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Quigley Delivers Floor Speech Expressing Solidarity with Ukraine

March 1, 2022

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, delivered a speech from the floor of the House of Representatives expressing his support for Ukraine.

In his remarks, Quigley said, in part, "I rise today, Mr/Madame Speaker, because our thoughts and prayers are not enough. Of course, these expressions of support matter. They hearten a resistance that is outgunned and outnumbered, and they tell the Kremlin that the world is watching. But when you are at war you need more than just thoughts and prayers. The people of Ukraine need us to use every tool at our disposal to help them repel Russia's invading forces."

Quigley also said, "Two generations of Americans fought for a world order in which democracy prevailed. For more than six decades, that victory has held. Now, it is threatened by Vladimir Putin. We must ensure that the sacrifices of our forebears were not in vain."

Video of Quigley's full remarks is available HERE and the text of the speech as prepared for delivery is below:

I've had the privilege of representing Ukrainian Village in Chicago for over ten years. In that time, I've met too many Ukrainians to count. From them, I have learned about the beauty of Ukrainian culture and the courage and strength of the Ukrainian people. In the past days, the whole world has seen that strength and courage.

Ukraine has bravely beaten back the onslaught of a premeditated invasion by an evil autocratic leader. In response, there has been an outpouring of support from the entire world.

But I rise today, Mr/Madame Speaker, because our thoughts and prayers are not enough.

Of course, these expressions of support matter. They hearten a resistance that is outgunned and outnumbered, and they tell the Kremlin that the world is watching. But when you are at war you need more than just thoughts and prayers. The people of Ukraine need us to use every tool at our disposal to help them repel Russia's invading forces.

I know many Americans want our country to stay out of this conflict. We have endured two years of a pandemic that has taken thousands of lives and stretched pocketbooks to their breaking point. No one wants a conflict that could make our lives even more difficult. I understand the desire to hunker down and wait for it to go away.

My message is this: you can turn off the television and try to ignore this crisis, but that will not stop it from having an impact on you. While it may feel like the battlefields are a world away, the repercussions of this fight are on our doorstep. Anyone who believes that Putin will not turn his attentions to the rest of the world are badly mistaken.

Indeed, he already has. He has initiated massive cyberattacks against the United States and interfered in two of our elections.

Two generations of Americans fought for a world order in which democracy prevailed. For more than six decades, that victory has held. Now, it is threatened by Vladimir Putin. We must ensure that the sacrifices of our forebears were not in vain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has begged the west for military aid. The United States must hear those pleas.

Thankfully, the response has already begun. President Biden recently authorized an additional three hundred- and fifty-million-dollar defense aid package for Ukraine, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, and NATO has begun to send weapons and equipment for the first time in history: the European Union is shipping arms to Ukraine, Germany is supplying anti-tank weapons and missiles, France is sending defensive equipment.

We are all inspired by the Ukrainian military's ability to hold firm, but they need more help to keep the Russian onslaught at bay. As a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I've spent months calling for harsh sanctions against Russia in addition to military aid for Ukraine. I'm relieved to finally see some of those sanctions being imposed. President Biden has led a historic response in which the west has presented a united front on behalf of Ukraine. Every wave of sanctions has come from a coalition of states. Halting NordStream 2, imposing sanctions on Putin and his allies, and kicking a number of Russian banks out of the SWIFT system- these have all been important steps. Still, more must be done.

I know some of our allies are hesitant to impose economic penalties that may harm the Russian people. Indeed, the Russian people are not our enemy. Like the Ukrainians, they have also been dragged into this war through no choice of their own. Unfortunately, it is clear that Putin will not truly feel the consequences of his actions unless sanctions impact the entire nation of Russia, including the common man.

It's time to impose the harshest sanctions available to us.

Some leaders have said that we should wait. My question to them is this- if not now when?

Ukrainians are dying in defense of their country. As we speak, their capital is surrounded by Russian forces. Five hundred thousand Ukrainians have already fled their homes. Soldiers have died. Civilians have been killed. Children have been murdered. The time for action is now.

Mr/Madame Speaker, I have visited Ukraine many times as a member of the House Intelligence Committee.

I have seen the beauty of their fields; the blue of their sky; I have shaken hands with their people, heard them praise their democracy, and stood next to their leaders. The Ukrainian spirit I saw this weekend at rallies in Chicago, is the same Ukrainian spirit I saw in Kyiv when I visited shortly after the Maidan.

Just two years ago I met with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko right here in this building.

We shared stories about the cities we represent. Chicago and Kyiv - sister cities. I promised during that meeting that the United States would always stand with Ukraine. We must live up to that promise.

I will not stop pressing this body, the White House, and the western world until we do.

Slava Ukraini.