Title: Expressing support for Ukraine in its upcoming elections and opposing any Russian interference in Ukraine's elections.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution condemns attempts by Russia to interfere in Ukraine's elections and encourages the United States to assist Ukraine in efforts to protect its election infrastructure.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 249 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 249

 Expressing support for Ukraine in its upcoming elections and opposing 
            any Russian interference in Ukraine's elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 21, 2019

Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. 
     Kaptur, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Quigley) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for Ukraine in its upcoming elections and opposing 
            any Russian interference in Ukraine's elections.

Whereas in an effort to undermine democracy in Ukraine, Russian hackers targeted 
        the country's voting infrastructure just days before its 2014 
        Presidential election;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation continues to undermine 
        democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine and threatens the 
        peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of 
        Ukraine, including through its illegal occupation of Crimea and parts of 
        eastern Ukraine;
Whereas the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, testified before 
        Congress on January 5, 2017, and stated, ``Russia also has used cyber 
        tactics and techniques to seek to influence public opinion across Europe 
        and Eurasia'';
Whereas in the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the United States 
        Intelligence Community, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats 
        stated, ``Russia's interception of Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait 
        and detention of the ships' sailors in November 2018 demonstrates 
        Russia's willingness to limit Ukrainian freedom of navigation in the 
        area and exert political pressure on the country's leadership, 
        particularly in advance of Ukraine's elections this year . . . Russia is 
        taking steps to influence these elections, applying a range of tools to 
        exert influence and exploit Kyiv's fragile economy, widespread 
        corruption, cyber vulnerabilities, and public discontent in hopes of 
        ousting Poroshenko and bringing to power a less anti-Russia 
        Parliament'';
Whereas Ukraine will hold its Presidential election on March 31, 2019, and 
        parliamentary elections in the fall of 2019; and
Whereas, on March 6, 2019, Ukraine reported thwarting attempts of the Russian 
        Federation to organize hacker attacks on Ukrainian state agencies tasked 
        with preparing and conducting the elections: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly supports the right of the people of Ukraine to 
        freely elect their government and determine their future;
            (2) strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial 
        integrity of Ukraine;
            (3) strongly condemns attempts by the Government of the 
        Russian Federation, and its agents, to interfere in Ukraine's 
        elections including via malign cyber operations and by seeking 
        to influence the public opinion through their controlled media 
        outlets and social networks; and
            (4) strongly encourages the United States Government to 
        assist the Government of Ukraine in efforts to protect 
        Ukraine's election infrastructure from cyber and other threats.
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