House Resolution Backing Ukraine Passes 426-3

'The camera of history is rolling on all of us today'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 2, 2022 5:31 PM CST
House Passes Measure 'Fervently' in Support of Ukraine
Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, who emigrated from Ukraine, talks on the House floor before President Biden arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington.   (Win McNamee, Pool via AP)

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a resolution “steadfastly, staunchly, proudly, and fervently" in support of Ukraine. Lawmakers said Wednesday that history was watching the way the world responds as Ukrainians fight to save their Western-style democracy from invasion by Russia, the AP reports. With intensifying urgency, many in Congress said more must be done to help Ukraine and cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to wage war. In the Senate, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham was also introducing a resolution that would back Ukraine’s claim in international court that Putin and his "cronies" have committed war crimes.

"The camera of history is rolling on all of us today," said Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee during a House floor debate. He urged his colleagues to provide a unanimous vote to overwhelmingly show "whether or not we stood up and stood out to protect freedom." All but three members of the House voted for the resolution: Republican Reps. Paul Gosar of Arizona, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Matt Rosendale of Montana. The Senate unanimously approved a similar measure in support of Ukraine last month. Graham said Wednesday that he is introducing a new resolution to hold Putin and those around him accountable for the assault on Ukraine in international courts.

"Enough of the murder, enough of the destruction and carnage," Graham said Wednesday in a press conference at the Capitol. The resolve comes after the blue and yellow colors of the Ukraine flag were on view in the House chamber for President Biden’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night, a display of bipartisan common ground for the often divided Congress. Congress largely backs Biden’s strategy of economic sanctions against Russia, even as lawmakers push for more. Lawmakers of both parties also want to send Ukraine more ammunition, anti-aircraft weapons and other military and relief aid.

(More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X