Supporting the People of Ukraine to Freely Elect their Government

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York and, of course, the distinguished chairman of the committee.

I rise in support of H. Res. 348. The people of Ukraine have the right to hold free and fair elections within the sovereign territory of their own country. The ruthless tyranny of Russian military aggression in Ukraine must end, and we must never agree to a settlement that even hints to President Vladimir Putin that the borders of Europe are up for sale.

The resolution notes: the forcible and illegal occupation of Crimea. The United States must make it clear in both our words and our deeds that Crimea is within the sovereign territory of Ukraine, and we will not recognize its forcible and illegal annexation by Russia--ever. This resolution is clear on that account, and I thank the author, Mr. Cicilline, for it.

The Senate and House of Representatives recently passed the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act conference report. That text included an amendment I authored to prohibit the authorization of funds to be obligated or expended in order to implement any activity that could be construed as recognizing the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Ukraine's Crimea. Crimea is not an issue we can allow to fade into the background--ever. As the resolution notes in just its second clause, this was Putin's original sin in Ukraine.

If we are to deter, Mr. Speaker, further Russian separatist and revanchist moves in eastern Ukraine, we must never yield on Crimea.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source