Expressing the sense of Congress that the 70th anniversary of the 1932-1933 man-made famine in Ukraine ("Holodomor") should serve as a reminder of the incredible suffering and loss sustained by the Ukrainian people as a result of intentional policies implemented by the government of the former Soviet Union.

Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) the victims of the Soviet-engineered Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933 ("Holodomor") be solemnly remembered on its 70th anniversary; (2) the systematic violations of human rights, freedom of self-determination, and freedom of speech of the Ukrainian people by the government of the former Soviet Union should be condemned; (3) information regarding the Holodomor should be disseminated in order to expand the world's knowledge of this man-made tragedy; and (4) on the 70th anniversary of Holodomor efforts in Ukraine should be supported to ensure democratic principles, a free-market economy, and full respect for human rights, thereby enabling Ukraine to achieve its potential as an important strategic partner in the region.

[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 254 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 254

Expressing the sense of Congress that the 70th anniversary of the 1932-
   1933 man-made famine in Ukraine (``Holodomor'') should serve as a 
    reminder of the incredible suffering and loss sustained by the 
Ukrainian people as a result of intentional policies implemented by the 
                 government of the former Soviet Union.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2003

  Mr. Levin (for himself, Ms. Kaptur, and Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the 70th anniversary of the 1932-
   1933 man-made famine in Ukraine (``Holodomor'') should serve as a 
    reminder of the incredible suffering and loss sustained by the 
Ukrainian people as a result of intentional policies implemented by the 
                 government of the former Soviet Union.

Whereas 2003 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian forced-famine of 1932-
        1933, which resulted in the deaths of at least 7,000,000 Ukrainians and 
        was covered up and officially denied by the government of the former 
        Soviet Union;
Whereas the Soviet government deliberately confiscated grain harvests and 
        starved millions of Ukrainian men, women, and children in a policy of 
        forced collectivization that sought to destroy Ukrainian aspirations for 
        independence;
Whereas the Soviet government ordered the borders of Ukraine sealed to prevent 
        anyone from escaping the artificial famine and preventing any 
        international food aid from providing relief to the starving;
Whereas Canadian wheat expert Andrew Cairns visited Ukraine in 1932 and was told 
        that there was no grain ``because the government had collected so much 
        grain and exported it to England and Italy'', while denying food aid to 
        the people of Ukraine;
Whereas nearly a quarter of Ukraine's rural population was eliminated due to the 
        artificially induced starvation, and the entire nation suffered from the 
        consequences of the prolonged famine;
Whereas noted correspondents of the time were disparaged and criticized for 
        their courage in depicting and reporting of the forced famine in 
        Ukraine, including Gareth Jones, William Henry Chamberlin, and Malcolm 
        Muggeridge who wrote ``[t]hey [the Ukrainians] will tell you that many 
        have already died of famine and that many are dying every day'';
Whereas the United States Commission on the Ukraine Famine was formed on 
        December 13, 1985, to conduct a study with the goal of expanding the 
        world's knowledge and understanding of the famine;
Whereas the Commission's final report concluded that the victims ``starved to 
        death in a man-made famine'' and that ``Joseph Stalin and those around 
        him committed genocide against Ukrainians in 1932-1933''; and
Whereas with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, archival documents confirm the 
        deliberate and premeditated nature of the famine and the government of 
        the former Soviet Union was exposed for its atrocities against the 
        Ukrainian people: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the victims of the Soviet-engineered Ukrainian famine 
        of 1932-1933 be solemnly remembered on its 70th anniversary;
            (2) the systematic violations of human rights, freedom of 
        self-determination, and freedom of speech of the Ukrainian 
        people by the government of the former Soviet Union should be 
        condemned;
            (3) information regarding the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933 
        should be disseminated in order to expand the world's knowledge 
        of this man-made tragedy; and
            (4) on the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian famine of 
        1932-1933, efforts in Ukraine should be supported to ensure 
        democratic principles, a free-market economy, and full respect 
        for human rights, thereby enabling Ukraine to achieve its 
        potential as an important strategic partner in the region.
                                 <all>