In March, Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), co-chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, introduced a resolution commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Ukrainian Holodomor, Joseph Stalin’s genocide of the Ukrainian people.
The commemorative resolution, S. Res. 435, not only describes the Soviets’ horrific and systematic destruction of the Ukrainian people, but clearly stipulates that the U.S. Senate “recognizes the findings of the Commission on the Ukraine Famine as submitted to Congress on April 22, 1988, including that Joseph Stalin and those around him committed genocide against the Ukrainians in 1932-1933.” This is a significant aspect of recognition of the Holodomor’s genocidal nature.
When S. Res. 435 was introduced, it was also supported by several co-sponsors, including Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). Two additional co-sponsors have signed on to the Holodomor resolution since then: Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.).
As indicated in The Ukrainian Weekly editorial from April 8, “our goal now must be to get other senators to sign on as co-sponsors of the measure, as well as to thank those… who have already given their support.” The Ukrainian community has worked tirelessly in the past years since the Revolution of Dignity to enhance its relationship with congressional offices. Therefore, it remains imperative that the Ukrainian community members contact their respective senators and request their co-sponsorship of the Holodomor Resolution, S. Res. 435.
Below, please find a sample text to write to your senator. Contact information for your senator may be obtained at: http://www.senate.gov.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Senator (Last Name):
In March 2018, the U.S. Senate introduced S. Res. 435, a resolution that commemorates the 85th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide (Holodomor) of 1932-1933. Perpetrated by the Soviet government, the Holodomor claimed the lives of 7 million innocent Ukrainian men, women and children as a means to reduce their desire for independence and aspirations for Ukrainian statehood.
It is important that the memory of the innocent victims does not vanish. Knowledge of the horrors suffered by the Ukrainian nation will serve as a constant reminder that the Free World cannot rest as long as there exist oppressive regimes. It is our duty to prevent similar genocides from happening ever again. As your constituent, I respectfully urge you to support S. Res. 435 and add your name as a co-sponsor. While Ukraine remembers the Holodomor, the world must acknowledge the genocide!
Sincerely,
(Your name)