E970 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 6, 2018 imposed communism, as well as to find com- ed to the (Parliament), RECOGNIZING JULIE AND BUCK monality between all of ’s ethnicities. breaking the Communist Party’s monopoly WATERS FOR THEIR COMMIT- It is during these times that look to his on political power. MENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF example of humble, yet powerful leadership. The day after the election, March 5, Drach THE ARTS IN GREATER PRINCE May we remember his sacrifice, and find inspi- and other leaders of Rukh, a number of WILLIAM COUNTY ration in his unflagging commitment to a free whom, like Drach, were members of the and open Ukraine, and his pursuit for liberty. Communist Party, drafted and signed a statement calling for Ukrainian independ- HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY —GIANT OF UKRAINE’S ence, denouncing the Communist Party and OF VIRGINIA INDEPENDENCE calling on the Communist Party to take re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ivan Drach, a giant in Ukraine’s movement sponsibility for the 1932–33 genocidal famine Friday, July 6, 2018 to independence, died June 19 in a hos- (the ), deportations, repressions, pital at the age of 81. the policy of Russification, economic decline Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to com- Drach, a long-time member of the Writer’s and ecological disasters. mend Julie and Buck Waters, the Eighth An- Union of Ukraine, was a respected and nual Hylton Performing Arts Center Awards In early August, 1991, Drach received inter- award-winning poet and screenwriter. With national attention at the time President Gala honorees, for their endless contributions his poem ‘‘Knife in the Sun,’’ he first came George H.W. Bush came to Kyiv to deliver a to expanding the reach of the arts in the into national prominence during ‘‘The speech to the Verkhovna Rada in which he Greater Prince William County area. Thaw’’—a brief period of political and cul- cautioned Ukraine against ‘‘suicidal nation- In recognition of the arts being the heart of tural liberalization under then Soviet leader alism.’’ (Later named the ‘‘Chicken Kiev’’ a civilized society, net proceeds from the an- Nikita Khrushchev. speech by the late New York Times col- Twenty years later, Drach again came to nual gala benefit the Hylton Center’s many ar- umnist Bill Satire). national and international prominence as a tistic performances, arts education programs, political activist during the Soviet Union’s Before President Bush arrived in Ukraine veterans art and outreach initiatives, and the period in the late 1980s and then from Moscow, at a Rukh rally in central Hylton Center’s Endowment. These programs during the early years of Ukraine’s independ- Kyiv, Drach surprised the crowd and the help to ensure the continuation of artistic ex- ence. The numbers of young men from media by anticipating Bush’s message and cellence in performances as well as the ac- Ukraine lost in the Soviet Union’s war in Af- repudiating it in advance. ‘‘I am afraid that cessibility to quality artistic programs. ghanistan and the handling of the Chornobyl Bush has come here as a messenger for the Over the short, storied history of the Hylton explosion led to Ukraine’s civil society be- center . . . We are not a sample of Soviet Performing Arts Center, a series of milestones coming restless with directives from what culture .... Our culture is the culture of was euphemistically known as ‘‘the center’’ Ukraine, the culture of , Russians have been reached due to the support and en- (Moscow) and were increasingly distrustful who live in Ukraine, Jews, Poles. Ukraine thusiasm of Julie and Buck Waters. Through of leaders in the Kremlin. will become independent despite the center. their personal philanthropy and volunteerism, In what began in late 1988 as an initiative Like the United States that cast off the Brit- Julie and Buck Waters have demonstrated of the Writer’s Union of Ukraine, a year ish Empire, Ukraine will cast off Moscow’s steadfast leadership and commitment to later had become a national movement. In Soviet Empire.’’ Prince William County, George Mason Univer- September 1989, at the founding congress of One of Drach’s most important contribu- sity, and the Hylton Center. Their dedication the ‘‘Popular Movement of Ukraine’’ tions was his role during the week between has helped the Hylton Center sustain the en- (Narodniy Rukh Ukrainy), a grassroots oppo- August 19, 1991, and August 24, 1991. In re- tertainment, education, and enrichment of sition movement known worldwide simply as sponse to a coup in Moscow during the early ‘‘Rukh,’’ Drach was elected chairman and an Northern Virginia by providing diverse and ac- morning hours of August 19, under the direc- cessible arts experiences in state-of-the-art , a political dissident who tion of Drach, Rukh immediately issued a had survived the Soviet Gulag, was elected venues. ’ statement condemning the leaders of the As a member of the first fundraising com- head of Rukh’s secretariat. The pair com- coup and the effort to return the USSR to bined focused vision with determined leader- hardline Communism, away from glasnost mittee to build the Hylton Center, Buck Waters ship and guided the organization, and civil and perestroika. Rukh feared a reverse in the serves as a member of the George Mason society, through a tumultuous period in his- course of freedom that had been advanced. University Prince William Campus Advisory tory. Rukh called for a special session of the Board. In addition, he is a former chairman of As Rukh’s membership grew throughout Verkhovna Rada to be held immediately in the Prince William Regional Chamber of Com- Ukraine other prominent dissidents, as well order that a strategy be developed to dis- merce, the Prince William & Manassas Con- as representatives of major ethnic and reli- tance Ukraine from the coup in Moscow. Be- gious groups in Ukraine assumed leadership vention and Visitors Bureau, and the Potomac hind the scenes, the leaders of Rukh pres- Business Committee for the Arts. roles. However, Drach, although often under- sured the members of the Communist major- stated in his actions, was the recognized Julie Waters is a past recipient of the Kath- ity in parliament to agree to a vote for leen K. Seefeldt Award for the Arts Excel- leader. With the sensibility of a writer, Ukraine’s independence on August 24, the Drach was eloquent in his expression of date of the special session. Then, by an al- lence-Outstanding Volunteer award for her Rukh’s goals and ideals, particularly empha- most unanimous vote, parliamentarians work helping to implement a program to bring sizing the inclusivity of Rukh. He always passed Ukraine’s Declaration of Independ- children from the area’s public school systems spoke in terms of ‘‘people of Ukraine,’’ and ence conditioning the declaration upon the to the Hylton Center for performances as a not ‘‘the Ukrainian people.’’ vote of the people of Ukraine in a national way to expose them to the arts. Julie currently A recognized tool in the USSR’s system of referendum that was held on December 1, serves on the Hylton Center’s Campaign Com- authoritarian governance was routinely to 1991. Ukraine was the only republic of the create friction between nationalities in order mittee, as the chairman of the Water’s Foun- Soviet Union to condition its independence dation, and as secretary of the Manassas Bal- to weaken opposition. In contrast, Drach and on a vote of the people. Rukh recognized and spoke to the common let Theatre. interests of all citizens of Ukraine—Ukrain- Drach continued to lead Rukh until the au- As avid art enthusiasts, Mr. and Mrs. ians, Russians, Poles, Jews, Tatars, and oth- tumn of 1992, and continued to serve in the Waters supported the launch of the new ers. At the founding congress of Rukh, re- Verkhovna Rada through several more elec- Hylton Center EXTRA! Series. As Leonardo flecting upon the principles of Rukh, Drach tion cycles. da Vinci once said, ‘‘Art is never finished, only underscored the importance of multi-ethnic Born on October 17, 1936, in Enlightens, abandoned.’’ We can take great comfort in respect within Ukraine stating, ‘‘Jews , Ukrainian SSR, Ivan knowing that with the support of Julie and should live better and feel more comfortable Fedorovych Drach is survived by his wife Buck Waters as well as other great bene- in Ukraine than in Moscow, Leningrad, New Mariya and daughter Maryana, who is the York, Tel-Aviv, and Jerusalem.’’ While at Director of the Ukrainian Service of Radio factors of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, the helm of Rukh, he actively supported the Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague. His art will never be abandoned in Prince William decision by Rukh’s Council of Nationalities son Maksym, who had worked as a member County. In an effort to continue the advance- to help fund the gathering of the Crimean of a medical team during the aftermath of ment of the Hylton Center, Julie and Buck Tatar Mejlis, the first to be held in Crimea Chornobyl, and later suffered health con- Waters generously named the Practice Room since the group’s mass deportation by Stalin sequences as a result, passed away in 2009 at Suite Anteroom within the new Education and in 1944. the age of 44. Rehearsal Wing. In March 4, 1990, in the first politically contested elections in Soviet Ukraine, 111 Although offered a prominent state burial, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me candidates, including Drach and others from Drach declined and was buried in his native in commending the Eighth Annual Hylton Per- the Democratic Bloc, a political coalition village, next to his parents and his son. forming Arts Awards Gala honorees, Mr. and that included the Helsinki Watch Group, and —Robert A. McConnell, Co-Founder of the Mrs. Waters, for their tireless stewardship of the Green Party, as well as Rukh, were elect- U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. the arts in Greater Prince William County.