living under 
oppressive and tyrannical regimes as they struggle for their freedom. 
During the 109th Congress, we enacted a bill authorizing the Government 
of Ukraine to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the 
victims of the Ukrainian famine-genocide. The Ukrainian Government and 
the Ukrainian-American community are working with the appropriate 
Federal agencies to identify a site for this memorial.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the 
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and a 
true champion of human rights around the world.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for 
her leadership, and thank Chairman Levin for sponsoring this very 
important resolution.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1314, commemorating and honoring 
the memory of victims of the abominable act perpetrated against the 
people of Ukraine from 1932 to 1933.
  Seventy-five years ago, millions, and the estimates are as high as 10 
million, men, women and children were murdered by starvation so that 
one man, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, could consolidate control over 
the Ukraine. In an attempt to secure collectivization and to break the 
spirit of the independent-minded Ukrainian peasants, Stalin ordered the 
expropriation of all the foods in the rural population. It was shipped 
to other areas of the Soviet Union or sold abroad. Peasants who refused 
to turn over grain to the state were deported or executed. Without food 
or grain, mass starvation ensued, as was Stalin's intention.
  Madam Speaker, food was used as a weapon in a crime against humanity 
staggering in its scope. This famine was man-made, the planned 
consequence of a deliberate policy which aimed to wipe out a 
substantial part of the Ukrainian people in order to crush the spirit 
of those who remain. In short, genocide was committed against the 
Ukrainian people.
  Madam Speaker, over the years I have read many works of Stalin's 
genocide against the people of Ukraine, but I recall a moment back in 
the 1980s when I saw the unforgettable documentary, Harvest of Sorrow. 
It documented and depicted the horrors of the famine, so that no one 
since has denied this mind-boggling crime and tragedy. In its bare, 
stark truth, it was one of the most moving films I have ever seen.
  I also recall the fine work of the congressionally mandated Ukraine 
Famine Commission, which issued its well-documented report in 1988. I 
am happy that Mr. Levin's resolution notes that there were those in the 
West, including the New York Times correspondent Walt Duranty, who 
deliberately falsified their reporting so to cover up the famine 
because they wanted to ensure that the Soviet Union got ``a good 
press.''
  The fact is that for over 40 years the planned famine was hardly 
spoken or written about in our country, due to an academic skepticism 
and silence enforced by political correctness. When Ukrainians and 
others tried to break through the wall of silence, they were treated 
with derision. This silence, which lasted from the 1930s through the 
publication of Harvest of Sorrow, made a sorry chapter in the history 
of American intellectual life.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution will continue to recognize one of the 
most horrific events in the last century in the hopes that mass murders 
of this kind never happen again. I support this resolution 
unreservedly. I hope that the full membership of this body supports it 
unanimously.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Solis). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1314, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Remembering 
the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine (Holodomor) of 1932-1933 
and extending the deepest sympathies of the House of Representatives to 
the victims, survivors, and families of this tragedy, and for other 
purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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