The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING MAXIM SKRIPNIK AND GOSTOMEL ANIMAL SHELTER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to recognize Maxim Skripnik and the Gostomel Animal Shelter, an amazing individual and an amazing organization.
The Gostomel Animal Shelter, located just outside of Kiev, Ukraine, is serving homeless animals in Ukraine, both in Kiev and outside.
As the co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus here in Congress, Madam Speaker, I recently visited that country, and one of my many stops was at the Gostomel Shelter. This was originally established by the Kyiv Society for the Protection of Animals. For the past 20 years, the Gostomel Shelter has rescued abandoned animals off the streets of Ukraine, nursed them back to health, and gave them a second chance at life.
The shelter is operated by Maxim, who graciously gave me a tour of the facility during my visit to Ukraine. Maxim has devoted his entire life to providing care for these vulnerable animals.
Madam Speaker, there are an estimated 50,000 stray animals on the streets of Ukraine. This poses a considerable risk to the welfare of the animals and the overall public health of the community. The future for the majority of these vulnerable and abandoned and animals is bleak, but the Gostomel Shelter provides them with the opportunity to find a loving forever home.
Since its inception, the Gostomel Shelter has advocated for their animals and promoted humane methods of controlling the ever-growing population of stray animals. Each victory, no matter how small, creates an environment more accepting of these vulnerable animals and proves that they can be rehabilitated and adopted into loving families.
The shelter, which is housed in a former cowshed, provides safekeeping for up to 700 stray and abandoned dogs and cats. In 2006, the shelter established a veterinary hospital and rehabilitation center, which is now one of the largest in all of Ukraine. Here, homeless animals are sterilized, after which they undergo compulsory rehabilitation in a hospital and return to the shelter where they await their forever homes.
Madam Speaker, the Gostomel Shelter, Maxim, and KSPA do not have reliable sources of funding and permanent employees. They often rely on public donations and volunteers to provide food and medicine to the animals.
During my visit, I witnessed firsthand how Maxim and these volunteers work tirelessly, literally around the clock, to ensure these innocent animals have a second chance.
Madam Speaker, I applaud the incredible work being done by Maxim and all the volunteers of the shelter. I paid a visit to the mayor of Kiev to relay all of my experiences and the positive impact that Maxim and those volunteers are making, and I wanted to formally recognize them here in this Chamber.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 168
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up