[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 59 (Monday, April 4, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         TRIBUTE TO LEO KHAYET

 Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to honor and 
recognize Leo Khayet of Overland Park, KS. Leo has raised more than 
$200,000 in an effort to help Ukrainian people in Odessa evacuate the 
country as Russia continues its attacks.
  These invasions hit close to home for Leo. When Leo was younger, his 
family had to make the hard decision to relocate from Belarus for a 
better life. He lived in refugee camps in Austria and Italy for five 
months prior to arriving in Kansas City in 1989. Leo is now an 
entrepreneur in Overland Park, which gave him connections to multiple 
different businesses in the Kansas City area. When Russia invaded in 
late February, Leo gathered his resources from these leaders 
andorganizations making his efforts to help possible.
  Thus far, Leo has been successful in helping 2,000 Ukrainians flee to 
safety in Moldova. In an effort to continue helping victims of the war 
in Ukraine, Leo is planning on hosting another Zoom call and inviting 
more prominent business leaders in the area to gather and keep 
providing this humanitarian aid. It is truly honorable what he is doing 
to help the people of Ukraine. Leo said it best: ``In this case, this 
has really brought out the best of the community here in Kansas. 
They're ready to save people who they have no clue who they are, that 
live thousands of miles away, they don't even share a common language 
with them, besides the fact that we're human beings and I think that is 
amazing.'' It truly is amazing to see what one man's ambition and 
determination can do to bring a community together and help those in 
need. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the noble act of 
Leo Khayet and thank him for his dedication to help Ukraine.

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