Mike Quigley: “I have had the privilege of representing Ukrainian Village in Chicago for over 10 years. In that time, we have become…”

“I have had the privilege of representing Ukrainian Village in Chicago for over 10 years. In that time, we have become friends. From my friends, I have learned about the beauty of Ukrainian history, 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 premeditated invasion by an evil autocratic leader. In response, there has been an outpouring of support from the entire world. But I rise today, Madam Speaker, because our thoughts and prayers are not enough. Of course, those 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 2 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, but the message is this: You can turn off your TV and try to ignore the crisis, but that will not stop it from having an impact on you.…”