[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 184 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5400-S5401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-82. A memorial adopted by the House of Representatives 
     of the State of New Mexico supporting Ukraine against Russian 
     aggression; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                         House Memorial No. 55

       Whereas, the post-war international security order, led by 
     the North Atlantic treaty organization, relied upon 
     diplomacy, peace and communication rather than armed conflict 
     to ensure prosperity and stability for more than seventy 
     years; and
       Whereas, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 
     Ukrainian people voted overwhelmingly to form a nation 
     independent from Russia and built a thriving democratic 
     country grounded in the rule of law; and
       Whereas, more than thirty years ago, Ukraine declared its 
     independence, and in 1994, the United States, the Russian 
     Federation and the United Kingdom signed an agreement whereby 
     each country pledged to respect the independence and 
     sovereignty of Ukraine's borders in return for its nuclear 
     disarmament; and
       Whereas, in 2014, the pro-western Euromaidan protest 
     movement in Ukraine led to the resignation of authoritarian 
     president Victor Yanukovych, a brutal ally of Russian 
     president Vladimir Putin, and ushered in democratically 
     elected leaders who have sought closer ties to the United 
     States, the European Union and Great Britain; and
       Whereas, Ukraine is recognized as a peaceful and honorable 
     democratic republic that is governed by democratically 
     elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister 
     Denys Shmyhal; and
       Whereas, in order to manufacture a pretext to invade and 
     occupy Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and his surrogates lied to the 
     people of Russia and the global community, falsely claiming 
     that Ukraine posed a threat to Russians and that he was 
     launching a crusade against ``Ukrainian Nazis''; and
       Whereas, on February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin launched an 
     unjust, unwarranted and

[[Page S5401]]

     unprovoked full-scale war of choice and aggression upon the 
     peaceful nation of Ukraine; and
       Whereas, the Russian Federation violated international 
     peace and security agreements that provided peaceful 
     alternatives; and
       Whereas, since February 24, 2022, Russian soldiers and 
     surrogates have brutally inflicted violence and terror upon 
     Ukrainian civilians of every age, including children and the 
     elderly, and committed atrocities throughout Ukraine; and
       Whereas, since February 24, 2022, Russian soldiers and 
     surrogates have cruelly killed Ukrainian citizens' pets, 
     domestic animals and wildlife; and
       Whereas, since February 24, 2022, Russian soldiers and 
     surrogates have attacked Ukrainian farms, environment, 
     cultural institutions, religious sites and heritage; and
       Whereas, since February 24, 2022, Russia has used targeted 
     and indiscriminate aerial strikes to destroy residential 
     structures, hospitals, schools, businesses and critical 
     infrastructure that supports life including water systems and 
     energy grids, plants and pipelines; and
       Whereas, Russia has attacked and damaged nuclear power 
     facilities in Ukraine captured and tortured workers from the 
     facilities and subjected Ukraine and its neighbors to risks 
     of radioactive releases; and
       Whereas, as Russia's military struggled on the battlefield, 
     Putin resorted to relying on the brutal PMC Wagner group to 
     inflict his war of aggression and choice; and
       Whereas, the PMC Wagner group is a Russian mercenary 
     organization that was founded and is led by a Russian 
     oligarch with close ties to Putin; and
       Whereas, the PMC Wagner group has been designated as a 
     significant transnational criminal organization pursuant to 
     United States executive orders and by the United States 
     department of the treasury; and
       Whereas, Russian soldiers and the PMC Wagner group are 
     credibly alleged to have committed violations of human rights 
     and international humanitarian law by targeting children, the 
     elderly, women and civilians through acts of cruel violence, 
     torture, rape, abduction and forced mass displacement of 
     Ukrainian children in Russian filtration camps to erase their 
     Ukrainian identity and place them with Russian citizens; and
       Whereas, Russia's war on Ukraine has severely disrupted 
     Ukrainian and international economies, resources, food 
     supplies and environments; and
       Whereas, the brutality of Russia's war on Ukraine is an 
     affront to international law, decency and humanity; and
       Whereas, a threat to the sovereign borders of Ukraine is a 
     threat to all western democracies; and
       Whereas, Ukraine has been a bulwark against Russian 
     military aggression in Europe and the world; and
       Whereas, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 
     the United States and the international community have 
     imposed sanctions on Russia and provided Ukraine with 
     equipment and resources it needs to defend its territory and 
     people; and
       Whereas, the leaders, military and citizens of Ukraine 
     continue to valiantly stand up and fight against Russia's 
     unjust and heinous invasion of their country; and
       Whereas, Ukraine deserves the continued support of every 
     American and the international community as Ukraine defends 
     itself from Russia's invasion, which is the largest attack in 
     Europe since World War II; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of 
     New Mexico that the members of the house of representatives 
     proudly stand in solidarity with Ukraine, its people and its 
     leaders, and commend them for their resiliency, courage and 
     relentless fight to protect their right to self-determination 
     and self-governance; and condemn, in the strongest possible 
     terms, Vladimir Putin's attack on the people of Ukraine and 
     endorse continued economic sanctions and export controls on 
     Russia and continued provision of military and humanitarian 
     resources to Ukraine; and be it further
       Resolved, That members of the house of representatives 
     wholeheartedly support the United States and international 
     efforts to swiftly aid Ukraine in defending Ukrainian 
     borders, end Russia's war on Ukraine and hold Russia 
     accountable for its actions; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this memorial be transmitted to 
     the president of the United States, the senate of the United 
     States, the house of representatives of the United States, 
     members of New Mexico's congressional delegation and the 
     Ukrainian embassy in the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-83. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Ohio condemning the terrorist attacks against the state of 
     Israel and expressing support for Israel's people; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                       Senate Resolution No. 214