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:30 Jul 07, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06JY8.003 E06JYPT1 July 6, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E971 HONORING ROBERT FELLION practices for operating recovery houses and to The genuine care and concern she has for distribute the information to states, and to pro- her community knows no bounds. In addition HON. MIKE THOMPSON vide technical assistance to states seeking to to her many years cultivating SALT and mak- OF CALIFORNIA adopt such practices. ing it into a beacon of community develop- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES It is undeniable that, to ensure their path to ment, she has also been an active member of recovery, victims of substance abuse are in the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Devel- Friday, July 6, 2018 need of proper recovery housing that is free opment Council, the Schoharie County Cham- Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, from alcohol and drug use. ber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the I rise today to honor Robert Fellion who has People suffering from addiction are in dire Board of Directors for the Cooperative Exten- announced the Napa County Fourth of July need of healthy living environments to ensure sion of Schoharie County. In recognition and Parade for the past thirty years, from 1989 to a successful transition. honor of her outstanding commitment to the 2017 and is the Grand Marshal of the 2018 Recovering addicts coming from an environ- community, Ms. Goodrich has also received parade. ment that does not provide the proper assist- countless awards and accolades. Mr. Fellion was born in Berkeley, California ance, face many challenges and problems Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join and moved to Napa County when he was in when they later reenter society. me in congratulating Ms. Goodrich on her high school. He graduated from St. Helena Every day, over 115 Americans die after much-deserved retirement from SALT. High School in 1963. After working for Sears overdosing on opioids, with more than 64,000 Through her ardent and humble leadership, Roebuck and Company for several decades, deaths reported in the year 2016. Ms. Goodrich has been an unfaltering steward Mr. Fellion retired and opened Fellion’s Deli in In 2015, 2588 opioid overdose related and passionate advocate for the community. Calistoga, California in 1984. deaths were reported in my home state of Her lifetime of hard work is inspirational, and Mr. Fellion has been a constant presence at Texas with Harris County accounting for 318 I am grateful for her many and unparalleled our local Fourth of July parade as the an- of those deaths. contributions to SALT, to Schoharie County, nouncer and many people look forward to It has been reported that 91 percent of vic- and to New York State. hearing him announce the parade each year. tims in recovery will experience a relapse, 59 f This year the community looks forward to Mr. percent of those will experience a relapse Fellion leading the parade as the Grand Mar- within the first two weeks of sobriety, and 80 HONORING THE RECIPIENTS OF shal, a well-deserved honor. percent within a month after discharging from THE 2018 LITERACY COUNCIL OF Mr. Fellion’s commitment to serving our a detox facility. NORTHERN VIRGINIA RECOGNI- Napa County community does not end with his H.R. 4684 will not only provide addicts with TION EVENT work for the parade. He has served as an qualified recovery homes but healthy family auctioneer for many community fundraisers, oriented settings. HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY including St. Helena High School’s athletic Medical research suggests that recovery OF VIRGINIA booster association and Soroptimist Inter- residencies should be structured like family IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES national of Calistoga. Mr. Fellion sponsored a home, a community living environment which Friday, July 6, 2018 little league team and provided the Calistoga is centered on peer support and connection to Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to rec- High School football