[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING YURI HRESHCHYSHYN'S LIFETIME OF ADVOCACY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2023

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to recognize 
the hard work, commitment, and leadership of my good friend, Yuri 
Hreshchyshyn. Born in 1959, Yuri has been an inspiring advocate and 
dedicated servant in the maintenance and growth of Buffalo. The 
Ukrainian-American community, City of Buffalo, and all of Western New 
York owe Yuri a debt of gratitude for his enduring vision of what our 
community should look like.
  A committeeman with the Erie County Democratic Committee, he has 
worked closely with elected leaders on several community projects. Yuri 
worked as an advisor and volunteer with Buffalo Green Code and None 
Like You/We Care to right the wrongs of environmental injustices, plan 
educational outreach, and design city green space. Whether it was 
cutting grass, trimming trees, or planting gardens, each project was a 
chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of his neighbors. As 
Executive Director Emeritus of the Central Terminal Restoration 
Corporation, Yuri was instrumental in the redevelopment of the terminal 
and surrounding area. He also offered indispensable leadership in the 
fight to clean up Buffalo's waterways. It is safe to say that the 
Buffalo River and Old First Ward would not look the same in the absence 
of his stewardship.
  Yuri has also been steadfast in preserving Ukrainian customs and 
traditions in Western New York. He has formerly served as the President 
of the Ukrainian American Civic Center and as a board member of the 
Ukrainian American Welcome Foundation of WNY. Yuri has been the 
President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee (Buffalo Chapter) since 
2019. In light of Russia's baseless invasion of Ukraine in February 
2022, he has been helping displaced Ukrainians, collecting humanitarian 
aid for the front lines, and serving as my personal counsel for 
accurate information on the war's developments.
  In the ``City of Good Neighbors,'' we are blessed to have no shortage 
of caring residents; nevertheless, those looking for a model citizen 
should look no further than Yuri Hreshchyshyn. Yuri embodies everything 
good about our community, and it is my honor to thank him for all that 
he has done for our community and our country.

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