Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, is recognized as a genocide and should serve as a reminder of repressive Soviet policies against the people of Ukraine.
H. Res. 915 is a House resolution expressing the sense of the House that the Ukrainian famine of 1932–1933, known as the Holodomor, was a genocide. The resolution recounts that millions of Ukrainians died in a famine attributed to Soviet policies under Joseph Stalin, including border closures, confiscation of grain, forced collectivization, and repression of Ukrainian culture and resistance. It frames the Holodomor as a deliberate, state-engineered atrocity and a historical reminder of Soviet repression against the Ukrainian people.
The resolution also links that history to present-day events by condemning Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine and his denial of Ukrainian nationhood and sovereignty. It calls for remembrance of the victims and survivors, encourages broader dissemination of information about the Holodomor, and supports efforts toward lasting peace in Ukraine and deterrence of future Russian aggression. As a sense-of-the-House resolution, it is declaratory and commemorative rather than regulatory, but it formally places the House on record regarding historical interpretation and current U.S. policy concerns toward Russia and Ukraine.
If adopted, the resolution would not change federal or state law, create new rights, or impose legal obligations. Its practical effect would be symbolic and diplomatic: it would add the House of Representatives’ formal recognition of the Holodomor as genocide, reinforce congressional condemnation of Soviet-era and modern Russian actions against Ukraine, and potentially influence public education, commemorative activity, and foreign-policy messaging. It does not amend any statutes or direct state governments, but it may affect how the event is referenced in official congressional records and related advocacy efforts.
The available context suggests strong support and little visible opposition. The resolution was introduced by a bipartisan group of sponsors, including members from both parties, which indicates broad cross-party sympathy for the measure’s historical and pro-Ukraine message. The text itself is solemn and condemnatory, emphasizing remembrance, human rights abuses, and support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and peace. No committee debate, recorded votes, or dissenting statements were provided in the materials, so the overall sentiment appears favorable and largely unified.
The main point of contention is likely the characterization of the Holodomor as genocide, a term that has been politically and historically debated in some contexts, though the resolution treats that conclusion as settled. Another possible area of disagreement is the resolution’s explicit linkage of the 1932–1933 famine to current condemnation of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine, which may be viewed by some as expanding a historical remembrance resolution into a contemporary foreign-policy statement. The bill’s supporters appear to include members focused on human rights, Ukraine advocacy, and anti-authoritarian messaging, while any opposition would likely center on historical framing or concerns about using a commemorative resolution to make broader geopolitical statements.