[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H1201-H1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1600
   CONDEMNING THE ILLEGAL ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN FROM UKRAINE TO THE 
                           RUSSIAN FEDERATION

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 149) condemning the illegal abduction of 
children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 149

       Whereas, on January 12, 1951, the Convention on the 
     Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (commonly 
     known as the ``Genocide Convention''), of which the Russian 
     Federation is a party, came into effect;
       Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation 
     escalated its eight-year-long occupation of sovereign 
     Ukrainian territory by launching an unprovoked large-scale 
     invasion of Ukraine;
       Whereas, on March 9, 2022, Russian Forces attacked a 
     maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, resulting in the 
     deaths of 5 individuals and injuries to 17 other individuals;
       Whereas, on March 22, 2022, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry 
     announced that the Russian military had illegally abducted 
     and forcibly transferred 2,389 Ukrainian children from 
     temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine;
       Whereas, on June 2, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr 
     Zelenskyy stated that 200,000 children are among the 
     Ukrainians who have been forcibly transferred to Russia;
       Whereas forcibly transferring children of one group to 
     another group is a violation of Article II(e) of the Genocide 
     Convention;
       Whereas Maria Lvova-Belova, Children's Rights Commissioner 
     for the President of Russia, admitted to abducting and 
     forcibly transferring Ukrainian children and facilitating 
     forced adoptions to Russian families;
       Whereas Ukrainian authorities have stated that a number of 
     the abducted and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children have 
     families who remain in Ukraine, but have been separated due 
     to the renewed Russian invasion;
       Whereas, on June 16, 2022, Russian authorities announced 
     that children born in occupied Ukrainian territories after 
     the February 24, 2022, invasion will be deemed Russian 
     citizens;

[[Page H1202]]

