For Immediate Release
March 11, 2022
Contact: Emme Anderson
(732) 201-4133
NCOIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE
Urges Members of Congress to Condemn Russian Attack on Ukraine, Stand with the United States, Allies, President Biden, The People of Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Opposition to this War
Manasquan, NJ – NCOIL adopted unanimously a Resolution sponsored by CA Asm. Ken Cooley, NCOIL President, In Support of the People and Government of Ukraine during the 2022 NCOIL Spring Meeting.
“As an organization of America’s 50 state legislatures, NCOIL would have done our states a disservice if our four days of policy discussions (in the exercise of our American freedom to promote good policy), failed to note the grave jeopardy which Ukrainian freedom now faces. That did not happen, however, as our Local, State and International Committee, under Paul Utke and Brenda Carter’s leadership, passed a strong resolution in support of the people of Ukraine. That action, approved unanimously by the Executive Committee, put NCOIL on record urging Members of Congress to condemn the attack and stand with the United States and its allies, President Joseph Biden, the people of Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in opposition to this war.”
The Resolution notes that thousands of individual Russians have protested against this war by signing an online petition, protesting in the streets, and speaking out in defiance of their government, and that over 1,000,000 Ukrainians and Americans of Ukrainian descent call the United States of America home.
“Ukraine is a democratic, productive, and peaceful country,” said Asm. Kevin Cahill (NY), NCOIL Vice President. “I am proud to have led the prayer for the people of this war-torn nation at our most recent meeting of NCOIL. It was an important expression that we are clear about our unequivocal support of the Ukrainian people and its government and likewise, that we condemn the unjustifiable attacks by the Russian government. Now is the time for everyone to do their part in support of the Ukrainian people and their leaders during this time of crisis.”
“I applaud our member legislators for adopting this Resolution unanimously” said Commissioner Tom Considine, NCOIL CEO. “I hope and pray that it serves as the beginning of a lasting peace being achieved.”
A full copy of the Resolution is below.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF INSURANCE LEGISLATORS (NCOIL)
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE
*Sponsored by Asm. Ken Cooley (CA) – NCOIL President
*Adopted by the NCOIL Joint State-Federal Relations & International Insurance Issues Committee on March 4, 2022 and Executive Committee on March 6, 2022.
WHEREAS, Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic, and peace-loving nation; the United States and Ukraine have been partners since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago; and
WHEREAS, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack violates the foundational principles of the rule of law, which is essential for democratic countries to thrive; and
WHEREAS, On February 24, 2022, Russia, in an unprovoked attack, invaded its neighbor, Ukraine, and threatened the democratically elected government; and
WHEREAS, President Joseph Biden declared in a statement and press briefing that Russian President Vladimir Putin, “has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering”; “Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way”; and
WHEREAS, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has indicated in a statement on its website on “Relations with Ukraine” that, “NATO has reinforced its support for capability development and capacity-building in Ukraine”; the NATO “Allies condemn and will not recognize Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and its destabilizing and aggressive activities in eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea region”; “NATO has increased its presence in the Black Sea and stepped up maritime cooperation with Ukraine and Georgia”; and
WHEREAS, The NATO alliance also condemns Russia’s decision to extend recognition to the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has prohibited any United States person from conducting any transaction involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations Human Rights Council reports that Russia’s invasion has damaged and destroyed schools, hospitals, radio stations, and homes, killing and injuring civilians, including children; and
WHEREAS, According to a press statement issued by United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, on February 27, 2022, the “United States is one of the largest humanitarian donors to Ukraine, and our humanitarian assistance now amounts to nearly $405 million to vulnerable communities”; “[t]his additional assistance will enable international humanitarian organizations to further support the people of Ukraine, working closely with the Government of Ukraine and European allies and partners at the forefront of any response”; “[t]his includes the provision of food, safe drinking water, shelter, emergency health care, winterization, and protection”; “[o]ur funding will also help humanitarian organizations maintain contact between family members who have been separated due to the conflict, hopefully leading to reunification in some cases”; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of individual Russians have protested against this war by signing an online petition, protesting in the streets, and speaking out in defiance of their government; and
WHEREAS, Over 1,000,000 Ukrainians and Americans of Ukrainian descent call the United States of America home; and
WHEREAS, the United States has worked closely with international partners to impose economic costs on the Government of the Russian Federation for its harmful foreign activities; and
WHEREAS, NCOIL, as the nation’s premier legislator-led insurance public policy organization that works towards advising legislators on policies that affect financial institutions in addition to insurance around the nation; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that NCOIL urges Members of Congress to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine and stand with the United States and its allies, President Joseph Biden, the people of Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in opposition to this war; and be it further
RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be sent to the members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee; the members of the Senate Banking Committee; the Speaker and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State; the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC); and the Chair of all state committees that have jurisdiction over financial and insurance matters.
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NCOIL is a national legislative organization with the nation’s 50 states as members, represented principally by legislators serving on their states’ insurance and financial institutions committees. NCOIL writes Model Laws in insurance and financial services, works to preserve the State jurisdiction over insurance as established by the McCarran-Ferguson Act over seventy years ago, and to serve as an educational forum for public policymakers and interested parties. Founded in 1969, NCOIL works to assert the prerogative of legislators in making State policy when it comes to insurance and educate State legislators on current and longstanding insurance issues.