[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4274-H4275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support continued United States 
support for the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom from 
Vladimir Putin's terrible invasion.
  In a despicable act of cruelty, Vladimir Putin invaded a peaceful and 
democratic nation. He is single-handedly responsible for unthinkable 
suffering: 70,000 Ukrainians killed, 13 million people forced from 
their homes, civilians shot in the streets, and children separated from 
their parents, all to fuel the ego of a dictator in Moscow.
  Putin's aggression is a threat to the security of the United States 
and our citizens as well. He has made no secret of the fact that his 
goal is to undermine the NATO alliance which has kept our Nation safe 
and like-minded democracies around the world safe for the past seven 
decades. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, if Putin succeeds in his 
invasion of Ukraine, he will not stop there.
  Like all dictators, he sees democracy anywhere as a threat. He does 
not want his own people to know that nations with free elections and 
civil rights for their citizens can be strong.
  This is the Ukrainians' war to fight, and they are fighting it. The 
Ukrainians are fighting for their families and fighting for their 
freedom with incredible bravery. The United States will not send troops 
to Ukraine, but they do need our help.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the supplemental 
budget request for aid to Ukraine. Let's show the world that America 
stands with democracies, not with dictators, and reaffirm our 
commitment that we will stand with the people of Ukraine in their fight 
for freedom for as long as it takes.


    Paralyzing Military Nominations Poses Risk to National Security

  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of our Nation's 
military servicemembers whose lives are being put at risk by the 
shameful actions of a Senator from Alabama. For months, the Alabama 
Senator has blocked more than 300 qualified officers in our military 
from receiving the promotions that they have earned and from assuming 
the posts that our country needs them in.
  Aside from the Senator himself, who seems to love being in the center 
of attention, the people who are most excited by his grandstanding are 
America's enemies.

  No one is happier with the Senator from Alabama's antics than 
Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and our Nation's other adversaries. By 
undermining our military, he is doing their dirty work for them.
  Don't take it just from me. The Secretary of the Army has stated that 
the Senator's actions are eroding the foundations of our military and 
putting our national security at risk.
  The House Foreign Affairs chairman, Mr. McCaul, who is a member of 
the Senator's own party, has said that the Senator's hold on military 
nominations is paralyzing and a national security problem.
  The Senator has stated that he will continue blocking the promotions 
of these experienced and courageous military officers until the 
military adopts policies to make it harder for women in the military to 
have access to abortion. I disagree with the Senator on abortion, as do 
most Americans, but one thing we all ought to agree on is that whatever 
our disagreements may be, using our military servicemembers as 
political props is just plain wrong. It is an inappropriate tactic, and 
it must end now.
  Military personnel, from the most junior to the most senior, dedicate 
their lives to protecting us and protecting our Nation and the ideals 
that we hold dear. We should be supporting them, and they deserve 
better than the Senator's antics.
  The Senator must lift his hold on these promotions, and if he 
doesn't, then the Senate should change their rule so that no one 
individual has power to block these promotions and jeopardize our 
Nation's security.


                          Blockade of Artsakh

  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn Azerbaijan's blockade 
of the Lachin corridor, which has created a humanitarian crisis that is 
threatening the lives of 120,000 ethnic Armenians who call the Artsakh 
region home.
  Today in Artsakh, thousands are suffering from shortages of food, 
medical supplies, and other basic necessities. Many fear that as winter 
approaches, the population could face starvation.
  The United States and our allies cannot stand by in the face of this 
cruelty. As a member of the House Armenian Issues Caucus, I have 
cosponsored legislation to support the people of Artsakh's independence 
and safety.
  This past June, I joined many of my colleagues urging the 
administration to enforce restrictions on U.S. military assistance for 
Azerbaijan until the blockade is ended.
  I stand with the Armenian people and will continue to support 
legislation to

[[Page H4275]]

oppose these human rights violations and call on Azerbaijan to end the 
blockade.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do so as well.

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