On the recordDecember 14, 2022
Mr. President, I come to the floor for the 28th consecutive week since the Senate has been in session to once again discuss the war in Ukraine and why it is so important that all of us-- the United States and our allies--stand up for Ukraine at this point and provide them the military, economic, and humanitarian aid they need. Over the weekend, I spoke at the annual holiday lunch of the Cleveland area's Nationalities Movement. As my colleague from Ohio knows, this was started during the Cold War to advocate for freedom for the former Soviet states. The group, today, includes people whose families have come from all over Eastern and Central Europe: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, of course Ukraine, and many other countries. All strongly support Ukrainian freedom and the right of Ukraine to chart its own course. At the luncheon, I talked to some of my friends who were there, many of whom have family or friends in Ukraine. We talked about some of the hardships that their relatives and their friends in Ukraine are facing today and how, as we approach the holiday season here in America, we are thinking about Christmas shopping and putting up decorations and spending time with our families and friends over the holidays. They are thinking about something else. They are thinking about how they can survive. They are thinking about how to stay warm, whether they are going to have running water or electricity.…





