Provision of Costs of Loan Guarantees for Ukraine

Floor Speech

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Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 4152.

Let me first open by commending our chair once again, Congressman Royce, for making such a statesmanlike statement. I agree with everything he said in that our bipartisan work in support of Ukraine and our bipartisan work on the entire Foreign Affairs Committee has been a treasure for both sides of the aisle and, certainly, for me as ranking member and for Mr. Royce as chair. I thank him again for working with us in such a bipartisan fashion.

Last Thursday, the House passed H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act, by the overwhelming margin of 399-19. Think about what that means. We have said that Congress can't agree on anything, and it has been said that Congress can't agree on anything, that we can't work together and that nothing gets done. This proves it wrong, as 399-19 is pretty bipartisan and is a very strong showing to the world and to our country as well that we get together when things are important. What is happening in Ukraine is very, very important.

At that time, I made an extended statement about how important it is for the United States to stand with the people of Ukraine and to make it clear to Putin and his cronies that there will be serious consequences for Russia's aggression. With Russian forces massing on Ukraine's borders, tension and fear are spreading throughout the region, and our legislation sends a clear signal that Congress will not stand for further violations.

Today, we consider the Senate version of our Ukraine legislation. This bill originated in the House as a measure to provide loan guarantees to Ukraine, and it passed this body on March 6 by a vote of 385-23, again another overwhelming bipartisan majority. The Senate then took up this legislation, stripped out our text, inserted the Ukraine bill, authored by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Corker, and sent it back to the House.

Like the House bill, this legislation authorizes assistance to Ukraine as it attempts to right its struggling economy, increase energy security, strengthen civil society, and prepare for democratic elections this spring. It supports enhanced security cooperation with Ukraine and with other countries in the region, and it provides assistance to help Ukraine recover stolen assets. It also imposes sanctions on those responsible for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, for looting Ukraine's economy, and for violating human rights in Ukraine.

While the two bills are very similar, I wish that a number of provisions in the House legislation had been included in the Senate bill. For example, our bill would provide immediate assistance to Ukraine as it attempts to right its struggling economy, increase energy security, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, and prepare for democratic elections this spring, while the Senate bill does not authorize assistance until the next fiscal year, which doesn't begin until October 1. The House bill includes an important provision supporting efforts to professionalize Ukraine's law enforcement, and the House bill includes language that would require the extra scrutiny of Russian banks that may be involved in nefarious activities in Ukraine or in other parts of the world.

But in the interest of time, I support the House passage of this measure so we can get it to the President for his signature as soon as possible. The most important thing here is that both the House and Senate are united in sending a strong, bipartisan signal of support to the people of Ukraine and in providing needed assistance at a critical moment. So I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In closing, let me stress once again that this bill sends a strong message of support to the people of Ukraine at a critical moment. We are the greatest country in the world. We have interests all over the world. I think that it is important that we don't shirk from those interests, but rise to the top with them.

When there are problems around the world, the United States needs to be there. It doesn't mean being the policeman of the world, but it means standing with our friends and allies against brutal aggression. When countries stand up for democracy, they look to the United States as the role model and the leader.

Today, we are leading. Today, we are acting as a role model. Today, we are helping the beleaguered people of Ukraine.

The coming weeks and months will be very difficult for Ukraine. The country faces significant challenges as it seeks to return to political and economic health, so it is very important that the people of Ukraine know that the U.S. stands with them. They should know that we will support them as they seek to build a more democratic, prosperous, and just state and society.

They will know that we support them in urging them to look westward rather than eastward. That is what Russia fears. They fear that these countries will look westward. They will look west and see the Western allies and see what we have to offer.

Then they look eastward, and they see Putin as a bully, someone who will do whatever it necessary to keep them in line, and they don't want that.

Putin may think that he is rebuilding the old Soviet Union, but we will continue to press forward with democracy and stand foursquare with the people of Ukraine in their quest for democracy.

I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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