[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 71 (Friday, April 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UKRAINE DEMOCRACY DEFENSE LEND-LEASE ACT OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3522 the 
Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act which temporarily waives 
certain requirements related to the President's authority to lend or 
lease defense articles if the defense articles are intended for 
Ukraine's government or the governments of other Eastern European 
countries affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
  For FY2022 and FY2023, an agreement to lend or lease defense articles 
under this bill will not be subject to certain requirements and 
provisions that typically apply to such lend-lease agreements, 
including a requirement that generally prohibits a loan or lease period 
from exceeding five years.
  S. 3522 will allow the President to establish expedited procedures to 
ensure the timely delivery of defense articles loaned or leased to 
Ukraine under this bill.
  There is no question that the Russian Federation, under the direction 
of Vladimir Putin has been defying the laws of war throughout their 
unprovoked, unjust, and unlawful full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
  In the three decades since gaining its independence, Ukraine has 
sought closer economic, social, and political ties with the free market 
and democratic nations of the West.
  Since 2013, Putin has directed a campaign of political, economic, and 
military aggression against Ukraine.
  In February 2014, the Russian military began the invasion of eastern 
regions in Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula. Their military 
equipped and supported separatist insurgents in the Donbass region, 
where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.
  Today the world is witnessing the unprovoked aggression and invasion 
ordered by Vladimir Putin.
  Putin and his accomplices must be held personally liable for the war 
crimes committed against the people of Ukraine.
  Russia claims it is not attacking civilians. But that is a lie, as 
Russia has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainians, mostly from 
explosive weapons over a wide impact area, shelling from heavy 
artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes.
  Families are being separated by war, adults and children are being 
ruthlessly killed, and a rogue Russia is violently crushing political 
speech from its own citizens who oppose the war.
  Of all the victims of this irrational, immoral invasion, the most 
severe long-term effects are inflicted on Ukraine's children. Hundreds 
were killed, and many more children have been severely injured.
  Many have been orphaned by Russian bombing of residences and 
gathering places, in addition to battlefield losses. Thousands have 
been traumatized by the fear and terror that missiles and bombs bring, 
with emotional and psychological wounds that are likely to last 
decades, if not for their entire lives.
  Ukrainian children who escaped the carnage are also suffering. 
According to the United Nations and the UN High Commissioner for 
Refugees, over 5.1 million Ukrainians have left Ukraine, about 40 
percent are children, and over 2.9 million refugees from Ukraine have 
entered Poland since February 24, of whom [over] 90 percent are women 
and children.
  They emphasized that the number of unaccompanied children is 
``distressingly high,'' and are largely going uncounted. Children who 
are orphaned or separated from their families are especially at risk of 
becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation and 
abuse.
  It is deplorable that children and their families' lives have been 
thrown into jeopardy by Putin's war crimes. All children, no matter 
their country's NATO status, deserve a stable, parented household in a 
safe community. They should never be victims of war, witnesses to 
atrocities, nor orphaned by war's toll, being left to navigate the 
remnants without their families.
  Yet, all this is the reality for Ukraine's in-country and refugee 
children. They are scared and scarred, and a great number of them have 
no one to help them cope with the heartbreaking detritus of war.
  Another tragedy stemming-from this war is the vulnerability of women 
and girls to the deplorable system of human trafficking. Secretary 
General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres said, ``For predators 
and human traffickers, the war in Ukraine is not a tragedy,'' ``It's an 
opportunity--and women and children are the targets.''
  This is yet another reason this legislation must pass: to prevent 
women and girls from being subject to some of humanity's worst 
individuals.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 3522 the 
Ukraine Democracy Lend-Lease Act to adequately support the Ukrainian 
forces against Russia unprovoked vicious attack on democracy.
  The western world must continue to support Ukraine during their time 
of war.
  I look forward to the briefing by Mr. Reznikov on his latest defense 
needs and requests.

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