Barbara Lee: “This amendment prevents the United States Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery from helping forge…”

“This amendment prevents the United States Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery from helping forge Ukraine's future as a prosperous, secure, European democracy and accelerate Ukraine's economic transformation. This position is key to ensuring that Ukraine not only survives but thrives, standing on its own. The Ukrainian people are defending their country from the front line to the assembly line. Their ability to emerge from this conflict depends on their economic resilience. A Coca-Cola bottling plant outside of Kyiv, the largest in Europe, was shelled, and many of the plant's 1,600 workers fought not only to liberate it but to get it back up and running. Eighty-four percent of American companies in Ukraine are back up and running. Ukraine's economic recovery is not just key to the stability of Europe but also dinner tables around the world. In January of 2024, the Black Sea corridor brought more than 8.7 million tons of Ukrainian grain to global markets feeding much of the world. Ukraine and its people have not given up on their aspirations. The Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery is doing critical work to ensure Ukraine can see economic success and not be dependent on donor assistance. This should be supported, not demagogued. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1845”