[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 24 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H1693-H1697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC AND EUROPEAN ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF
UKRAINE
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 447) supporting the democratic and
European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to
choose their own future free of intimidation and fear, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 447
Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine
is in the national interest of the United States;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration
with Europe a national priority and has made significant
progress toward meeting the requirements for an Association
Agreement;
Whereas on November 21, 2013, following several months of
intense outside pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor
Yanukovych abruptly suspended negotiations on the Association
Agreement one week before it was due to be signed at the
European Union's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius,
Lithuania;
Whereas this reversal of stated government policy
precipitated demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of
Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities throughout
the country;
Whereas the demonstrators have been overwhelmingly peaceful
and have sought to exercise their constitutional rights to
freely assemble and express their opposition to President
Yanukovych's decision;
Whereas the demonstrators have consistently expressed their
support for democracy, human rights, greater government
accountability, and the rule of law, as well as for closer
relations with Europe;
Whereas on November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed
peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv's Independence Square,
resulting in many injuries and the arrest of several dozen
individuals;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, police raided 3 opposition
media outlets and the headquarters of an opposition party;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, despite President
Yanukovych's statement the previous day that he would engage
in talks with the opposition, police attempted to forcibly
evict peaceful protesters from central locations in Kyiv;
Whereas several journalists, including from Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, and civic activists supporting the
demonstrators have been brutally attacked;
Whereas on January 16, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament
passed, and President Yanukovych signed, legislation which
severely limits the right of peaceful protest, constrains
freedom of speech and the independent media, and unduly
restricts civil society organizations;
Whereas the passage of these undemocratic measures and
President Yanukovych's refusal to engage in substantive
dialogue with opposition leaders precipitated several days of
violence and resulted in several deaths and hundreds of
injuries, as well as numerous allegations of police
brutality; and
Whereas in the face of spreading demonstrations, Ukrainian
Government representatives and opposition leaders have
entered into negotiations which on January 28, 2014, resulted
in the resignation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet and
the repeal of most of the anti-democratic laws from January
16, 2014: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) greatly values the warm and close relationship the
United States has established with Ukraine since that country
regained its independence in 1991;
(2) supports the democratic and European aspirations of the
people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future
free of intimidation and fear;
(3) calls on the United States and the European Union to
continue to work together to support a peaceful resolution to
the crisis, and to continue to support the desire of millions
of Ukrainian citizens for democracy, human rights, government
accountability, and the rule of law, and closer relations
with Europe;
(4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition
parties, and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint
and avoid confrontation, and calls on the Government of
Ukraine to live up to its international obligations and
respect and uphold the democratic rights of its citizens,
including the freedom of assembly and expression, as well as
the freedom of the press;
(5) condemns all acts of violence and calls on the
Government of Ukraine to bring to justice those responsible
for violence and brutality against peaceful protesters, and
to release and drop any criminal charges against those
detained for peacefully exercising their democratic rights;
(6) welcomes the repeal by the Ukrainian parliament of most
of the anti-democratic measures adopted on January 16, 2014,
and urges President Yanukovych to continue to engage in
substantive talks with opposition leaders to address the
legitimate grievances of the opposition, and to take
additional steps to de-escalate tensions;
(7) urges the United States and the European Union to
continue to make clear to Ukraine's leaders that those who
authorize or engage in violence against peaceful protesters
will be held personally accountable;
(8) supports the measures taken by the Department of State
to revoke the visas of several Ukrainians linked to the
violence, and encourages the Administration to consider
additional targeted sanctions against those who authorize or
engage in the use of force; and
(9) urges all parties to engage in constructive, sustained
dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine's
current political and economic crisis.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and introduce extraneous materials on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I would like to thank my good friend and distinguished colleague, the
ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, for
introducing this bipartisan resolution supporting the democratic
aspirations of the Ukrainian people.
It is a timely appeal to the Government of Ukraine to stand down and
to avoid all further violence, to exercise the utmost restraint and
avoid confrontation. It calls on the government to bring to justice
those responsible for violence against peaceful protesters and to
release and drop any criminal charges against those detained for
peacefully exercising their democratic rights.
At this point, the government's crackdown has led to the deaths of at
least four protesters--perhaps more--and throughout Ukraine to numerous
beatings, arrests, detentions, abductions--including some from
hospitals--
[[Page H1694]]
the harassment of activists, journalists, medics, lawyers, and pro-
democracy NGOs.
