Congress is now in recess and the Ukrainian National Information Service has advised Ukrainian Americans that this is a good time to continue the #SupportUkraine campaign it initiated earlier this year. UNIS, the Washington-based public affairs bureau of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, is urging Ukrainian community representatives to meet with their members of Congress in their local districts. “This is a unique opportunity to bring to their attention issues of concern regarding U.S.-Ukraine relations and relevant factors of U.S. security interests in the Central and East European region,” UNIS notes. (See the story and checklist of issues that appear on page 5.)
At the same time, we should reach out and support our community’s friends in Congress – Democrats and Republicans alike. Their support of Ukraine and our Ukrainian American community’s concerns deserves to be acknowledged. Here are a few examples.
In late June, Rep. Brendan Boyle (R-Pa.) and Ukraine Caucus Co-Chairs Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) initiated a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to visit Ukraine prior to the end of his term. Fifteen members of the House of Representatives joined in singing the letter. As noted by Rep. Boyle’s office, “This bipartisan effort underscores that a visit by President Obama to Ukraine would highlight and enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as enhance the strong cooperation needed to implement reforms in Ukraine.”
On July 7, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to carry this message to leaders at NATO summit in Warsaw: success in Ukraine and resistance to Russian aggression are in the best interest of all NATO member counties. The senators wrote: “…amid the brazen failure of Russia to abide by the Minsk agreement and internal political turmoil within the European Union, it is critical for NATO to reaffirm its support for Ukraine’s success and the fundamental democratic values at stake.”
Back in late April, Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) introduced the Stability and Democracy (STAND) for Ukraine Act, which clarifies the position of the United States on Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea, tightens sanctions on Russia, promotes investment in Ukraine and directs the State Department to implement a strategy to respond to Russian propaganda and disinformation. A bipartisan group of 14 more members – Reps. Levin, Fitzpatrick, Kaptur, Ralph Abraham (R-La.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Reid Ribble (R-Wis.) – joined in introducing HR 5094.
“The STAND for Ukraine Act …makes clear that the United States will not just stand by as Putin bullies his neighbors, tests the resolve of NATO and works to fracture Western unity,” Rep. Engel stated. “By reaffirming U.S. support for Ukraine’s self-defense, emphasizing that we never have nor will recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, and by holding Russia accountable for its continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, we will ‘Stand with Ukraine’ legislatively and most effectively,” Rep. Kinzinger said. The bill was reported out of committee on July 14 and now awaits further action. It currently has 37 co-sponsors.
Another bill in the pipeline is the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act introduced in May by Rep. Kinzinger, joined by Rep. Ted Lieu (D- Calif.). HR 5181 mirrors the Senate version, S 2692, that was introduced two months earlier by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Murphy. It would establish a Center for Information Analysis and Response for the purpose of coordinating a U.S. response to propaganda from Russia, China and other countries. It aims to strengthen U.S. security interests by disseminating truthful information about worldwide issues, in particular Russia’s disinformation and propaganda about Ukraine and the war in eastern Ukraine. Other original co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Fitzpatrick, Boyle, Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.).
These friends of Ukraine, it should be underscored, are on both sides of the aisle. They have earned our gratitude, and we should make our gratitude known.