[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3910-3915]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           PROVISION OF COSTS OF LOAN GUARANTEES FOR UKRAINE

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4152) to provide for the costs of loan guarantees 
for Ukraine.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4152

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PROVISION OF COSTS OF LOAN GUARANTEES FOR UKRAINE.

       From amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under 
     ``Economic Support Fund'' in division K of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76), and prior Acts 
     making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign 
     operations, and related programs, funding from unobligated 
     balances shall be made available for the costs, as defined in 
     section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of loan 
     guarantees for Ukraine, which are authorized to be provided 
     in an appropriations Act, in accordance with section 504 of 
     the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided, That amounts 
     made available for the costs of such guarantees shall not be 
     considered ``assistance'' for the purpose of provisions of 
     law limiting assistance to such country: Provided

[[Page 3911]]

     further, That none of the funds may be made available from 
     amounts designated pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the consideration of H.R. 4152.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the floor H.R. 4152, a bill 
providing the authority for loan guarantees for Ukraine.
  As we all sadly know, Ukraine is facing an extraordinarily difficult 
time. As a valued partner and friend of the United States, our Nation 
has a duty to provide the people of Ukraine with help when they now 
need it most.
  This bill will provide some stability for the government and the 
people of Ukraine as they navigate through these troubled waters. The 
legislation before us will allow funds to be used to guarantee loans 
for the Government of Ukraine, in support of the Secretary of State's 
$1 billion pledge this week. This bill does not appropriate new funds, 
but simply allows funds to be used from existing State Department 
resources.
  Ukraine's economy has been in a difficult position for years, but now 
the country faces, of course, real risks. Russia has punished Ukraine 
for leaning toward the West and has suspended the assistance they 
planned to provide.
  This bill will not solve all of Ukraine's problems, obviously, but it 
is an important first step that will allow the country to shore up its 
finances and begin to make its economy more efficient.
  With this legislation, Congress--and the United States--will show 
that we stand by those that oppose authoritarian rule. It will show 
that, as a nation, we will step up to help the people of Ukraine not 
only with our words, but with our deeds.
  Ukraine is facing an uncertain economic future, Mr. Speaker, but they 
are choosing the right path of democracy and reform. The American 
people will stand with the Ukrainian people as they chart this new 
course, and today we will take a first step to quickly respond to their 
present need.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a critically important bill and one that should 
pass the House and the Senate and be enacted into law without delay. I 
urge a ``yes'' vote.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  We must come together today on a bipartisan basis to support the 
people of Ukraine and take a stand against Russia's aggression and 
illegal violation of Ukraine's sovereign and territorial integrity.
  Since last November, the world has watched with growing alarm as the 
hopes and democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people were met with 
violent crackdowns against activists, harassment of journalists, and 
restrictive legislation limiting basic democratic freedoms. The bloody 
images from the city square and rising death toll are horrific.
  Last month, the Ukrainian Parliament, the democratically elected 
institution, responsibly exercised its mandate and took action on 