On the Kyiv Maidan alone, or Independence Square, more than 1,800
individuals, mostly protesters but also some riot police, have been
injured. Thirty-six persons are confirmed missing, 49 people remain in
detention, and 26 are under house arrest. At least 30 medics working to
aid the injured on the Maidan have been attacked.
Also, 136 journalists have been attacked on the Maidan, including
investigative journalist Tetyana Chornovol, brutally beaten on
Christmas Day, and who investigators, rather incredibly, claimed was a
victim of road rage.
One of the most outrageous examples has been the case of activist
Dmitry Bulatov, who was abducted for 8 days before being left in a
forest outside of Kyiv, during which time he was tortured by his
captors who tried to force him to say he was an American spy.
The heroism, Madam Speaker, of the Ukrainian people persistently
demonstrating, struggling, and risking themselves for justice and
dignity is deeply inspiring. The witness of so many clergy on the
Maidan is a powerful reminder of the spiritual values that are at
stake.
Just last Thursday, I had the high honor and privilege of meeting in
my office with Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and
Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. These
brave and holy religious leaders are deeply concerned for the
faithful--and for the whole Ukrainian nation--and alarmed about the
potential for even worse violence, perhaps even civil conflict.
Patriarch Filaret said recently:
I appeal to both the power and opposition to stop violence
and to come to the negotiating table. All of you are
responsible before God for your earthly doings.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis called for an end to the violence, and
said:
I am close to Ukraine in prayer and, in particular, to
those who have lost their lives in recent days and to their
families. I hope that a constructive dialogue between the
institutions and civil society can take place, that any
resort to violence is avoided, and that the spirit of peace
and a search for common ground is in the hearts of all.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York expressed strong support for
antigovernment protesters in Ukraine. Writing on his blog, he
summarized the conflict as ``government thugs relishing the chance to
bludgeon and harass the hundreds of thousands of patriotic
Ukrainians,'' and described the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as ``a
church that has been starved, jackbooted, imprisoned, tortured,
persecuted, and martyred by Hitler, Stalin, and company.''
That said, Madam Speaker, I do want to note that there is a paradox
here. I know there are many outstanding people working in and for the
Ukrainian Government who love their country and have its best interest
at heart. Last year, for example, I met many times with Ukrainian
ministers, high-level officials, and the ambassador, including meetings
in Kyiv. This was because, in 2013, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kozhara
chaired the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and
made the fight against human trafficking a top priority for the
organization.
In June, it held a high-level conference in Kyiv to investigate and
promulgate best practices and ways that the 57 OSCE countries can
better coordinate antitrafficking efforts, including through training
transportation and hospitality industry employees in victim
identification. The Kyiv call to action was serious and successful. I
know because I was there. And what came out of that was a new OSCE plan
of action to combat human trafficking.
Madam Speaker, I want to point out that this resolution does not take
any position on whether Ukraine should sign an Association Agreement
with the European Union. That is a decision for the Ukrainians to make
themselves.
At the committee markup, we decided to make that point clear, and the
message should be clear. This is not about politics; this is about
human rights. Congress is supporting the Ukrainian people in their
defense of universal human values and not inserting itself into the
question of what Ukraine does vis-a-vis the European Union.
Madam Speaker, the Ukrainian people have endured horrific suffering
over the course of the last century, and this is what gives their
peaceful resistance on the Maidan such power.
Two world wars were fought on their soil. In the 1930s, as we all
know, Stalin inflicted a genocidal famine on them, which resulted in
the death of millions of men, women, and children, to say nothing of 70
years as a captive nation in the Soviet Union.
In the 1980s, many of us in this Chamber, and on the Helsinki
Commission especially, spoke out on behalf of Ukrainian human rights
activists imprisoned in the gulag, called for the legalization of the
then-banned and repressed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and held
several hearings on the Chernobyl disaster.
With Ukraine's long-awaited independence in 1991, newfound freedoms
also became a reality--or, we thought. But since 2010, with the
election of Viktor Yanukovych, human rights, rule of law, and democracy
have been under relentless attack--symbolized by the continued unjust
imprisonment of former Prime Minster and opposition leader Yulia
Tymoshenko, whose daughter, Yevhenia, testified at a Helsinki
Commission hearing I held in May of 2012 and on whose behalf I, along
with my colleagues, introduced a resolution in the previous Congress.