       Whereas, On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists carried out 
     an unprovoked attack on the state of Israel; and
       Whereas, The members of the Senate of the 135th General 
     Assembly share Israel's grief for the hundreds of civilians 
     who have been killed or captured in this horrific act of 
     terrorism; and
       Whereas, Ohio is home to many Israeli citizens, Ohioans of 
     Jewish faith, and countless other Ohioans who support the 
     people of Israel; and
       Whereas, Israel is a staunch ally of the United States and 
     is deserving of our nation's unequivocal support as they 
     defend themselves against this unjustifiable attack; now 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That we, the members of the Senate of the 135th 
     General Assembly of the State of Ohio, in adopting this 
     resolution, declare our support for the Israeli people; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That we condemn the actions of Hamas and their 
     allies, including Iran, and their attack on Israel and its 
     people; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly 
     authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of 
     the United States, the Clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the Secretary of the United States Senate, 
     the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., for transmission to 
     the proper authorities in the State of Israel, and the news 
     media of Ohio.
                                  ____

       POM-84. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Ohio expressing Ohio's 
     unwavering support for the people of Israel and condemning 
     the recent attacks against the state of Israel; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                        House Resolution No. 292

       Whereas, Israel is the strongest ally to the United States 
     of America in the Middle East; and
       Whereas, The safety and security of Israel is of paramount 
     importance to stability and peace in the Middle East; and
       Whereas, Ohio has long been a partner in trade and civil 
     exchange with Israel; and
       Whereas, Ohio is home to many Israeli citizens, Ohioans of 
     Jewish faith, and countless other Ohioans who support the 
     people of Israel; and
       Whereas, On October 7, 2023, Iran-backed Hamas extremists 
     carried out heinous and unprecedented attacks against the 
     people of Israel and their rightful homeland; and
       Whereas, The deaths of more than 700 Israeli citizens 
     represent a terrorist attack at an unprecedented scale and 
     have been caused by brutal, unthinkable attacks on children, 
     families, and other defenseless civilians; and
       Whereas, The inhumane actions of the Iran-backed terrorists 
     against the children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons, 
     and daughters of Israel were unprecedented and cowardly; now 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That we, the members of the House of 
     Representatives of the 135th General Assembly of the State of 
     Ohio, in adopting this resolution, express our unwavering 
     support for the people of Israel and their desire for a safe, 
     secure, and free Israel; and be it further
       Resolved, That we unequivocally condemn the cowardly 
     actions of Hamas and their unprecedented attack on Israeli 
     citizens; and be it further
       Resolved, That we offer our prayers for peace and the 
     protection of innocent lives during this conflict; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That we commit to steadfastly supporting Israel 
     and its citizens as they strive for peace and to prevent 
     Hamas from harming Israeli citizens in the future; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
     transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the Clerk of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the Secretary of the United 
     States Senate, the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., for 
     transmission to the proper authorities in the State of 
     Israel, and the news media of Ohio.

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