behalf of the people of Ukraine. Within days, hope returned as the 
Parliament ousted the reckless and dangerous former President 
Yanukovych, began discussions with the IMF on a financial support 
package, and formed a transitional government with early elections 
scheduled for May.
  But Russia, through its dangerous and illegal military occupation of 
Crimea, has imperiled this progress and unnecessarily escalated this 
crisis. Russia has violated international law and its own treaty 
obligations with Ukraine. Ukraine now teeters on the brink of disaster 
and bloodshed, and I urgently call upon President Putin to work with 
Kiev and the international community to deescalate the situation 
immediately.
  Now is the time for us to support the people of Ukraine. I strongly 
support President Obama's comprehensive aid package to support Ukraine, 
which includes $1 billion in loan guarantees, technical assistance on 
trade, and recovery of stolen assets.
  The IMF is working with the transitional government in Kiev and is 
instrumental in stabilizing the Ukrainian economy. This crisis 
illustrates the importance of the IMF to our national and global 
security interests, and I hope the final assistance package we enact 
for Ukraine will include support for the IMF.
  In addition, I urge my colleagues in Congress to support the IMF 
quota reforms in the President's budget request, which would expand the 
IMF's capacity to respond to these kinds of crises and maintain U.S. 
leadership, instead of continuing to pursue shortsighted, isolationist 
attacks on the IMF.
  In the meantime, however, we should not let the perfect stand as the 
enemy of the good. In the bipartisan spirit of this bill, I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``yes'' to stand beside the people of Ukraine in 
their hour of darkness.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the committee's chairman of the 
State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.
  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4152 and strongly 
support this bipartisan legislation before us today to provide economic 
assistance to Ukraine during her hour of need. This loan guarantee will 
help stabilize the Ukrainian economy during a time of political 
transition and when this country's sovereignty is being tested by 
Russia. Now, more than ever, the United States needs to demonstrate 
bold leadership and stand up for those who choose democracy over 
tyranny.
  This bill does not mean the end of Ukraine's serious challenges, but 
it is an important first step that will allow the government to begin 
to repair the economic damage caused by the former leadership and will 
help bring stability back to a nation that values freedom.
  This legislation also sends a clear signal to Ukraine and the world 
that the United States stands by our friends. The Ukrainian people want 
democracy, justice, reform, and peace. The American people will stand 
with Ukraine as they chart a new course forward.
  I want to thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey for their 
immediate, bipartisan response to this crisis in Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, this is important legislation at a very important time. 
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' so we can send this bill to the 
President's desk for his signature without delay.
  Mrs. LOWEY. I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. ENGEL. I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from New York, for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
I rise in strong support of H.R. 4152, legislation that would provide 
the Government of Ukraine with urgently needed funds to address 
pressing needs at a critical moment. The Ukrainian people bravely 
confronted a brutal and corrupt regime and stood up for democracy and 
justice. They need our help now. This bill is a first step in answering 
their call.
  The bill authorizes the United States to provide repayment guarantees 
for bonds that the Ukrainian Government plans to issue to raise cash. 
These guarantees will make it easier for Ukraine to sell the bonds at 
the lowest possible price and at the longest term. Our guarantees would 
be backed up by

