Members of Congress Recognize VOA’s Ukrainian Service on 60th Anniversary

Washington, D.C., December 14, 2009 – Prominent members of Congress recognized the 60th anniversary of the Voice of America’s (VOA) Ukrainian Service by placing statements of support in the Congressional Record. Here are excerpts:

• Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission: “While no longer broadcasting on radio as it did for most of its 60 years, it (VOA) reaches more Ukrainians than ever with daily broadcasts over Ukrainian television—something unthinkable during Soviet rule—and reporting on its website.”
• Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA): “VOA’s Ukrainian Service has been a steady source of unbiased information for Ukrainian citizens from the height of the Cold War to the collapse of the Soviet Union. … More recently, this service was a vital source of commentary and analysis during the Orange Revolution in 2004, which saw the election of a pro-Western Ukrainian majority.”
• Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio: “Ukrainians still look to VOA not only to hear about the Washington perspective on what is happening in Ukraine, but also to comprehend America’s story – its foreign policy objectives, nation, politics, social challenges, culture, arts, educational opportunities, business success and achievements in science, technology, arts and medicine.”
• Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-MI): “Today, Voice of America reaches almost five million viewers across Ukraine each week … Ukrainians continue to rely on these services for accurate information about national and international events, as well as to learn more about American politics and culture.”

Daily television programming produced by VOA’s Ukrainian service reaches an estimated weekly audience of 4.8 million adults in Ukraine. Programs include a daily news show and a weekly magazine show. Programs may also be streamed from the Ukrainian website (www.VOANews.com/ukrainian).

The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts more than 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 125 million people. Programs are produced in 45 languages and are intended exclusively for audiences outside of the United States. VOA is the leading U.S. international broadcaster.

For more information, call VOA Public Relations at (202) 203-4959, or e-mail [email protected].