FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2015 UCCA Supports Senator Portman’s NDAA Amendm...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2015
UCCA Supports Senator Portman’s NDAA Amendments

New York, NY (UCCA) – The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the nation’s largest representation of Americans of Ukrainian descent, applauds the inclusion of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. The UCCA has repeatedly called for the United States to provide defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine, and the legislative recognition of continued Russian
aggression in Ukraine gives us hope that the United States will begin addressing the growing national security threats around the world. Authorizing $300 million of new military assistance to Ukraine, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative builds upon the congressional support Ukraine received in 2014 with the passage of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act.

However, as President Obama has repeatedly blocked military assistance to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America commends the leadership of Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a staunch supporter of the people of Ukraine and co-founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, who is introducing further amendments to the NDAA which would help the U.S. better assist Ukrainians as they defend their sovereignty:

• Amendment 1850 directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a number of critical defense capabilities to Ukraine, including real-time intelligence, counter-artillery radars, defensive lethal assistance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), secure communications, and the necessary training to develop key combat, planning, and support capabilities.

• Amendment 1497 requires an assessment of U.S. and NATO efforts in eastern Ukraine for the U.S. military based on lessons learned from the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the Russians and separatists. It would study the implications of the conflict in Ukraine for the U.S. military.

• A further amendment would require the State Department to submit to Congress a list of all applications for

export licenses for military equipment and assistance to Ukraine with status updates every three months. This reporting requirement would expire ONLY when the President certifies that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has been restored.

We applaud Senator Portman’s efforts and urge all supporters of Ukraine to contact their Senators and advocate for passage of these three amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. Time is of the essence, and in the words of Senator Portman, "Russian aggression in Ukraine won't just go away or resolve itself simply because we wish it to.” Without critical legislation like the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the
credibility of the U.S. commitment to uphold the postwar order is in doubt. Help us help Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression and restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Founded in 1940 to provide authoritative information about the plight of Ukrainians, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America has a long history of actively pursuing issues which affect the Ukrainian American community and Ukraine. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the UCCA redirected its efforts toward supporting Ukraine's democratic development and encouraging free-market reform while working to strengthen bilateral relations between the U.S. and Ukraine.