[[Page 3912]]

reserves, using existing appropriated funds that the Congress provided 
for exactly this type of emergency.
  This bill is the initial contribution to sustaining Ukraine's new 
government as it seeks to restore stability and return Ukraine to 
political and economic health. It is part of a larger financial 
commitment from the EU and other states, and will also help Ukraine's 
efforts to reach agreement with the IMF and to implement needed 
reforms.
  Without this support, Ukraine's progress could stall in the face of 
unrelenting pressure from Russia, which has illegally occupied the 
Crimea, is encouraging separatism and conflict, and which has 
substantial leverage on the Ukrainian economy.
  Our country has a long history of answering the call of people who 
have chosen freedom and democracy. Ukraine is now making that call as 
its people are seeking to defend their sovereignty and territorial 
integrity and build a more democratic, prosperous, and just future for 
themselves and their country. We must answer. This bill is our first 
step.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4152.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the distinguished 
chairman of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.

                              {time}  1130

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation to provide critical loan guarantees to Ukraine as it 
struggles against Russian oppression.
  A large and proud Ukrainian community has been part of my 
congressional district for well over a century. Initially, Ukrainians 
came to New Jersey in waves of immigration because of persecution under 
the czars, then later after the Soviet Union crushed an independent 
Ukraine in the 1920s.
  Yes, from the days of my youth I have come to understand that 
Ukrainians have always cherished freedom almost more than any 
descendants of other Nations, peoples, and cultures. Even after living 
in America for decades, they remain devoted to their homeland, to 
independence.
  Fiercely proud of their independent Nation, my constituents are now 
watching history repeat itself as Vladimir Putin occupies Crimea, and 
seems to be threatening other parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, the people have the right and obligation to decide what 
they feel is best for their Nation--either closer ties to the EU, the 
European Community, and the West, or shift back to Russia. That is 
their choice, and it cannot and must not be decided through the force 
of arms.
  Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I am pleased that the President has 
proposed and the House will soon approve these loan guarantees for 
Ukraine. This measure is not enough. The Ukrainian people need strong 
leadership from the United States.
  This bill sends the right message, it sends the needed loan 
guarantees, and I urge strong support for its passage.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), a member of the Foreign 
Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I stand today with the people of Ukraine and 
in strong support of this legislation, which will provide the 
administration with additional and immediate flexibility to assist 
Ukraine. I look forward to working with the gentleman from Kentucky and 
my good friend from New York on further ways to assist Ukraine in the 
appropriations process.
  This effort cannot be just about helping Ukraine. It must also be 
about reversing Russian aggression, curbing Vladimir Putin's revanchist 
policies in Russia's ``Near Abroad.'' President Obama's action this 
morning to cut off access to assets and place travel restrictions on 
those involved in the violation of Ukraine's sovereign is a positive 
first step. The pressure must be increased in the coming days if Russia 
fails to reverse course.
  I support a slate of economic sanctions led by the United States and 
Europe to isolate Russia's economy and its leadership, so that Putin is 
made to understand that his violation of international law and the 
sovereignty of his neighbors will not be tolerated.
  The collapse of the Soviet Union was one of the seminal events of the 
20th century. The Cold War is over. Territorial aggression by Russia 
will not resurrect its empire but only diminish its standing in the 
world and the future of its people.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris), a distinguished member of our 
committee.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, thank you for yielding me time to speak on 
this bill before us.
  Mr. Speaker, the situation in Ukraine is important to all of us, but 
for me it has a personal aspect. My mother, now 90 years old, escaped 
from Ukraine and the Communists after World War II. She understood 
firsthand how Joseph Stalin suppressed freedoms and liberties in 
Ukraine--much as Mr. Putin desires to do likewise now.
  We are faced with a situation in which a new Government of Ukraine is 
being threatened with Russian expansion into its sovereign territories. 
It is as if the Budapest agreement of 1994, which involved both Russia 
and the United States, had not guaranteed Ukraine safe borders from 
invasion. It is as if the Cold War never ended. Perhaps to Mr. Putin 
and other Russian nationalists it never has.
  Ukraine, situated between Russia and the rest of Europe, is of 
obvious strategic and economic importance, not only to Russia but to 
the United States and Western Europe.
  That is why this bill is so important. It allows Ukraine to be 
allowed access to ESF funding. The ESF was established to, ``provide 
assistance to allies and countries in the transition to democracy.''
  Mr. Speaker, that is exactly the situation in which Ukraine finds 
itself today--in need of our help to advance democracy and resist the 
invasion, economically and physically, from Russia, attempting to 
relitigate the Cold War. We can't let that happen. They desperately 
need these loan guarantees. For the sake of freedom, democracy, and 
international justice, I urge passage of this bipartisan effort to help 
our friends in Ukraine.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the ranking member of the Ways and 
Means Committee.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in fervent support of this 
legislation. This bills comes at a clearly crucial time. The people of 
Ukraine need to be able to preserve their Nation. We need to help.
  The people of Ukraine fought for their long-desired independence. We 
need to help them keep it. In my capacity as cochair of the 
Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I have had many chances to dialogue 
with the Ukrainian American community and members of the current 
Ukraine Parliament.
  They have outlined in detail their determination to maintain and 
sustain one Ukraine against Russian aggression and any other force. The 
President has taken strong steps to support that endeavor.
  We today should join together in unison with the President, and with, 
I believe, the overwhelming majority of the American people.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4152, which 
provides loan guarantees for Ukraine. I am deeply concerned about the 
crisis in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is clearly the aggressor, but the 
United States and our European allies have not done enough to support 
freedom, self determination, and human rights in Ukraine. When America 
does not provide strong and reliable leadership, bad things are more 
likely to happen.
  Unfortunately, President Obama's foreign policy of leading from 
behind is a failure. Even the liberal Washington Post this week said 
that, ``President Obama's foreign policy is based on fantasy.''

