SCR 23 Resolution Officially Passed Both Chambers of the Oregon State Legislature!
I am honored to share that SCR 23, a resolution establishing a ceremonial sister-state relationship between Oregon and Cherkasy, Ukraine, has officially passed both chambers of the Oregon State Legislature!
This resolution is a powerful symbol of solidarity, recognizing our shared democratic values, supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, and honoring the more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees and Ukrainian-American immigrants who call #Oregon home.
The resolution now goes to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for official signing.
I was honored to stand in the side aisle as our state representatives voted on this resolution today. Beside me were Inna Kovtun Olga Olga Morhunova, Mel Kniazeva, Tetiana Kamarali, and Britt Conroy and Edward Buck from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, who joined us from the gallery. I’m grateful to each of them for their presence, support, and solidarity.
Special thanks to Inna Kovtun for opening the House hearing with her powerful voice and for sharing Ukrainian culture through melodies filled with love and blessings.
I owe a huge thanks to the leaders who made this possible:
- That starts with Representative Emerson Levy, who not only carried this resolution but delivered a powerful speech on the House floor about why this matters and read the resolution into the record.
- Rep. Levy’s incredible staff, Marilyn Fleener and Rachel Hamid, for their hard work behind the scenes that made this possible.
- None of this would have been possible without Sen. James I Manning, Jr., who championed the resolution in the Senate, and his excellent chief of staff Matt Keating whose tireless work got this resolution off the ground.
Additional thanks goes to those members who passionately argued for this resolution on the House floor today:
- Rep. Paul Evans, for his powerful words about America’s role in defending democracy and confronting tyranny.
- Rep. Kevin Mannix, for sharing his experience meeting Ukrainian refugees who fled Soviet oppression and reminding us why freedom matters.
- State Representative Dacia Grayber, who passionately urged the House to support this resolution in solidarity with Oregon’s Ukrainian community.
- Rep. Hai Pham, for recognizing DAWN Inc’s work and extending courtesies to me to be on the House floor.
- Finally, Majority Leader Ben Bowman, for kindly offering us encouragement when the debate started, and his exceptional staffers, Devin Mullins and Abdi Mohamoud, who showed us kindness and solidarity.
Sincere thanks to the Consul General Dmytro Kushneruk, the staff of Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco and to Ambassador Oksana Markarova and her staff, Governor of Cherkasy Ігор Табурець and his staff for your steadfast support, guidance, and commitment to strengthening the Ukrainian-American partnership.
Thank you to all DAWN leaders Valentina Aleksandrovna Galina Voloshinov and amazing volunteers for your consistency, resolve, and dedication in supporting Ukraine and her valiant freedom loving people.
Thank you CardioStart International and SAVE UA for your partnership in service to humanity.
Thank you all for standing with #ukraine and making Oregon a leader in global solidarity.
