OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Gateway Solidarity Act

Floor Speech

Date: July 18, 2022
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7002) to authorize the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, to be illuminated by blue and yellow lights in support of Ukraine, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7002

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Gateway Solidarity Act''. SEC. 2. ILLUMINATION OF THE GATEWAY ARCH IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE.

To show support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Secretary of the Interior shall illuminate the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, by blue and yellow lights--

(A) in 2022, within 15 days following enactment of this act, for no fewer than 5 consecutive days; and

(B) annually on August 24, in recognition of Ukrainian Independence Day, until the President reports to Congress that the government of the Russian Federation has ceased its destabilizing activities with respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7002, the Gateway Solidarity Act, to illuminate the St. Louis Gateway Arch in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

As we know, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and since then, the country and its people have experienced the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II--a conflict consisting of Russian attacks that have leveled Ukrainian cities, caused civilian casualties, and sparked an enormous refugee crisis.

Introduced by my colleague across the aisle, Representative Ann Wagner, this bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to illuminate the Gateway Arch in the colors of the Ukrainian flag to show that we, in the United States, are behind Ukraine, sending a message to our friends and allies in Europe and across the globe that the American people are supportive of a sovereign Ukrainian nation.

I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7002 and reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote and yield back the balance of my time.

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