[[Page 3913]]

  We in Congress must do all we can to restore missing American 
leadership on foreign policy, and that starts with Ukraine.
  The people of Ukraine should not be pawns in Vladimir Putin's hands. 
We must stand with our European and our other allies and do all we can 
to support freedom, self determination, and human rights in Ukraine. I 
ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4152.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the minority whip of the House.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I want 
to thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey for bringing this 
bill to the floor in a very timely fashion.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress is coming together today to support loan 
guarantee authority for Ukraine that will be instrumental in 
stabilizing its economy and showing Ukraine's people that the United 
States stands with them.
  I view this as a first step in what, hopefully, will be a series of 
actions to support the people of Ukraine, including IMF ratification 
authority.
  I also support, Mr. Speaker, President Obama's action this morning to 
impose sanctions again Russian and Crimean officials who are 
exacerbating the crisis and put in place visa restrictions.
  Mr. Speaker, I chaired the Commission on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe from 1985 to 1995. The final act says that borders cannot be 
changed other than by political means. The Russians need to comply with 
that admonition. I commend the administration's efforts to broker a 
diplomatic process that can resolve this dangerous situation in 
Ukraine.
  The steps taken today are integral to that effort. We will stand 
hopefully as one in this Congress on behalf of this bill.
  Russia has violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of 
Ukraine in its unlawful and unwarranted military occupation of Crimea 
and its threats against the government in Kiev.
  I do not purport to say this is a simple situation that we confront. 
I would commend to my colleagues an article by Henry Kissinger in 
today's Washington Post.
  The complexities of this situation are real, but the actions of the 
Russians are an unacceptable response and we must take action. As a 
former chairman of the Helsinki Commission during the waning days of 
the Cold War, I have seen firsthand the yearning for freedom by the 
people of the former Soviet Union.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman.
  Mr. HOYER. There are deep linguistic and political divisions within 
Ukraine. Frankly, that is true of many other countries as well. 
Democracy by its nature provides an avenue to overcome those 
differences through peaceful cooperation and dialogue. That is what 
must prevail in Ukraine, and what must guide all parties forward. Not 
force, not intimidation, and not separatism. The United States remains 
committed, Mr. Speaker, to standing with all of the people of Ukraine 
as they seek the better future they deserve.
  Therefore, I urge my colleagues to overwhelmingly support this 
resolution and again thank Mr. Rogers and Mrs. Lowey for bringing this 
to the floor so quickly and decisively.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), a member of the Rules Committee 
and the ranking member of the Helsinki Commission.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support 
of this legislation, which is a beginning step, and which I hope we 
will follow with all that we can to assist those Ukrainians who are 
courageous and forward leaning to be about the business of determining 
their own fate. I had the good fortune of being an election monitor 
immediately after the Orange Revolution, and I spent a lot of time 
talking to the people there. What I learned, if nothing more, is that 
they do have the courage of their convictions.
  What I want us to do, and what I beg my colleagues that speak about 
this matter to understand, is that it is extremely complex. It is 
nothing that you can put on a bumper sticker, and it is unfair to 
President Obama for people to take to this floor and allow that he is 
``leading from behind,'' as I just heard a Member say. What that Member 
needs to understand is that it is not easy to make a determination in 
these kinds of matters. Whereas Putin is a dictator, Obama is in a 
democracy.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Energy 
and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the full 
committee, Mrs. Lowey, for yielding me this time.
  I am very proud of the Appropriations Committee at this moment for 
bringing the first bill to the floor that stands with freedom-lovers in 
Ukraine and around our world. We know a threat to liberty anywhere is a 
threat to liberty everywhere, and I rise in heartfelt support of this 
loan guarantee legislation to allow Ukraine time to stabilize and 
secure its liberty.
  This money will be repaid, and I commend the bipartisan leadership of 
this House in acting with dispatch. President Obama and Secretary Kerry 
have been working overtime on Ukraine's crisis to exert every effort to 
bring the nations of the free world together in their mutual self-
interest, and that interest is liberty.
  There are some Russian violations of international law in treaties 
that are so abhorrent they demand the strongest action. Russia's 
invasion of its undefended neighbor, Ukraine, cannot be allowed to 
stand. The now-20-year-old Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurance, 
signed in 1994 by the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and 
Ukraine, set the path for Ukraine to give up thousands of nuclear 
weapons, and she remains undefended because of it.

