Honoring Vallery (Lawrence) Weinberg President, Publisher, and Editor-in Chief of Novoye Russkoye Slovo

HONORING VALERY (LAWRENCE) WEINBERG PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER, AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF NOVOYE RUSSKOYE SLOVO -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 05, 2004)
SPEECH OF
HON. JERROLD NADLER
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2004

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Valery (Lawrence) Weinberg, President, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Novoye Russkoye Slovo. On May 8th Mr. Weinberg will be celebrating 40 years of service at Novoye Russkle Slovo (New Russian Word). Novoye Russkoye Slovo is the oldest and most widely read Russian-language daily newspaper in the United States.

Born in the Ukraine in 1945, Mr. Weinberg emigrated first to Poland, and then to the United States in 1964--the same year he began his career at Novoye Russkoye Slovo. From 1964-1982 he held numerous positions at the paper. He was named Executive Vice President in 1982 and President in 1986. In 1995, Mr. Weinberg founded and became President of People's Wave Radio (WYDM 1380-AM), the only 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Russian-Language radio station in the world.

Under Mr. Weinberg's leadership, Novoye Russkoye Slovo played an important role in bringing democracy to the Soviet Union by supporting Russian dissidents and publishing their work. Former presidents from both political parties, including President Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, have acknowledged Novoye Russkoye Slovo anniversaries and noted the newspaper's part in helping new immigrants adapt to life in the United States and understand U.S. policy and democracy.

After the collapse of communism, the Russian government honored Mr. Weinberg for his and the paper's support of freedom and democracy. In 2000, he received an award from former President Boris Yeltsin celebrating the paper's 90th anniversary. In 2003 he was honored at an event in Moscow for his efforts to preserve Russian culture in the United States.

Mr. Weinberg is also a well-known philanthropist in the Russian-American community. He is the founder and President of the UJA-Federation Russian Division, which raises funds for economically disadvantaged Russian Jews worldwide. With his wife Lilly, Mr. Weinberg helped raise funds to build several projects in Israel, including a school for disabled children. In addition to his work the UJA, Mr. Weinberg is President of the Fund for the Neediest Russian Immigrants. The fund was instrumental in building an emergency room and hospital in Israel, and was active in providing assistance to Russian-American victims of September 11th. Finally, Mr. Weinberg also serves as President of Litfundt, which provides assistance for Russian-American artists and writers.

I am pleased to stand here today to congratulate Mr. Weinberg for his 40 years of service to the Russian-American community and thank him for his commitment to freedom and democracy. He is a man of integrity and drive, and I wish him all the best now and in the future.