Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7081, the Ukraine Comprehensive Debt Payment Relief Act. Last month, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy gave a speech about rebuilding a free, sovereign, and democratic future for his sovereign nation of Ukraine. While it seems distant now, with Putin's war raging, we, in fact, must start to think about the country's eventual rebuilding, recovery, and rebirth. The United States and our allies must support Ukraine to ensure that its debt repayments don't overwhelm the country while it continues to confront Russia's invasion and keeps up the fight every day, not only on the war front but on the home front in trying to keep its domestic operations functioning. In fact, Madam Speaker, Ukraine is spending roughly some $5 billion a day in its core functions for government. So while Putin is pulverizing villages, plazas, parks, and ports, the Ukrainian Government presses on, serving its citizens. But when this war is over, Ukraine will face an enormous financing need that will require international financial institutions to step in with support. I am pleased to support this legislation, which calls for a suspension of Ukraine's debt service payments and urges debt relief from multilateral and bilateral creditors.…”