                              {time}  1145

  The Budapest Accords welcomed the accession of Ukraine to the treaty 
of nonproliferation of nuclear weapons as a nonnuclear weapons state, 
so her inability to defend herself against such a powerful neighbor is 
very clear.
  This week, in a joint statement, leaders from Canada, France, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and our country said:

       We join together today to condemn the Russian Federation's 
     clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity 
     of Ukraine, in contravention of Russia's obligations under 
     the UN Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 3 minutes.
  Ms. KAPTUR. This diverse group of nations from throughout the world 
coming together further illustrates the isolation Russia is certain to 
face if she does not relent and fall back from its aggressive push into 
Crimea.
  In summarizing my remarks today, let me place on the Record, from the 
last century, no place in the world suffered more than the land of 
Ukraine, no place had more people forcibly starved, murdered, brutally 
beaten, buried alive, imprisoned, arrested into forced labor, including 
some of my ancestors.
  I know, having traveled to Ukraine, how much the people of that great 
country want liberty. This is a moment that history will record in our 
new century the 21st. Joining with nations around the world, let us 
give Ukraine a bit of a lift to get her over this critical period she 
is facing.
  I also wish to place into the Record information about what the 
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has done in 
Ukraine to date. I will tell the body today that journalists are not 
being allowed to report from Crimea. They are being blocked and beaten 
by the government of Russia, from the reports we are getting on

[[Page 3914]]

the ground. How is the world community to know the full truth of what 
is occurring?
  Russia is moving the world backwards, not forwards. This bill is an 
important step in helping Ukraine to transition as we join with 
countries from throughout the world to condemn the violation of 
Ukraine's sovereign borders and to help give her the courage to stand 
up to those who would take her liberty away.
  This will be the first time in modern history that that country has a 
chance to become the truly borderland great nation that she is meant to 
be, reaching west and north and east and south.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, which is 
a loan guarantee to help lift that country over this most trying time 
and difficult crisis in its recent history.
  I thank the gentlelady for yielding me this time.

 [From Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Secretary 
                        General, March 6, 2014]

        OSCE to Send Military and Civilian Personnel to Ukraine

       Update at 12:00, 6 March: As of now, twenty-two OSCE 
     participating States are participating in the activity, 
     having sent up to two representatives each. Austria, Canada, 
     Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, 
     Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, 
     Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, 
     and the United States. One representative from the OSCE 
     Conflict Prevention Centre is also participating.
       Vienna, 5 March 2014.--Eighteen OSCE participating States 
     decided to send 35 unarmed military personnel to Ukraine in 
     response to its request.
       The matter was discussed at a joint meeting of the 
     Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-operation 
     (FSC) in Vienna on 4 March 2014.
       The visit is taking place under Chapter III of the Vienna 
     Document 2011, which allows for voluntary hosting of visits 
     to dispel concerns about unusual military activities. Ukraine 
     has requested all OSCE participating States to send military 
     representatives from 5 to 12 March 2014, starting in Odessa. 
     This is the first time this mechanism has been activated.
       As of now, eighteen OSCE participating States have 
     responded positively to the request sending up to two 
     representatives each. Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
     Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, 
     Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, United 
     Kingdom, and the United States. One representative from the 
     OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre will also be participating. 
     The military visit participants are on their way to Ukraine 
     now.
       OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said: ``It Is my 
     hope that this military visit will help to de-escalate 
     tensions in Ukraine. By providing an objective assessment of 
     the facts on the ground, the OSCE will be better placed to 
     foster a political solution to the current crisis through 
     dialogue.''
       ``Confidence-building and transparency are key elements of 
     the OSCE approach to security, which seeks to foster openness 
     and dialogue as the best way to resolve conflicts in our 
     region,'' he added.
       The Vienna Document 2011 is one of the main confidence-
     building measures developed by the OSCE. Under this document, 
     all participating States are required to share information on 
     their military forces, equipment and defence planning. The 
     Document also provides for inspections and evaluation visits 
     that can be conducted on the territory of any participating 
     State that has armed forces.
       Note to editors: Chapter III of the Vienna Document 2011 
     (full text see at http://www.osce.org/fsc/86597)


