SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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77–894PDF
2002
URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO
ENSURE A DEMOCRATIC, TRANSPARENT, AND
FAIR ELECTION PROCESS LEADING UP TO
THE MARCH 31, 2002, PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
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H. Res. 339
FEBRUARY 27, 2002
Serial No. 107–70
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
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STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
JOHN COOKSEY, Louisiana
THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado
RON PAUL, Texas
NICK SMITH, Michigan
JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania
DARRELL E. ISSA, California
ERIC CANTOR, Virginia
JEFF FLAKE, Arizona
BRIAN D. KERNS, Indiana
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
MARK GREEN, Wisconsin
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
EARL F. HILLIARD, Alabama
BRAD SHERMAN, California
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ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
JIM DAVIS, Florida
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
BARBARA LEE, California
JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania
EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
GRACE NAPOLITANO, California
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
DIANE E. WATSON, California
THOMAS E. MOONEY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel
ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director
Subcommittee on Europe
ELTON GALLEGLY, California, Chairman
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
PETER T. KING, New York
JOHN COOKSEY, Louisiana
NICK SMITH, Michigan
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York
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JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ERIC CANTOR, Virginia
MARK GREEN, Wisconsin
EARL F. HILLIARD, Alabama
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
JIM DAVIS, Florida
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
BARBARA LEE, California
JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
VINCE MORELLI, Subcommittee Staff Director
VALERIE VAN BUREN, Democratic Professional Staff Member
PATRICK PRISCO, Professional Staff Member
KELLY MCDONALD, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
Markup of H. Res. 339, Urging the Government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair election process leading up to the March 31, 2002, parliamentary elections
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Text of H. Res. 339
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Res. 339 as Reported by the Subcommittee on Europe
URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO ENSURE A DEMOCRATIC, TRANSPARENT, AND FAIR ELECTION PROCESS LEADING UP TO THE MARCH 31, 2002, PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2002
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Europe,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 1:55 p.m. in Room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Elton Gallegly [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
Mr. GALLEGLY. The meeting will come to order. Pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, H. Res. 339 for the purposes of markup. Without objection the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendments at any time.
[The text of H. Res. 339 follows:]
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Mr. GALLEGLY. On March 31st, Ukraine will hold elections for its parliament. This will be the third such election since the country became independent in 1991 and will be a critical test of the strength of its evolving democracy. Given the importance of our relations with Ukraine and our keen interest in Ukraine's continued emergence as a responsible democratic member of the international community, we are naturally interested in the electoral process and what progress the country has made in the areas of human rights, rule of law, freedom of expression, and the strength of its democratic institutions.
In this context, it would only be natural that the U.S. Congress would express its interest in and concerns for a genuinely free and fair parliamentary election process which enables all of the various political parties and election blocs to compete on a level playing field. This would allow the voters to acquire objective information about the political candidates and expects all parties to the election to observe their own laws.
In this respect we have received reports from Ukraine that the current election period has been beset by allegations of various levels of manipulation, intimidation, harassment, and other pressures to influence the outcome of the elections. This is not to say that in considering this legislation the Committee feels the overall electoral process is seriously flawed. As we know from our own recent election experiences, problems and flaws can develop no matter how mature the democracy. However, the resolution we are considering today does reflect a genuine concern that the reported activities of some cast a negative cloud over these elections and the entire democratic process in Ukraine.
I want to thank the authors of the resolution for bringing these problems to our attention. We hope the resolution is seen in a positive, constructive way and not viewed by some as interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine. By addressing these concerns it will be easier to judge these elections as having been free, fair, and transparent. With this, Ukraine can only be better off and its democracy stronger, and I urge the passage of this resolution.
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Before I go further, I would defer to my colleague and good friend, the Ranking Member, Mr. Hilliard.
Mr. HILLIARD. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I join you in support of H.R. 339 because I, too, am interested in the people expressing their support for the efforts of the Ukrainian people to promote democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.
This election is very important for the Ukrainian people. It is very important for Russia; it is very important for the United States; and it is very important for the stability and peace in the world. So with a transparent election, with a safe election, and with a fair election, it nails one more nail in the coffin of terrorism, in the coffin of disorder, and it promotes democracy. So, Mr. Chairman, I am very happy to join you in the support of this resolution.
Mr. GALLEGLY. I thank the Ranking Member. At this time, I would yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Hoeffel.
Mr. HOEFFEL. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you for allowing me to take part in this Subcommittee's work. I can add very little to what the Chair has said and what the Ranking Member has said, and I compliment the Chair and his staff for bringing this forward and the hard work they have committed to this effort. I am not the sponsor. I wish I was. I am a cosponsor. I am proud of this bill.
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We are very excited about the emerging democracy in Ukraine, but there are problems that are popping up in the parliamentary election campaign, as the Chairman indicated. There are very real reports and instances of media harassment, and there are problems with government corruption, a lack of transparency, and the like. It is a very good thing for this Congress to be saying how important it is for these elections in Ukraine to be free and fair and transparent and democratic, and I am delighted that this Subcommittee is moving forward with this important resolution, so I thank the Chair.
Mr. GALLEGLY. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. We have no other statements, so at this time I have a series of amendments at the desk which I would ask unanimous consent to be considered en bloc. If there is no objection, I would ask the clerk to report the amendments en bloc.
Ms. MCDONALD. Amendments offered en bloc by Mr. Gallegly.
Mr. GALLEGLY. Without objection the amendments will be considered en bloc and will be considered as read.
[The information referred to follows:]
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Mr. GALLEGLY. The amendment I am offering makes several technical and word changes by dropping and substituting some wording and adds additional words or phrases where appropriate. The amendment also drops two whereas clauses relating to an issue unrelated to the election process and which has already been addressed by the Subcommittee in other legislation, and I would urge adoption of this amendment.
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I would call for the question, all in favor, signify by saying aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
Mr. GALLEGLY. Any opposed?
[No response.]
Mr. GALLEGLY. The ayes have it. Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
Mr. GALLEGLY. The question occurs on the motion to report H. Res. 339 favorably as amended. All in favor say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
Mr. GALLEGLY. Any opposed?
[No response.]
Mr. GALLEGLY. The motion is approved, and the bill will be reported favorably. Without objection the bill will be reported favorably to the Full Committee in the form of a single amendment in the nature of a substitute incorporating the amendments adopted here today. Without objection the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments.
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The Subcommittee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 2:05 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]