       Whereas, on June 22, 2022, the United Nations Human Rights 
     Office of the High Commissioner verified that at least 320 
     children have been killed since Russia's renewed invasion 
     began;
       Whereas, on July 11, 2022, United Nations Secretary General 
     Antonio Guterres ordered an investigation into the deaths and 
     injuries of Ukrainian children; and
       Whereas, on July 13, 2022, Secretary of State Antony J. 
     Blinken issued a statement calling upon Russia to 
     ``immediately halt its systemic filtration operations in 
     Ukraine'', which have caused the disappearance, detention, or 
     forcible deportation of between 900,000 and 1,600,000 
     Ukrainians (approximately 260,000 of whom are children): Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) declares that the abduction and forcible transfer of 
     children and facilitation of illegal adoptions is contrary to 
     Russia's obligations under the Genocide Convention and 
     amounts to genocide;
       (2) further declares that the Russian Federation is 
     attempting to wipe out a generation of Ukrainian children, 
     thereby crippling Ukraine's ability to nurture the next 
     generation of Ukrainian citizens and leaders and to rebuild 
     their country after Russia's unprovoked war, with the purpose 
     of demolishing Ukraine's unique language, culture, history, 
     and identity;
       (3) notes with concern that the invasion of Ukraine by the 
     Russian Federation has significantly increased the risks of 
     children being exposed to human trafficking and exploitation, 
     child labor, gender-based violence, hunger, injury, trauma, 
     deprivation of education and shelter, and death; and
       (4) holds the Government of the Russian Federation, under 
     the leadership of Vladimir Putin, responsible for the 
     wrongful and illegal abduction and forcible transfer of 
     children from Ukraine and officially condemns these actions 
     in the strongest terms.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked war against 
Ukraine, we continue to witness unspeakable acts perpetrated by 
Vladimir Putin's forces. Since the start of the war, Ukrainian 
officials estimate that over 120,000 war crimes have been committed by 
lawless Russian invaders.
  One of the most horrific acts being conducted by the Putin regime is 
the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia and occupied 
territories. Since February 2022, more than 19,000 children have been 
forcibly deported from their homeland--possibly many, many more.
  Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations has stated that: ``Ukraine 
has strong grounds to believe that several hundred thousand Ukrainian 
children were forcibly, unlawfully taken.''
  Not only have these children been kidnapped and handed over to 
Russian families, but they have also been forced into pro-Russia 
reeducation systems. They are being brainwashed, taught to hate their 
home country and to love their oppressors, Russia.
  Kidnapped Ukrainian children are being taught that Ukraine does not 
exist as a sovereign country and that Russia is conducting some sort of 
justified mission for mankind. Additionally, if they don't comply or 
fall in line, these children face punishment and abuse.
  Russia's depravity gets even more twisted, Mr. Speaker. There are 
reports that kidnapped Ukrainian teenagers are being conscripted to 
fight in Ukraine on behalf of the Russian Federation. Ukrainian 
officials say Russia's efforts specifically target teenagers so that 
they can be turned into soldiers once they reach the age of 18.
  Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights, Maria 
Lvova-Belova, can claim all they want that they are saving these 
children, but we know their true intent--the complete eradication of 
Ukrainian culture and identity.
  Both U.S. statute and international law define genocide as acts 
committed with intent to destroy a people, in whole or in part, 
including forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
  I was proud to join my colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative 
Wild, in introducing the resolution before us today. It rightfully 
condemns this barbarism and calls it what it is: genocide. We were 
there together on the Ukrainian border. We were there and saw Ukrainian 
refugees and children who have suffered this kind of abuse at the hands 
of Vladimir Putin.
  Mr. Speaker, during our markup, this resolution received unanimous 
bipartisan support from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Today, the 
entire House has the opportunity and the moral duty to denounce 
Russia's genocide against these children of Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Representative Wild, for 
shedding light on these heartbreaking abuses.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support this important 
resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 149. I introduced 
this resolution on behalf of my district, which counts one of the 
country's largest Ukrainian-American communities. Together, we have 
advocated and organized for this moment, and I recognize my Ukrainian-
American constituents and all the extraordinary Ukrainian-American 
leaders whose tireless efforts led to this legislation coming to the 
floor of the House for a vote.
  I also remember the time that Representative Wagner and I and a 
couple of other members of the Foreign Affairs Committee stood right at 
the border of Ukraine on the Poland side and watched as children and 
mothers streamed across the border. It was tragic and really hard to 
watch, but those were the fortunate children, as we have learned. Far 
too many Ukrainian children have been abducted to Russia.
  This vote is about sending an unequivocal message to Vladimir Putin 
that we stand with the Ukrainian people and that we will not stop 
working for justice and accountability when it comes to the atrocities 
that Russian forces have systemically employed in this war of 
aggression.
  We must be clear. Russian forces have engaged in an effort to destroy 
Ukraine's democracy, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and, 
ultimately, its identity itself. Their crimes against children stand 
out as the most heinous aspect of a much larger strategy, a relentless 
campaign of state violence against the most vulnerable members of 
Ukrainian society.
  As part of this effort, Russian forces have abducted and forcibly 
relocated thousands of Ukrainian children to Russian-occupied and 
affiliated areas in blatant violation of Article II(e) of the Genocide 
Convention.
  The Russian objective is clear: to eradicate the young generations of 
the Ukrainians by attempting to destroy their sense of national and 
cultural identity. We cannot be silent in the face of these violations 
of Ukrainians' most fundamental rights and dignity.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for 
working to pass this legislation unanimously through the Foreign 
Affairs Committee.
  Finally, as meaningful as this vote is to me and my constituents, I 
call on the leadership of this House to hold an even more consequential 
vote. Mr. Speaker, the people's Representatives must be able to vote on 
the Senate's supplemental package containing critical assistance for 
Ukraine as well as humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine, 
for the Palestinian people, and for so many other populations around 
the world who are in dire need of assistance. We must come together in 
support of this national and global priority.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to think about the Ukrainian 
Americans across this country whose relatives in Ukraine are facing a 
relentless campaign of aggression simply because of their unrelenting 
quest for a democratic Ukrainian state.
  We must stand with them. We must stand with the next generation of 
Ukrainians and ensure that they are able to continue their proud 
legacy.
  As a people, Ukrainians have endured despite extraordinary hardship 
experienced across generations. Today, they are fighting for their 
future as a sovereign, independent democracy whose

[[Page H1203]]

freedom has been hard-won and is imperiled today.
  Together, let us join in passing this resolution here on the floor of 
the House of Representatives by a resounding bipartisan margin, and let 
us work toward passing the assistance for the Ukrainian people that 
they so urgently need.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin's barbarism knows no bounds. The actions 
of his lawless forces against the people of Ukraine, including the 
forcible deportation of innocent Ukrainian children, constitute 
genocide.
  We have the opportunity to state that truth plainly today and to 
stand with the grieving families of Ukraine whose children are still 
kidnapped inside Russia.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this resolution, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 149, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________