{time} 1800
It is the Ukrainian people's dissatisfaction with Yanukovych, his
rollback of democracy, that drives the protest movement. The long-
suffering Ukrainian people deserve a government that treats them with
dignity and treats them with respect. I am confident they will prevail
in their heroic struggle.
I strongly support this resolution and, again, thank my friend from
New York for authoring it.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 447, a resolution
I authored supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the
people of Ukraine.
I would first like to thank my original cosponsors, Chairman Ed Royce
and Representatives William Keating, ranking member of the Europe
Subcommittee; and Marcy Kaptur, Sandy Levin, and Jim Gerlach, of the
Ukraine Caucus, for their invaluable help in crafting this bipartisan
resolution.
I also thank my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith),
for his remarks and agree with everything he said.
The United States has been a staunch supporter of a democratic,
prosperous, and sovereign Ukraine. At this moment we must stand with
the people of Ukraine more than ever before.
As the world has watched, over the past several months, hundreds of
thousands of ordinary Ukrainian citizens have turned out in Kyiv and
cities throughout the country to exercise their democratic rights and
express their views.
The initial impetus for the demonstration was the Ukrainian
Government's unexpected rejection of an offer from the European Union
for closer political and economic ties. This rejection represented a
reversal of government policy and, in the view of a great many
Ukrainians, a lost opportunity for Ukraine to strengthen democratic
institutions and values and increase economic opportunities.
In addition, the demonstrators have turned out not only in support of
closer relations with Europe, but also more fundamentally in support of
democracy, good governance, human rights, and basic human dignity. The
fact that they have done so in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner is
very, very impressive. It is also inspiring.
Sadly, there have been exceptions to the peaceful nature of the
protests. These include police violence on several occasions late last
year, the disturbing pattern of beatings and abductions of journalists
and civil society activists, and the most recent and tragic violence in
January.
Following this dramatic increase in tensions last month, the most
recent developments in Ukraine give some cause for hope. I welcome the
fact that meaningful talks appear to have begun between the government
and opposition leaders.
[[Page H1695]]
I would also like to applaud the admirable efforts of the Obama
administration and our European partners to deescalate tensions and
support this dialogue.
Nevertheless, the situation in Ukraine remains highly volatile, and
it is imperative that we actively support a peaceful, negotiated end to
this crisis.
This resolution advances to that goal by strongly condemning all acts
of violence, irrespective of their perpetrators. Let me also take this
opportunity to condemn all acts of extremism in Ukraine, all acts of
hatred, and all acts of anti-Semitism.
Moreover, the resolution calls on all individuals to behave
responsibly. In particular, it calls on the Ukrainian authorities to
respect and uphold the democratic rights of the citizens of Ukraine.
It also states that those who authorize or engage in violence should
be held personally accountable for their actions, including by targeted
sanctions, if appropriate. This is why I welcome the recent actions by
the Department of State to revoke the visas of several individuals
linked to the violence.
The resolution further urges the Ukrainian Government to bring to
justice those responsible for violence against peaceful protesters,
journalists, and civic activists, and to take additional steps to
deescalate tensions.
Finally, the resolution urges all parties to continue the substantive
and sustained dialogue to peacefully resolve the crisis and address the
legitimate desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for a democratic,
European future looking West, not East.
In sum, the passage of this resolution would send a strong message of
support to the people of Ukraine. At this critical moment, they should
know that the United States and the United States Congress stand with
them as they seek to build a democratic, prosperous, and secure
Ukraine, respecting human rights and dignity and anchored firmly in
Europe.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 447.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), the cochair of
the Ukrainian Caucus.
Mr. GERLACH. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey.
Madam Speaker, I rise today because, every now and then, we are
reminded that there are still people around the world fighting fiercely
to secure the same individual liberties and foster the very same
democratic traditions that Americans have been blessed with for nearly
238 years.
During the past 3 months, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens
have taken to the streets of Kyiv and other cities in peaceful protest
of a government that has ignored the will of the people and steered the
country away from closer ties to democratic allies and supporters.
The initial response from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was
brutal. Government forces attacked protesters, resulting in at least
five reported deaths.
Furthermore, President Yanukovych enacted harsh new laws aimed at
snuffing out dissent by making it a crime to peacefully protest against
the government.
Thanks to the vigilance of my colleagues in the Congressional
Ukrainian Caucus and the leadership of Congressman Engel, Chairman
Royce, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Keating, the actions of
President Yanukovych have not gone unnoticed here in the United States
Congress.