team with breakfast and services. ognize the Literacy Council of Northern Vir- packed them lunches when they played away These provisions of the bill will provide vic- ginia (LCNV) and to congratulate the volun- games. In recognition for his support of youth tims of opioid addiction with much needed teers, instructors, students, community part- activities, Mr. Fellion, along with his wife Carol guidance. ners, and others who will be recognized at the and his brother Steve, won Calistoga’s Citizen I urge my colleagues to join me in sup- porting H.R. 4684 to show their support in this 2018 LCNV Recognition Celebration. of the Year award in 1987. The mission of LCNV is to teach adults the Mr. Fellion is a current member and past extremely critical moment in time and ensure basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and president of the Native Sons of the Golden that those who have fallen victim to the opioid understanding English in order to empower West, St. Helena. He is also a long-time mem- epidemic are provided with qualified recovery them to participate more fully and confidently ber of the Rotary Club of Calistoga and an housing. in their communities and in society as a original member of the St. Helena Hall of f whole. LCNV serves low-literacy and limited Fame committee, which is committed to hon- RECOGNIZING SARAH GOODRICH English language proficient adults with a se- oring high school athletes and coaches in our OF SALT lection of low-cost, moderately intensive community. courses to help them transition into the work- Mr. Speaker, Bob Fellion is dedicated to force or other educational opportunities. LCNV serving our community and has done so for HON. JOHN J. FASO provides the crucial first steps of language and many decades. He is an involved community OF NEW YORK literacy proficiency for workplace, citizenship, member who aims to give back to the commu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and community integration to help adults make nity that he says raised him. It is therefore fit- Friday, July 6, 2018 measurable improvements in their lives. ting and proper that we honor Robert Fellion Each year LCNV recognizes students and here today. Mr. FASO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great re- spect and admiration that I rise today to rec- members of the community who have contrib- f ognize the exemplary career of Ms. Sarah W. uted their time, energy, and resources to IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4684 ENSUR- Goodrich on the occasion of her retirement achieving the mission of LCNV. LCNV will also ING ACCESS TO QUALITY SOBER from Schoharie Area Long Term (SALT) De- recognize the recipient of the Patricia M. Don- LIVING ACT velopment. Since 2012, Ms. Goodrich has re- nelly Merit Scholarship. It is my great honor to markably served as the Executive Director of include in the RECORD the following names of SALT, a non-profit group in Schoharie County, the 2018 LCNV honorees and scholarship re- HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE cipient: OF TEXAS New York that works to promote sustainable COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARDS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES community development, natural disaster re- covery, and emergency preparedness. Cox Charities. Friday, July 6, 2018 In 2011, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Fairfax County Office of Public Private Part- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in Lee caused severe flooding and devastation nerships. strong support of H.R. 4684, the Ensuring Ac- throughout Schoharie County. Ms. Goodrich Korean Community Service Center of Great- cess to Quality Sober Living Act of 2018. spearheaded volunteer efforts in the wake of er Washington. Opioid abuse has become a public health these natural disasters to assist friends, neigh- VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR crisis with devastating consequences, includ- bors, and strangers rebuild their homes and Douglas ‘Kim’ Lutz. ing; overdoses, rising incidence of neonatal communities. Throughout these difficult times, Teaching Team of Margaret Breen and abstinence syndrome, homelessness, and un- Ms. Goodrich became a cornerstone of dis- Laura Schell. employment. aster recovery within the Schoharie region, Library Team of Sally Eckard and Bruce Mil- H.R. 4684 ensures that the Substance and it was her commitment to disaster recov- ler. Abuse and Mental Health Service Administra- ery in the region that directly led to the cre- PATRICIA M. DONNELLY MERIT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT tion has the resources to provide the best ation of SALT. Faustine Coulibaly.

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