Support for Ukraine
Floor Speech
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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support continued United States support for the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom from Vladimir Putin's terrible invasion.
In a despicable act of cruelty, Vladimir Putin invaded a peaceful and democratic nation. He is single-handedly responsible for unthinkable suffering: 70,000 Ukrainians killed, 13 million people forced from their homes, civilians shot in the streets, and children separated from their parents, all to fuel the ego of a dictator in Moscow.
Putin's aggression is a threat to the security of the United States and our citizens as well. He has made no secret of the fact that his goal is to undermine the NATO alliance which has kept our Nation safe and like-minded democracies around the world safe for the past seven decades. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, if Putin succeeds in his invasion of Ukraine, he will not stop there.
Like all dictators, he sees democracy anywhere as a threat. He does not want his own people to know that nations with free elections and civil rights for their citizens can be strong.
This is the Ukrainians' war to fight, and they are fighting it. The Ukrainians are fighting for their families and fighting for their freedom with incredible bravery. The United States will not send troops to Ukraine, but they do need our help.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the supplemental budget request for aid to Ukraine. Let's show the world that America stands with democracies, not with dictators, and reaffirm our commitment that we will stand with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom for as long as it takes. Paralyzing Military Nominations Poses Risk to National Security
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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of our Nation's military servicemembers whose lives are being put at risk by the shameful actions of a Senator from Alabama. For months, the Alabama Senator has blocked more than 300 qualified officers in our military from receiving the promotions that they have earned and from assuming the posts that our country needs them in.
Aside from the Senator himself, who seems to love being in the center of attention, the people who are most excited by his grandstanding are America's enemies.
No one is happier with the Senator from Alabama's antics than Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and our Nation's other adversaries. By undermining our military, he is doing their dirty work for them.
Don't take it just from me. The Secretary of the Army has stated that the Senator's actions are eroding the foundations of our military and putting our national security at risk.
The House Foreign Affairs chairman, Mr. McCaul, who is a member of the Senator's own party, has said that the Senator's hold on military nominations is paralyzing and a national security problem.
The Senator has stated that he will continue blocking the promotions of these experienced and courageous military officers until the military adopts policies to make it harder for women in the military to have access to abortion. I disagree with the Senator on abortion, as do most Americans, but one thing we all ought to agree on is that whatever our disagreements may be, using our military servicemembers as political props is just plain wrong. It is an inappropriate tactic, and it must end now.
Military personnel, from the most junior to the most senior, dedicate their lives to protecting us and protecting our Nation and the ideals that we hold dear. We should be supporting them, and they deserve better than the Senator's antics.
The Senator must lift his hold on these promotions, and if he doesn't, then the Senate should change their rule so that no one individual has power to block these promotions and jeopardize our Nation's security. Blockade of Artsakh
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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin corridor, which has created a humanitarian crisis that is threatening the lives of 120,000 ethnic Armenians who call the Artsakh region home.
Today in Artsakh, thousands are suffering from shortages of food, medical supplies, and other basic necessities. Many fear that as winter approaches, the population could face starvation.
The United States and our allies cannot stand by in the face of this cruelty. As a member of the House Armenian Issues Caucus, I have cosponsored legislation to support the people of Artsakh's independence and safety.
This past June, I joined many of my colleagues urging the administration to enforce restrictions on U.S. military assistance for Azerbaijan until the blockade is ended.
I stand with the Armenian people and will continue to support legislation to oppose these human rights violations and call on Azerbaijan to end the blockade.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do so as well.
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