Many of us have individually condemned the use of violent, repressive
tactics against the protesters. Those of us in the Congressional
Ukrainian Caucus have tried to convey to those fighting for democracy
in Ukraine that their efforts are not in vain, and that totalitarianism
must not be allowed to rise again in any fashion.
Today, all of us in the House have a chance to stand united with our
friends in Ukraine who desire greater economic opportunity and
individual liberty. So I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution to
let the world know the United States will not stand by and allow
repression, violence, and political intimidation to prevail in Ukraine.
Let's adopt this resolution for all those in Ukraine who wish for a
government that is transparent, honors the fundamental human rights of
its citizens, and respects the dignity of all Ukrainians, regardless of
political affiliation.
I thank the gentleman from California for introducing this
resolution. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for recognizing me.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Levin), the ranking member of the Ways and Means
Committee.
(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LEVIN. Thank you, Mr. Engel, for yielding, and to Mr. Smith also,
congratulations on your work.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution
447, supporting the democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people and
their right to choose their country's future and to choose its
direction, free from fear or intimidation, whether internal or
external.
For 3 months now, countless scores of Ukrainians across the country
have braved not only the bitter cold, but also the constant threat of
government-authorized violence, to peacefully stand up for the
universal principles of democracy and respect for human rights.
With this resolution, we, in the U.S. House, stand with them now.
A few weeks ago, I joined a large number of members of the Ukrainian
American community that I proudly represent in the Ninth Congressional
District to express support for those demonstrating in the still-colder
winter in Ukraine.
As a founding cochair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and
original cosponsor of this resolution, I believe it is important that
the House pass this expression of support for the Ukrainian people.
Those on Kyiv's Maidan and throughout the country need to know that
the world is watching, that the U.S. is watching, that we here are
watching, and we support them. I say to them, we are, and we do.
With colleagues, I recently had the privilege of meeting with
opposition members of the Ukrainian Parliament. I was struck by what
they indicated is their biggest fear and that of the demonstrators.
There is the fear of riot police and government-backed thugs beating
peaceful protesters, abhorrent behavior that has happened, resulting in
numerous deaths.
There is a fear of being among the disappeared. According to reports,
20 opposition activists are still missing. What those brave democratic
activists told us they are most afraid of is being forgotten, of the
international community turning its attention elsewhere, of our global
commitment to human rights and the rule of law being mere words,
idealism overtaken by other foreign policy priorities.
The House today will take an important step to ensure that does not
happen; that that fear is not realized.
Together with the Obama administration's continued forceful efforts,
and the earlier passage of a similar resolution in the Senate, we
present a unified American front. We show the people of Ukraine that we
will steadfastly support their democratic and European aspirations.
We show Ukrainian President Yanukovych that America will not sit on
the sidelines in the face of their government repression and gross
human rights violation, and, as the Obama administration has shown,
America will not only condemn, we will take action.
Like others, I welcomed the State Department's revocation of visas
held by Ukrainian Government officials found to be responsible for
violence against peaceful protesters.
I encourage the administration to take additional action, including
targeted financial sanctions, should violence and human rights
violations continue, which is what this resolution calls for.
It is time for the Government of Ukraine to immediately cease the use
of violence, recognize the human rights of peaceful protesters and
independent media, and participate in a true national dialogue with the
opposition.
I urge all of my colleagues to stand and stand up with the courage,
resilience, and indomitable spirit of the
[[Page H1696]]
Ukrainian people and pass this resolution.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), a very distinguished member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. CICILLINE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 447. As the
tensions continue to rise in Ukraine about the future direction of this
country, we understand that the people of Ukraine are hoping to secure
basic democratic freedoms of association and speech for all citizens.
I join my colleagues in stressing the importance of the adoption of
democratic social norms in Ukraine and in the region.
Over the past several years, we have seen some impressive
improvements in the area of human rights. However, the situation for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals continues to cause
serious concern. The rampant and unacceptable state-sponsored
homophobia that we are witnessing in neighboring Russia is slowly
invading Ukraine as well.
Some individuals have sought to introduce legislation in the
Ukrainian Rada, similar to Russia's, to ban so-called ``homosexual
propaganda,'' which does nothing more than limit the fundamental
freedoms of association, speech, and assembly for all Ukrainians,
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The citizens of Ukraine, including her LGBT citizens, deserve much,
much better, and they should know we stand with them as they pursue a
free, inclusive, and democratic society.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York has 10\1/2\
minutes remaining.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the cochair of the Ukrainian Caucus, an original
cosponsor of this resolution, and she and I had the opportunity many
years ago to travel together to Ukraine.
