Program brings 12 Ukrainian deputies to U.S. (03/17/96)

Program brings 12 Ukrainian deputies to U.S.

by Olenka Dobczanska

WASHINGTON - A 12-member delegation from the Supreme Council of Ukraine arrived on January 21 in the U.S. to participate in a 10-day study program on legislative rules and procedures coordinated by Indiana University and the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation as part of the Parliamentary Development Program (PDP).

This is the first trip organized for Ukrainian parliamentarians to the United States under the auspices of PDP, a three-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

The delegation was lead by Petro Sheiko, chairman of the Committee on Rules, Parliamentary Ethics and Council Administration in the Ukrainian Parliament. Oleksander Steshenko, chairman of the Committee on State Development, Local Representative Councils and Self-Governance, was the other member of the Supreme Council's Presidium.

Other deputies included Volodymyr Nemyrovskyj Mykola Chumak, Mykola Karnaukh, Volodymyr Tkachenko, Yevhen Zherebetsky and Yury Sherenin. Parliament staff participants were Yury Skalyha, Anatoly Selivanov, Ivan Shaporenko and Leonid Yakovyshyn.

Bohdan Radejko, program manager of the PDP in Kyiv, and Pavlo Kyslyj and Oleksander Barabash, former deputies themselves and PDP staff members who work actively with deputies on developing rules and procedures for legislation in the Supreme Council, accompanied the deputies on their trip to Washington. The PDP had prepared the deputies for discussion of a number of issues regarding legislative rules and procedures.

The group met with various U.S. government leaders, among whom were Rep. Gerald Solomon (R-N.Y.), chairman of the Committee on Rules; Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-Texas), member of the Budget Committee; Rep. Steve Horn (R-Calif.) from the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight; as well as Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), Rep. Robert Walker (R-Pa.), and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.).

They also met with Charles Johnson, parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives (Mr. Sheiko's counterpart), Ron Moe from the Congressional Research Service, and Barbara Brasher from the House Investigative Council on Oversight.

At several sessions at the General Accounting Office (GAO), they met Director Peter Aliferis, Comptroller General Charles Bowsher and Director of Congressional Relations Helen Hsing. From the Executive Branch they met with Philip Lader, administrator of the Small Business Administration, and Richard Morningstar, chief coordinator of U.S. assistance programs at Department of State.

A highlight of the trip was attendance at President Bill Clinton's State of the Union Address on January 23. Afterwards the group had the opportunity to observe both senators and representatives interact with the press. They also happened to see several notable individuals by chance in Statutory Hall, among whom were Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, and Sens. Richard Gephardt and Ted Kennedy.

On January 26, the deputies spent a day in Annapolis, Md., where they were formally greeted by Mike Miller, president of the Maryland State Senate, and witnessed the opening session of the Maryland State Legislature. They also had a fruitful meeting with William Ratchford, the head of financial services for the Maryland State Legislature.

The agenda in the United States was prepared by William Brown, retired parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives and lead advisor for the PDP's Working Group for Legislative Processes, and Motrya Mac Hunia, PDP program manager in Washington. Mr. Brown made use of his extensive contacts to arrange what the deputies called a very informative, non-repetitive series of meetings specifically tailored to their needs.

Nadia McConnell, president of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, welcomed the group, accompanied and guided them throughout their trip.

Between meetings and working sessions, the group visited several national monuments, and got a sample of American culture at a performance of the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and a Washington Bullets basketball game. En route to discussion sessions at the home of Mr. Brown, they visited several historic homes such as James Monroe's house and the home of the old Virginian aristocratic Carter family. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell hosted a reception at their home, giving guests an opportunity for more informal interaction with the Ukrainians.

In their comments and written evaluations the deputies and their staff members expressed satisfaction with their study visit. Sessions that dealt with rules, legislative procedures, financial management and executive oversight scored high marks.

Prof. Selivanov reported that it was "the most effective program" he had attended, which was very beneficial for him as the chief consultant of the secretariat of the Committee on Finance and Banking, and noted that he was "completely satisfied with the content and organization" of the visit.

For more information about the PDP or the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization promoting democratic and economic reforms in Ukraine, contact the foundation's headquarters at 1511 K St. NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005; telephone (202) 347-4264; fax (202) 347-4267; e-mail ukraine@access.digex.net.

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