     VOLUNTARY HOSTING OF VISITS TO DISPEL CONCERNS ABOUT MILITARY 
                               ACTIVITIES

       (18) In order to help to dispel concerns about military 
     activities in the zone of application for CSBMs, 
     participating States are encouraged to invite other 
     participating States to take part in visits to areas on the 
     territory of the host State in which there may be cause for 
     such concerns. Such invitations will be without prejudice to 
     any action taken under paragraphs (16) to (16.3).
       (18.1) States invited to participate in such visits will 
     include those which are understood to have concerns. At the 
     time invitations are issued, the host State will communicate 
     to all other participating States its intention to conduct 
     the visit, indicating the reasons for the visit, the area to 
     be visited, the States invited and the general arrangements 
     to be adopted.
       (18.2) Arrangements for such visits, including the number 
     of the representatives from other participating States to be 
     invited, will be at the discretion of the host State, which 
     will bear the in-country costs. However, the host State 
     should take appropriate account of the need to ensure the 
     effectiveness of the visit, the maximum amount of openness 
     and transparency and the safety and security of the invited 
     representatives. It should also take account, as far as 
     practicable, of the wishes of visiting representatives as 
     regards the itinerary of the visit. The host State and the 
     States which provide visiting personnel may circulate joint 
     or individual comments on the visit to all other 
     participating States.
                                  ____


                            The White House

                     Office of the Press Secretary

                 [For Immediate Release--March 6, 2014]

       To the Congress of the United States: Pursuant to the 
     International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
     et seq.) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an 
     Executive Order (the ``order'') declaring a national 
     emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary 
     threat to the national security and foreign policy of the 
     United States posed by the situation in Ukraine.
       The order does not target the country of Ukraine, but 
     rather is aimed at persons--including persons who have 
     asserted governmental authority in the Crimean region without 
     the authorization of the Government of Ukraine--who undermine 
     democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten 
     its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial 
     integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of its 
     assets. The order blocks the property and interests in 
     property and suspends entry into the United States of any 
     person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of State:
       to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged 
     in, directly or indirectly, any of the following:
       actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or 
     institutions in Ukraine;
       actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, 
     stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine; 
     or
       misappropriation of state assets of Ukraine or of an 
     economically significant entity in Ukraine;
       to have asserted governmental authority over any part or 
     region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government 
     of Ukraine;
       to be a leader of an entity that has, or whose members 
     have, engaged in any activity described above or of an entity 
     whose property and interest in property are blocked;
       to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported 
     to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any 
     person whose property and interests in property are blocked 
     pursuant to the order.
       I have delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury the 
     authority, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to 
     take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and 
     regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the 
     President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the 
     purposes of the order. All agencies of the United States 
     Government are directed to take all appropriate measures 
     within their authority to carry out the provisions of the 
     order.
       I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.

                                                 Barack Obama,

                                                  The White House,
                                                    March 6, 2014.

