Rules Committee backs ceremonial sister‑state resolution with Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine

The House Rules Committee held a public hearing and then a work session on Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 on May 5, 2025, which would create a ceremonial sister-state relationship between Oregon and Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine.

Remote and in-person witnesses described cultural, educational and economic reasons for the tie. Melissa Kiyazeva, an English teacher who said she now teaches Ukrainians online, told the committee a sister-state link would create long-term soft-power ties and increase access to "human capital"—multilingual, highly trained young people interested in relationships with Oregon. "By creating these relationships, it creates a soft power," she said.

Yulia Brochdorf, co-founder of a nonprofit, emphasized economic and agricultural complementarities and argued the partnership would open markets and support renewable-energy and sustainable-agriculture collaboration. Vitali Sopko, joining from Ukraine, described Cherkasy’s resilience during the war, detailed local emergency-response and mental-health innovations, and framed the relationship as a sustained partnership of solidarity and mutual assistance.

The committee convened a work session and Vice Chair Pham moved SCR 23 to the floor with a B adopted recommendation. The roll call recorded ayes from the panel and the motion carried. Committee staff noted no fiscal or revenue impact.

Supporters framed the resolution as symbolic but practical—creating formal state ties that organizers say will help civil-society collaboration, education exchanges and local economic links while signaling Oregon's support for Ukrainian sovereignty. The committee assigned a carrier to the resolution for floor action.