Sherman Hosts Telephone Town Hall with Ukrainian Ambassador
Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) hosted a live "Telephone Town Hall" and was joined by Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova. Over 4,000 valley residents joined the event to hear Ambassador Markarova discuss the war in Ukraine, and to hear Congressman Sherman provide updates on the critical issues currently facing Congress.
"I want to thank Ambassador Markarova for taking the time to join our Town Hall," said Congressman Sherman. "I've held hundreds of Town Halls where I've provided updates on many critical issues over the years. Last night's event was a unique opportunity for thousands of Valley residents to hear an important figure speak on such a pivotal moment for Democracies around the world."
"It's such an honor and pleasure to talk directly to the American people," said Ambassador Markarova at the start of the event. "It's also very appropriate because this is what we Ukrainians are fighting for right now -- to be able to live as a Democracy", said the Ambassador. "Thank you Congressman [Sherman] for this opportunity to join you on…my first and only town hall meeting and for the opportunity to speak to your constituency."
Thousands of Valley residents listened to the Ambassador provide updates on efforts to repel the unprovoked Russian invasion of her country and to hear her describe the horrendous atrocities Ukrainians are facing. "Our cities are being bombed and destroyed. Our schools are being destroyed. We already lost almost 40 universities, which are burned and destroyed to the ground."
Ambassador Markarova highlighted the importance of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies in isolating the Russian economy by cutting it off from the global financial system, and the need for more and stronger measurers. In addition, the Ambassador reiterated the Ukrainian government's repeated calls for cryptocurrency exchanges to suspend transactions with cryptocurrency wallets based in Russia. Congressman Sherman joined Senator Elizabeth Warren earlier that day in introducing legislation, the Russian Digital Asset Sanctions Compliance Act of 2022, that would effectively bar operations by crypto exchanges in the U.S. if they do business in or with Russia. The Ambassador concluded her remarks by thanking the United States for the assistance provided thus far, and thanked Congressman Sherman for his years of work to strengthen the U.S.-Ukraine relationship: "I would like to thank the [Congressional] Ukrainian Caucus and personally to Congressman Sherman, such a good partner and strategic friend."
Following the Ambassador's remarks, Congressman Sherman responded to questions from Valley Residents on how the U.S. can further assist the Ukrainian people in their fight against the Russian invasion, and how America can help the refugees who have been temporarily displaced by this unprovoked and tragic war.
The Congressman also updated the thousands of Valley residents participating by phone on many issues beyond the war in Ukraine, such as his current efforts to combat the pressures of inflation, to preserve the environment, on access to health insurance and on the many other issues the United States currently faces.
During the Telephone Town Hall, Sherman requested input from Valley residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts on the many critical issues facing our nation. The results of the survey questions are as follows:
- Should we accept Poland's offer to accept MIG's in Germany, and have those planes fly into Ukraine?
- Yes: 48%
- No: 17%
- Unsure: 36%
- Should we use our financial power to decrease oil imports by Russia, knowing that it will increase oil prices worldwide?
- Yes: 70%
- No: 10%
- Unsure: 20%
- Do you approve of President Biden's performance as president so far?
- Approve: 69%
- Disapprove: 22%
- Unsure: 9%
Congressman Sherman will continue to host Town Halls to help keep Valley residents informed. The next Telephone Town Hall will be held on Wednesday, April 27th.
To listen to last night's event with the Ukrainian Ambassador, click here.
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