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire as to how much 
time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Kentucky has 11\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from New York has 4 minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire of my colleague 
if she has further speakers?
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, it doesn't seem to me that we have 
additional speakers. We may have an additional speaker on the way.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As we wait for the additional speaker, I want to thank the chairman 
again. I think it is very important that we have been able to act so 
expeditiously in a bipartisan way to send a very strong message to 
Russia and to the people of Ukraine.
  The people of Ukraine, as was explained so eloquently by my 
colleague, Ms. Kaptur, who has been there many times, are standing up 
for freedom.
  There are many challenges they have, the challenge of adequate 
housing, the challenge of adequate food, the challenge of strengthening 
an economy; yet the fact that we must respond as our great democracy to 
a situation that has been imposed by Putin is very, very troubling, 
when there are so many real issues to which our resources can be 
extended.
  My grandparents came from Kiev a long time ago at the turn of the 
century. They escaped from the pogroms; they escaped from the lack of 
democracy and the impact of intolerance and

[[Page 3915]]

brutality that existed there. When you look back upon these years and 
you look at the struggles that the Ukrainian people have endured, to 
see the unnecessary brutality that has occurred is unacceptable.
  Mr. Chairman, again, I want to thank you that we are working together 
in a bipartisan way to stand up for freedom, to stand up for democracy, 
to stand up for the people who are seeking a good future for their 
families.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I want to thank the gentlelady for cosponsoring this legislation and 
working in a bipartisan fashion to be sure that it is brought up in the 
quickest possible manner, which this is. Like you and the others who 
have spoken, I am proud of our committee for acting expeditiously and 
doing the right thing at the right time.
  It is really a sad, sad, sad state of affairs that we find in 
Ukraine. I remember going there many years before when it was still a 
part of the Soviet Union under Communist rule and visiting the 
wonderful church where the Eastern Orthodox Church was born in Kiev and 
going through the labyrinth, the catacombs; and today, to realize that 
that peaceful, wonderful place, the home of Christianity, really, in 
that part of the world, is being torn apart by people of no faith is 
doubly troubling.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4152. This 
critical legislation will make Ukraine eligible for U.S. loan 
guarantees, helping to bolster Ukraine's struggling economy. Strong 
financial aid for Ukraine will send a message that the United States 
and the international community are backing the Ukrainian people with 
more than words. This step will help free Ukraine from Russia's 
economic coercion.
  Russia's aggressive campaign to seize Ukrainian territory in the 
Crimean Peninsula and beyond presents a grave threat to Ukraine's 
sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a crucial moment for 
Ukraine--any misstep from either side at this moment could lead to all-
out war. It is critical that the United States and the international 
community act decisively to support the Ukrainian people and isolate 
Russia for its transgressions.
  I appreciate the work that the Obama Administration has already 
undertaken to suspend trade talks and military cooperation with 
Russia--as well as to assemble an economic aid package for Ukraine. It 
is fitting that the United States has quickly recognized the legitimacy 
of Ukraine's new government, reflecting the right of the Ukrainian 
people to choose their own future.
  However, we must recognize that tough talk alone will not persuade 
Russia to change its course. Russia needs to feel tangible consequences 
for deploying troops in Ukraine. Our partners in Europe, particularly 
Germany, are positioned to have a large economic impact on Russia 
through sanctions. It will be critical to bring them along in our 
efforts. Russia should also be stripped of its current G8 presidency 
and suspended from the G8. G8 members should boycott the 40th G8 
Summit, scheduled for June 4 and 5, 2014 in Sochi.
  I represent New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District, which is home 
to a large and active community of Ukrainian Americans. I am proud to 
have a productive and longstanding relationship with New Jersey's 
Ukrainian Americans. Since this crisis emerged, I have hosted meetings 
in my office and listened to the advice of those with close ties to 
Ukraine. The Ukrainian American community has proven to be an 
invaluable resource, and I am grateful for their guidance.
  The people of Ukraine need support to realize a peaceful, democratic 
solution to this crisis. That's why it is so fitting that the United 
States act to support Ukraine. Once again, I urge my colleagues to 
support this vital measure for Ukraine in its time of need.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4152.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. 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.

                          ____________________