Rep. Graves, Congressional Delegation Visit Tunisia, Ukraine

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, who represents Paulding County

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) traveled this week as part of a Congressional delegation, led by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), to Tunisia and Ukraine.

In Tunis, Tunisia, the delegation laid a wreath to commemorate the innocent lives taken during the terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum on March 18, 2015. “The United States stands with the people of Tunisia,” said Rep. Graves. “As freedom loving people, we will work together to secure a hopeful and prosperous future, and defeat the despair and bondage that terrorism seeks to impose.”

(The Congressional delegation holds a press conference at the Bardo National Museum, March 28, 2015)

The delegation’s visit to Ukraine comes after the House passed a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 162) last week that asserts the importance of a democratic Ukraine in light of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive actions to undermine Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity, including the deployment of Russian military forces.

For these reasons, the Resolution urges the President to provide lethal defensive weapons systems as authorized by the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.

Speaking of the United States’ relationship with Ukraine, Rep. Graves said: “It’s important that the United States stands in solidarity with Ukraine in their quest for a free and democratic future in the face of Russian aggression. This visit has been critical in getting real time information concerning the recent developments from Ukrainian leaders.”

(Rep. Graves leaves a lit candle at the Maidan, a memorial in honor of murdered demonstrators from the February 2014 Revolution, March 30, 2015)

The other members of the Congressional delegation include:

Rep. Kay Granger (TX-12): Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and Vice-Chairwoman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Rep. Fred Upton (MI-06): Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT): Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Member of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations

Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11): Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Member of the House Armed Services Committee and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Rep. Diane Black (TN-06): Member of the Committee on Ways and Means and Budget Committee

Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03): Member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Economic Committee