[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





SUPPORTING HOUSE CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 833, MY RESOLUTION SUPPORTING 
 MOLDOVA'S DEMOCRACY, SOVEREIGNTY, AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, ON APRIL 
                                27, 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2022

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker. I rise to support H. Res. 
833, a bipartisan resolution co-authored by Moldova Caucus Co-Chair, 
Congressman August Pfluger, and myself, to support the Republic of 
Moldova's democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Meeks for his support for 
strengthening U.S.-Moldova relations and his expedited consideration of 
this resolution on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Moldova is a small but significant country that achieved independence 
after the fall of the Soviet Union and has worked to chart its. own 
path forward as a young democracy.
  This year, we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations between our 
two countries, and I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
opportunities we have to strengthen U.S.-Moldova relations.
  Today, Moldova is a bright spot in the region.
  Over the last two years, the Moldovan people elected their first 
female president and a new parliament with a clear mandate to implement 
crucial governance and economic reforms, such as strengthening the 
capacity and independence of democratic institutions--including the 
judiciary, combatting corruption, expanding economic prosperity, 
enhancing European cooperation and integration, and increasing energy 
security and diversification.
  Moldova is trying to do exactly what we urge on our counterparts all 
over the world--responding and being accountable to all of its 
citizens. We must support and help Moldova in these critical 
endeavors--particularly in the face of Russian military aggression in 
neighboring Ukraine.
  President Putin's unprovoked and barbaric military invasion of 
Ukraine has grave security implications for Moldova, by virtue of its 
proximity and the presence of Russian-backed separatist troops in 
Transnistria--a breakaway region within Moldova's internationally 
recognized borders. Already, we are hearing of a potential false flag 
operation within Transnistria. We have seen this before, and we must be 
vigilant.
  Since Putin's brutal invasion, Moldova has punched above its weight 
and opened its arms to hundreds of thousands fleeing Ukrainian 
refugees, providing them humanitarian assistance and a safe place to 
turn, despite limited resources.
  As a country largely dependent on Russia for energy, the Moldovan 
government has also worked hard to swiftly accelerate energy 
diversification and ensure the resilience of its infrastructure.
  The United States and the international community must do all we can 
to provide Moldova the resources needed to succeed in these efforts, 
while also supporting their efforts to stay the course on implementing 
important governance and economic reforms. That is exactly what this 
resolution supports.
  I've had the pleasure of visiting Moldova and welcoming Moldovans to 
our country many times by virtue of North Carolina's sister-state 
relationship with Moldova, co-chairing the Moldova Caucus, and engaging 
Moldovans in the parliamentary-development work of the House Democracy 
Partnership (HDP), which I chair.
  Most recently, as HDP resumed in-person meetings, a young articulate 
group of Moldovan parliamentarians joined us for a five-country 
conference at the Marshall Center in Germany and made a significant 
contribution to the program.
  The Moldovan Parliament has made great institutional strides, 
particularly since the landmark elections of 2019, and HDP looks 
forward to continuing engagement with them.
  The North Carolina partnership, nurtured by Secretary of State Elaine 
Marshall and hundreds of citizen-diplomats in both countries, has been 
a remarkable success--which is acknowledged in this resolution. Since 
1996, the North Carolina National Guard has anchored the partnership, 
which has now come to involve exchanges and cooperation beyond the 
military, including civil emergency operations, expansion of markets, 
humanitarian efforts, and cultural, scientific, and educational 
initiatives.
  The resolution before us honors the achievements of independent 
Moldova, celebrates 30 years of cordial United States relations, urges 
continued progress on economic and political reform, and does all of 
this in full awareness of the perils Moldova faces.
  It is a timely and compelling resolution, and I urge unanimous 
support.

                          ____________________