[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HELP FOR UKRAINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Bera) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a looming crisis 
that we see in Eastern Europe.
  Last week, as a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I had 
a chance to accompany some of my colleagues on a bipartisan delegation 
to both Brussels and Ukraine.
  What I saw when we were in Ukraine, as we met with their senior 
leaders and President Zelensky, was a country that has resolve. They 
reminded us that they have been at war with Russia for the last 8 years 
since Russia invaded Crimea and occupied the Donbas territories. So, 
this is a country that has been fighting Russia. They are prepared to 
defend themselves.
  When I went out on the streets with my colleagues and talked to 
ordinary Ukrainian citizens, there is a resolve. They have no intention 
of living under Soviet rule. They have tasted freedom.
  It is important for us as the United States of America to stand with 
this young democracy. We are the oldest democracy in the world. When I 
have been asked by the media why the United States should be concerned 
about what is happening in Eastern Europe, it is because we value the 
freedoms that we enjoy; we value the liberty; and we value the ability 
of individual citizens to choose their own path forward. That is what 
this is about.
  When we went to Brussels, we had a chance to meet with our NATO 
allies, with other members of the European Union. Think about what we 
accomplished working with those countries in the 75-plus years post-
World War II. We created peace on the European Continent after two 
world wars. We created thriving democracies. We created prosperity. 
That is what is at risk.
  Think about what Mr. Putin wants to do. He wants to reestablish the 
Soviet Union. He is an autocrat. That is what is at risk in the 21st 
century.
  It is not a given that democracy will win the 21st century. We have 
to fight for democracy. We have to fight for those liberties. We have 
to fight for those individuals to choose their path forward.
  That is why this is important. That is why it is important for us to 
stand with the people of Ukraine. That is why it is important for us, 
along with our European allies and our NATO allies, to stand together 
and speak with one voice and tell Mr. Putin we are not going back to 
the Soviet era; we are going forward to a peaceful, prosperous 21st 
century for all people.

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