Help for Ukraine

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a looming crisis that we see in Eastern Europe.

Last week, as a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I had a chance to accompany some of my colleagues on a bipartisan delegation to both Brussels and Ukraine.

What I saw when we were in Ukraine, as we met with their senior leaders and President Zelensky, was a country that has resolve. They reminded us that they have been at war with Russia for the last 8 years since Russia invaded Crimea and occupied the Donbas territories. So, this is a country that has been fighting Russia. They are prepared to defend themselves.

When I went out on the streets with my colleagues and talked to ordinary Ukrainian citizens, there is a resolve. They have no intention of living under Soviet rule. They have tasted freedom.

It is important for us as the United States of America to stand with this young democracy. We are the oldest democracy in the world. When I have been asked by the media why the United States should be concerned about what is happening in Eastern Europe, it is because we value the freedoms that we enjoy; we value the liberty; and we value the ability of individual citizens to choose their own path forward. That is what this is about.

When we went to Brussels, we had a chance to meet with our NATO allies, with other members of the European Union. Think about what we accomplished working with those countries in the 75-plus years post- World War II. We created peace on the European Continent after two world wars. We created thriving democracies. We created prosperity. That is what is at risk.

Think about what Mr. Putin wants to do. He wants to reestablish the Soviet Union. He is an autocrat. That is what is at risk in the 21st century.

It is not a given that democracy will win the 21st century. We have to fight for democracy. We have to fight for those liberties. We have to fight for those individuals to choose their path forward.

That is why this is important. That is why it is important for us to stand with the people of Ukraine. That is why it is important for us, along with our European allies and our NATO allies, to stand together and speak with one voice and tell Mr. Putin we are not going back to the Soviet era; we are going forward to a peaceful, prosperous 21st century for all people.

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