{time} 1815
Ms. KAPTUR. I want to thank Ranking Member Eliot Engel of New York
for his great leadership and Chairman Chris Smith of New Jersey for
bringing this vitally important resolution up tonight.
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my support for House Resolution 447,
supporting the courageous democratic aspirations of the people of
Ukraine. I want to thank, on a bipartisan basis, Congressman Jim
Gerlach of Pennsylvania for his cochairmanship of our Ukrainian Caucus.
We all stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The people of Ukraine have the human right to choose their own
future, free of intimidation and fear. What courage it took for these
interfaith religious leaders at Maidan to stand with their religious
symbols, icons, and crosses and other religious garb, along with their
leaders, with their backs to the barricades, protecting the students as
they faced the police.
Over the past few months, the world has stood witness as Ukrainians
have risen up, united in their desire for a more free, transparent, and
democratic Ukraine. If one knows anything about the history of Ukraine,
one knows what it took to do that in that place.
The passage of House Resolution 447 here this evening means that our
Congress stands in solidarity with those in Maidan and that we lend our
support to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians peacefully
demonstrating in the freezing, bitter subzero temperatures for over 2
months for a more democratic and better future for all their people.
If there is a God--and I believe there is--surely he or she will look
down on this place and bless these people.
The Ukrainian national anthem opens with the words:
Ukraine's glory has not yet died, nor her freedom; upon us,
fellow compatriots, fate shall smile once more.
Indeed, fate shall smile once more upon Ukraine. Long live Ukraina.
Long live her young people who hold in their hearts the democratic
future of that nation.
Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of H. Res. 447. I say to my
colleagues here, this is a most important crossroads in history. Truly,
this country can be the borderland nation that links West and East and
South and North in that important part of the world.
The world needs Ukraine. She is already the third-largest grain
exporter to the world's people. Her talent, her artistry, her vision
has been quashed for so many, many, many decades and generations. Now
is her moment, and we stand with her people, aspiring to that better
day for all.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I just want to take 30
seconds to respond and thank the gentlelady from Ohio for her very
eloquent defense of the Ukrainian people and for, again, reminding
Americans and the world of the pivotal role that the patriarch and the
highest, as well as people who are just among the faithful, are
playing.
The religious community is standing in solidarity with those who are
aspiring for freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. And they
have literally put themselves between the police and the barricades in
a way that puts their very lives at risk, holding up crosses, holding
up other, as the gentlelady said, icons of faith to say that we serve a
God of peace and reconciliation.
Ms. KAPTUR. Will the gentleman yield?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield myself an additional 30 seconds, and
I yield to the gentlewoman.
Ms. KAPTUR. I would just say to the gentleman, looking back at the
history of Ukraine and that region, the fact that you would have
leaders of the Jewish faith, leaders of the Islam faith, leaders of
Christian faiths, be they Orthodox or Uniate or Roman Rite, all--all--
risking their substance, it is just incredible.
This should be on the front page of every newspaper in the world, and
world opinion should move progress forward and help those people who
have stood in that bitter cold weather for over 2 months. Unless you
have traveled to Ukraine and experienced those temperatures yourself,
you would not fully appreciate what they are enduring.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield myself an additional 30 seconds.
I am glad you brought up the interfaith aspect of this as well. I
actually chaired another hearing on anti-Semitism just several months
ago, and the chief rabbi from the Ukraine came and testified and gave
very powerful testimony as to how the faith community is working side
by side to mitigate and, hopefully, end the cruelty of anti-Semitism
while simultaneously working with Christians and others on behalf of
human rights.
Again, this demonstration of the faith community should go noted by
everybody in this Chamber and, I hope, by everyone in the world.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), a very distinguished member of both the
Budget and Ways and Means Committees and a member of the Ukrainian
Caucus as well.
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank both Mr. Eliot Engel of New York
and Mr. Chris Smith of New Jersey for leading us through what are
important things for us to contemplate, because what is applicable to
Ukraine is applicable to a lot of places in this world. So I am a proud
cosponsor and a strong supporter of H. Res. 447. It expresses our
solidarity with the Ukrainian people and affirms their right to choose
their own future.
