Rep. Sander Levin introduces bill to establish Famine memorial in D.C.

by Serhiy Zhykharev
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - In preparation for the upcoming 75th anniversary commemoration of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933, a bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to erect a memorial in Washington to the victims of the Famine.

At the initiative of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, was approached with the idea of constructing this monument. Having a strong Ukrainian American constituency and being an ardent supporter of the community's concerns, Rep. Levin was also the main sponsor of the 1998 congressional resolution on the 65th anniversary of what is known as the Great Famine.The resolution had over 70 co-sponsors.

The Famine Memorial Bill, H.R. 5289, provides for a parcel of land in Washington for the construction of a memorial, which will be dedicated in 2008 in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Famine.

The bill now has nearly 40 co-sponsors, including all of the co-chairs of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (Reps. Steve Horn, Marcy Kaptur, Bob Schaffer, Louise Slaughter and Curt Weldon).

The bill recognizes the horrific nature of the man-made famine in Ukraine, stating it was not brought about "by natural causes such as pestilence, drought, floods, or poor harvest, but as a consequence of a premeditated policy on the part of the Soviet government led by Joseph Stalin to crush the nationally conscious Ukrainian people and destroy their national, political, cultural and religious rights."

In an interview, the sponsor of the Famine Memorial Bill, Rep. Levin, commented on the necessity of establishing a monument to the victims of the genocide in Ukraine in 1932-1933. "This memorial is important," stated Rep. Levin, "because it commemorates a horrific event that must not be relegated to a footnote in history books," he said. "By introducing this legislation, I seek to honor the memory of all those who perished, and hope to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again."

Commenting on the congressman's remarks, Michael Sawkiw Jr., president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, stated: "The entire Ukrainian American community is truly grateful for all of Rep. Sander Levin's efforts. His support of Ukrainian American issues in the past, and now the current legislation proposed by him to erect a monument to the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, shows the true depth of Rep. Levin's commitment to enhancing U.S.-Ukrainian relations, while also acknowledging Ukraine's history."

The bill has been referred to the Resources Committee of the House of Representatives, specifically to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands.

On July 29, Rep. Levin issued a "Dear Colleague" letter to the House of Representatives seeking additional co-sponsors of H.R. 5289. In response to Rep. Levin's appeal to fellow members of Congress, the Ukrainian National Information Service called on Ukrainian community members urging them to contact their congressional representatives to request their co-sponsorship of the bill.

UNIS is presently soliciting support for the introduction of similar legislation in the Senate.

Below are the names of sponsors and co-sponsors of the Famine Memorial Bill as of August 6:

Sponsor:
Sander Levin (D-Mich.);

Co-Sponsors:
Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii)
Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.)
Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.)
David Bonior (D-Mich.)
Philip Crane (R-Ill.)
Danny Davis (D-Ill.)
Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.)
Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.)
Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.)
Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.)
Joseph Hoeffel (D-Pa.)
Rush Holt (D-N.J.)
Steve Horn (R-Calif.)
William Jefferson (D-La.)
Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)
Dale Kildee (D-Mich.)
Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.)
Joseph Knollenberg (R-Mich.)
David Kucinich (D-Ohio)
James Langevin (D-R.I.)
Tom Lantos (D-Calif.)
William Lipinski (D-Ill.)
Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)
Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
Michael McNulty (D-N.Y.)
Carrie Meek (D-Fla.)
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
Richard Neal (D-Mass.)
John Olver (D-Mass.)
Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)
Donald Payne (D-N.J.)
Jack Quinn (R-N.Y.)
Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.)
Brad Sherman (D-Calif.)
Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.)
Chris Smith (R-N.J.)
Diane Watson (D-Calif.)
Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.)
Curt Weldon (R-Pa.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, August 11, 2002, No. 32, Vol. LXX

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