# Understanding the Holodomor Recognition Resolution

This is a symbolic resolution from the House of Representatives that officially recognizes the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, as genocide. The word "Holodomor" means "killing by starvation" in Ukrainian, and this famine killed millions of people in Ukraine during Soviet rule under Stalin. The resolution doesn't create new laws or change government policy—instead, it's a formal statement expressing what Congress believes about this historical tragedy.

The resolution serves as a historical acknowledgment and a reminder of the dangers of authoritarian governments. By officially recognizing the Holodomor as genocide, Congress is taking a position on a contested historical and political question. Some historians and governments classify the famine as genocide (an intentional attempt to destroy a group of people), while others view it as a tragic consequence of Soviet agricultural policies and mismanagement. This resolution puts the U.S. government on record as supporting the genocide classification and condemning the repressive policies the Soviet Union used against Ukrainian people.

In practical terms, this resolution doesn't directly affect most Americans' daily lives or create any new regulations or programs. However, it does carry symbolic weight in international relations and historical memory. It signals American support for Ukrainian historical narratives and can influence how the U.S. approaches diplomatic relationships, particularly with countries that have different interpretations of this historical event. For Ukrainian Americans and others with ties to Ukraine, it represents official U.S. recognition of a significant tragedy in their heritage.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, is recognized as a genocide and should serve as a reminder of repressive Soviet policies against the people of Ukraine.

Bacon, Don

 <p>This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives </p> <ul> <li>recognizes the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, as a genocide; </li> <li> remembers the atrocities of the Holodomor and extends deepest sympathies to the victims, survivors, and families of this tragedy; </li> <li> condemns the systematic violations of human rights, including the starvation, repression, and persecution of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union; </li> <li>recognizes the findings of the Commission on the Ukraine Famine as submitted to Congress on April 22, 1988; and </li> <li>is resolute that Ukraine remain independent and sovereign to protect the people from future genocide. </li> </ul>