Washington, Mar 8 -

Today, by voice vote, the House of Representatives agreed to H.R. 1053. Rep. Jim Gerlach was the lead sponsor of this legislation that graduates Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, allowing for permanent normal trade relations, or "most favored nation" status.

The Jackson-Vanik Amendment, enacted in 1974, countered the emigration policies of the Soviet Union that impacted ethnic minorities, most notably Soviet Jews. Jackson-Vanik ensured that non-market economies imposing these emigration restrictions on their citizens would not be granted permanent normal trade relations or "most favored nation" status by the U.S.

Gerlach stated, “Under the leadership of President Victor Yushchenko, Ukraine has been committed to meeting the requirements of Jackson-Vanik and now, before the March 26 parliamentary elections in Ukraine, it is vital for us to take action and graduate Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment.”

Dr. Zenia Chernyk, Chair of the Ukrainian Federation of America, an organization based in Pennsylvania, noted, “We are deeply grateful to Rep. Gerlach for his leadership in introducing and securing passage of H.R. 1053. It’s enactment is critical to the Democratic movement in Ukraine and in helps Ukraine’s integration into the European Community and NATO.”

On President Yushchenko and the “Orange Revolution,” Gerlach added, “President Yushchenko should be a model for how other former Soviet states should be governed. He is someone those of us who understand the Ukrainian community admire greatly.” President Yushchenko and his government views graduation from Jackson-Vanik as a top priority. In a statement before a Joint Session of Congress On April 6, 2005, Yushchenko said, “I'm calling upon you to waive the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. Make this step. Please make this step toward Ukraine. Please tear down this wall.”

The Senate has already passed a similar bill introduced by Sen. Richard Lugar and today’s action clears the way for the bill to be signed into law in the coming days.

Since taking office in January 2003, this will be the fourth measure Gerlach has introduced to be signed into law. Others include a law requiring the creation of a new veterans cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania, a reauthorization of the National Estuary Program and a law authorizing federal support for the rehabilitation of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.