In this room, not that many years ago, we brought in the Prime
Minister. Many of us had these flags, the colors of the Ukraine
country.
Mass protests have broken out in Ukraine following President
Yanukovych's decision in November to back away from negotiations for
closer integration with Europe. So Russia has their fingers in all of
this. Beware.
There was an agreement which had been supported by millions of
Ukrainians in Ukraine and around the world.
[[Page H1697]]
We have known about the violence. We have known about the detainment
because folks just expressed their legitimate dissatisfaction with
Yanukovych's government.
However, the current crisis in Ukraine had deeper roots. Almost a
decade ago, the Orange Revolution led to the annulment of a fraudulent
election which would have brought Viktor Yanukovych to power. In the
wake of protests and civil disobedience on a massive scale, the
Ukrainian people, instead, chose President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime
Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She is in jail. She is in jail right now, as
we speak, still. Now the democratic gains made as a result of that
Orange Revolution are at risk. Viktor Yanukovych has gained the
presidency, and former Prime Minister Tymoshenko, as I said, is still
in jail.
The use of force to suppress open expression by political opponents
or popular protests could never be tolerated in a free and democratic
society, and those within the Ukrainian Government who authorized these
brutal crackdowns should be held accountable for their egregious abuse
of power.
There has been a strong outpouring of support for the protesters from
the large and active Ukrainian American community, many of whom live in
my district, the Ninth Congressional District of New Jersey.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
Mr. PASCRELL. Ukrainian Americans deeply desire a solution to this
crisis which respects the fundamental rights of their sisters and
brothers in Ukraine to free speech, press, and peaceful assembly. It is
my sincere hope that the United States can facilitate a peaceful
resolution to the crisis in Ukraine which respects the will of the
Ukrainian people and brings justice to those who have been harmed
through wrongful arrests and violence.
As we saw in Syria, crackdowns on nonviolent protests can lead to an
all-out civil war, and we still do not do what we should be doing with
those refugees from Syria. That is a disgrace.
We need to act now to help the people of Ukraine before the violence
escalates further. I urge my colleagues to join this vital show of
support from the American people to the people of Ukraine.
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for yielding.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I will continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I want to continue to urge my colleagues to
support the resolution. As anyone can see, this is a very bipartisan
resolution. It is very important.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests
for time. I, again, thank my good friend and colleague from New York,
Eliot Engel, for his sponsorship of this important resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support
for H. Res. 447, a resolution supporting the democratic and European
aspirations of the Ukrainian people and their right to choose their own
future free of intimidation and fear.
As an original co-sponsor and as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee
on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, I believe it is essential for
Congress to continue to show its strong support for the Ukrainian
people. In the two decades since Ukraine gained its independence from
the Soviet Union, Congress has been at the forefront of efforts to
foster democratic and economic reform in Ukraine.
I have been deeply troubled by developments in Ukraine since
President Yanukovych's surprising announcement last November that his
government would not sign an Association Agreement with the European
Union. I remain concerned that Mr. Yanukovych and his government were
unduly pressured by outside forces to take a decision at odds with the
long-term interests of the Ukrainian people and that the government's
decision was not taken in consultation with other political
stakeholders.
Since November, I have watched Ukraine's unfolding political crisis
with growing concern, especially authorities' use of violence against
peaceful protestors. I have been deeply dismayed by the deaths and
injuries sustained on all sides. I applaud the Administration's
decision to revoke the visas of the Ukrainian government officials who
were responsible for ordering or committing acts of violence against
peaceful protestors. I believe additional sanctions should be
considered in the event of further violence, but hope they will not be
necessary.
In the past few weeks, we have started to see signs of progress
toward a resolution, including the repeal of repressive measures
adopted by parliament in mid-January and the resignation of the prime
minister and his cabinet on January 28. Both developments created an
opening for serious dialogue between the government and the opposition.
I urge all parties to seize this important opportunity.
This resolution does not take sides in what is quite rightly a
matter that Ukrainians must decide for themselves. Instead, it urges
all parties to refrain from violence and to engage in constructive,
sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to the current
crisis.
To facilitate that process, this resolution underscores to
protestors, to the government, and to all Ukrainians that the United
States will continue to defend Ukraine's sovereign right to chart its
own course and build its own future.
It also makes clear, not just to the protestors, but to President
Yanukovych as well, that the United States will continue to support the
Ukrainian people's aspirations to build a strong and prosperous
democracy--one that is firmly rooted in Europe.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 447, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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