[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 70 (Thursday, April 22, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                4/23 ANNIVERSARY OF JOSEPH STONE'S DEATH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2021

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the 
fourth anniversary of the tragic death of Joseph Stone, a U.S. 
paramedic serving with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in 
Ukraine.
  My heart and prayers go out to his family who still feel his absence 
each and every day.
  Joseph Stone was killed on April 23, 2017, when his vehicle struck a 
landmine in Russian-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. Born in my 
district in Milwaukee, he was a courageous young man whose life ended 
much too soon.
  Stone gave his life serving a noble mission: helping those who 
document the human suffering inflicted by the Kremlin's senseless 
assault on Ukraine. The mission he served with, established in 2014, 
monitors implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which were designed to 
bring peace to eastern Ukraine. It is an unarmed, civilian mission that 
serves as the international community's eyes and ears on the security 
and humanitarian situation in the war zone. The SMM operates under a 
mandate adopted by consensus among the 57 OSCE participating States, 
including the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
  The tragedy of Stone's death--a direct result of this needless 
conflict--is compounded today by the continuation of Russian aggression 
against Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen a dramatic escalation by 
Russia, which has amassed forces and equipment on Ukraine's land and 
maritime borders and in Crimea, which Russia continues to illegally 
occupy. Moscow's actions are accompanied by boldfaced denial that these 
threatening moves should be of any concern to Ukraine or its friends.
  The latest Russian escalation only underlines the crucial role of the 
SMM and the need to ensure that the mission Joseph Stone died serving 
can fully carry out its mandate. Moscow currently blocks the SMM from 
accessing Russia-occupied Crimea. And in parts of Ukraine where the SMM 
is able to operate, its monitors are harassed, blocked, and threatened 
on a daily basis by Russia-led forces, who also interfere with the 
SMM's equipment by jamming UAVs or blinding static cameras.
  Madam Speaker, all OSCE states, including Russia, must do everything 
possible to support the OSCE monitors who, to this day, face 
unacceptable threats and restrictions as they shine a light on the 
daily cost of this war. The monitors must be allowed unfettered access 
throughout Ukraine--including Crimea. And rather than deploying more 
troops, Russia should be working with the OSCE to help deescalate the 
situation, including to support the deployment of more monitors to 
prevent further conflict and provocation moves. The mission's efforts 
will remain crucial in ensuring the international community has full 
visibility on the Kremlin's malignant actions against Ukraine.
  Madam Speaker, please join me today in marking the solemn anniversary 
of Joseph Stone's death. Let us use this solemn occasion to redouble 
efforts to work for peace. I also want to use this opportunity to 
applaud the men and women of the SMM who are still serving today, even 
as Russia continues to escalate. Their work is a critical part of 
efforts to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and ensure respect 
for its sovereignty.

                          ____________________