HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2022-4660

HR 4660

ByRepresentatives Chambers, Boehnke, Fitzgibbon, Volz, J. Johnson, Cody, Walsh, Gilday, Klicker, Senn, Slatter, MacEwen, Orwall, Graham, Sells, Shewmake, Young, Chase, Eslick, Macri, Jacobsen, Thai, Wicks, Dufault, Duerr, Walen, Sutherland, Rude, Goehner, Caldier, Santos, Dye, Ybarra, Abbarno, Dent, Schmick, Mosbrucker, Kraft, Orcutt, Callan, Stokesbary, Bateman, Ramel, Ramos, Chandler, Hoff, Goodman, Riccelli, Corry, Barkis, Stonier, Rule, Ortiz-Self, Griffey, Hackney, Paul, Leavitt, McCaslin, Robertson, Klippert, and Springer

WHEREAS, Ukraine is a diverse nation, home to Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, Jews, Poles, and other ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, Washington State is now home to over 70,000 Ukrainian Americans and is one of six states with the highest number of Ukrainian immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Many Ukrainians immigrated to Washington State fleeing Soviet persecution for their beliefs, seeking personal and religious freedoms in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Ukrainian immigrants in Washington State have formed groups and associations, such as the Pacific Ukrainian Society, the Ukrainian Association of Washington State, Ukrainian SeaTac Youth, Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Ukrainian Community Center of Washington, and numerous Ukrainian churches, which preserve and celebrate Ukrainian culture, heritage, and religion, and support new immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Ukrainian Americans in Washington State have enriched our state through their leadership and contributions in agriculture, business academia, government, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, The Ukrainian American community shares its rich history, culture, traditions, and gastronomy with numerous events, such as the Northwest Ukrainian International Festival organized by the Pacific Ukrainian Society, and celebrations of International Dance, the birthday of poet Taras Shevchenko, and Ukrainian Independence Day organized by the Ukrainian Association of Washington;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives recognize the important role Ukrainian Americans play in the civil, cultural, and economic life of Washington State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Honorary Consult of Ukraine in Seattle and to the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States of America for appropriate distribution.