First Official CODEL Visits Kyiv. Led By Speaker Of The House Of Representatives. All Democrats. That’s Disappointing. Should Have Made It Bipartisan. Sad They Can’t Even Do That.
On 30 April 2022, the first official Congressional Delegation (CODEL) visited Kyiv, Ukraine, traveling by train from Poland. The visit to Kyiv lasted approximately three hours. The CODEL was led by Nancy Pelosi (D- California), Speaker of the 435-member United States House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is second in line of succession after the Vice President of the United States. California has the second-largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent. Hopefully, when a CODEL comprised of members of the United States Senate visits Kyiv, it will reflect all political parties. Members of the CODEL:
Representative Gregory Meeks (D- NY), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of representatives. New York State has the largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent.
Representative Adam Schiff (D- California), Chairman of the Intelligence Committee of the United States House of Representatives.
Representative James McGovern, Chairman of the Rules Committee of the United States House of Representatives.
Representative Jason Crow (D- Colorado).
Representative Barbara Lee (D-California).
Representative William Keating D- Massachusetts).
Previous Related Post (4/15/22) Now That Two Members Of The United States Congress Have Visited Kyiv… Let The CODEL’s Commence! Focus Will Be States With Large Ukrainian Populations.
On 14 April 2022, The Honorable Steve Daines (R- Montana), a member of the United States Senate, and The Honorable Victoria Spartz (R- Indiana), a member of the United States House of representatives, visited Kyiv and Bucha. The traveled from Lyiv by train. Senator Daines was on official travel in Europe. Representative Spartz is the first Ukrainian-born member of the United States Congress, “had planned an unofficial visit to Ukraine and later joined Mr. Daines for the trip supported by the Ukrainian government.” NOTE: Representative Spartz visited Kyiv, Ukraine, for a second time from 22 April 2022 to 26 April 2022.
Now that two members of the United States Congress have made their way by train from Lviv to Kyiv, expect to see many more members of the 100-member United States Senate and 435-member United States House of Representatives.
What is a CODEL? It means "Congressional Delegation," and refers to travel by members of the United States Congress that are paid for by the United States government (the taxpayer). Members of the United States Congress prefer to use United States Department of Defense VIP aircraft (Gulfstream, 737, 757, C-17) rather than use commercial aircraft because they are provided with additional amenities. Among the first likely visitors….
United States Senate
The Honorable Robert Menendez (D- New Jersey), chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. New Jersey has the fourth-largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent.
The Honorable James Risch (R- Idaho), ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The Honorable Jack Reed (D- Rhode Island), chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services.
The Honorable James Inhofe (R- Oklahoma), ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services.
The Honorable Mark Warner (D- Virginia), chairman of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
The Honorable Marco Rubio (R-Florida), vice chairman United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Florida has the sixth-largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent.
United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Gregory Meeks (D- New York), chairman of the United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. New York State has the largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent.
The Honorable Michael McCaul (R- Texas), ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Honorable Adam Smith (D- Washington), chairman of the United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. Washington has the fifth-largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent. On 13 April 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation included Representative Smith among 398 members of the United States Congress on a list of individuals ineligible to enter the Russian Federation. Link
The Honorable Mike Rogers (R- Alabama), ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.
The Honorable Adam Schiff (D- California), chairman of the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. California has the second-largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent.
The Honorable Michael Turner (R- Ohio), ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Ohio has the eighth-largest population of individuals of Ukrainian descent.
Related Link (4/23/22) On 60th Day Since Russia Invaded Ukraine, U.S. Secretary Of State And U.S. Secretary Of Defense Visit Kyiv. Applause Should Be Muted Given The Delay. And Visit Is Still A Secret! Don’t Tell Anyone.
Since 15 March 2022, four presidents, seven prime ministers, one chancellor, one deputy prime minister, three foreign ministers, one secretary of state, one secretary of defense, president of European Commission (EC), president of the European Council (EC), president of European Parliament (EP), speaker of the United States House of Representatives have visited Ukraine. Members of the United States Congress and members of Parliaments have visited Ukraine.
30 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives accompanied by Democratic Party Representatives Gregory Meeks, Representative Adam Schiff, Representative James McGovern, Representative Jason Crow, Representative Barbara Lee, Representative William Keating
28 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the 193-member United Nations
24 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State (NATO), and Lloyd Austin, United States Secretary of Defense
21 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain (EU, NATO); Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Kingdom Denmark (EU, NATO)
20 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the European Commission (EC), Charles Michel
13 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Latvia, Egils Levits (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda (EU, NATO)
10 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson (NATO)
9 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Chancellor of Republic of Austria, Karl Nehammer (EU)
7 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the Brussels, Belgium-based European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen; High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the EC, Josep Borrell Fontelles; Prime Minister of Slovak Republic, Eduard Heger (EU, NATO)
3 April 2022 (Odesa)- Minister Of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikoloas Dendias (EU, NATO)
1 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the Strasbourg, France-based European Parliament (EP), Roberta Metsola
17 March 2022 (Lviv)- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu (NATO)
15 March 2022 (Kyiv)- Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Petr Fiala (EU, NATO); Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki (EU, NATO); Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Jansa (EU, NATO); Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Jaroslaw Kaczynski (EU, NATO)
