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Home : Programs : Advocacy & Information : Congressional Ukrainian Caucus

Congressional Ukrainian Caucus

UFA to Fete Rep. Jim Gerlach at 2010 Annual Meeting

The Ukrainian Federation of America will bestow its Appreciation Award for 2010 to U.S. Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-PA 6th District). The presentation will be made at the UFA annual meeting on May 23, 2010, in recognition of Mr. Gerlach’s special efforts in Congress on behalf of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. For the first time, the award has a new name: the Alexander B. Chernyk Memorial Award.

Mr. Gerlach was first elected to Congress in 2000 and is now in his 4th term. He joined the Ukrainian Caucus as soon as he was inaugurated and has proven himself to be one of the primary champions in Washington for close strategic relations between the US and Ukraine. He was especially instrumental in the successful campaign in early 2007 to repeal trade restrictions on Ukraine that had been imposed in 1975 by the Jackson-Vanik amendment to the 1974 Foreign Trade Act. The new legislation that Gerlach sponsored opened the doors for fair and equal trade between the US and Ukraine. It has also helped stimulate US business investment in the country and Ukrainian economic growth and development more generally.

The UFA Awards Committee has singled out Congressman Gerlach for the Chernyk Award also because he has demonstrated a profound understanding of what independence means for Ukraine, and consistently supports the country’s efforts distance itself from Russia and ally more closely with Europe.

Congressman Gerlach sees Ukraine as a stabilizing force in a politically volatile region and a key friend that the United States should stand behind. When President George W. Bush visited Kyiv in April 2008, Mr. Gerlach was a persuasive voice behind the dramatic change in itinerary that had the President pay an official visit to the city’s Holodomor Monument.

We also note that Mr. Gerlach and his staff in both Washington and at his district offices have been extraordinarily responsive to Ukrainian-American constituent requests about immigration, visitor visas, and other issues. He has truly proven to be one of our go-to contacts in Congress.

Mr. Gerlach will be present at the May 23 UFA reception at UECC to accept the Appreciation Award in person. UFA Board member Vera Andryczyk will introduce him and read some prepared remarks about his many contributions in Washington on behalf of Ukrainian issues.

Thank you and congratulations, Mr. Gerlach!

(Updated 5/3/2010)