Witness recounts life in Soviet Ukraine and urges teaching about communism

A witness representing the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation told the House Committee on Natural Resources that her childhood in Soviet Ukraine and experiences of state indoctrination show a need for school curricula that teach the harms of communism. "Karina, if anyone talks to you ... don't say anything, just walk away," she said, recounting her grandmother's warning to avoid speaking about the family.

She described classroom and civic messaging that conditioned children to distrust private property and to accept anti‑American messages. Citing a first‑grade math problem used as an example, she said the exercise presented "5 loaves of bread" and two "greedy Americans" who took loaves, a vignette she used to illustrate how curricula reinforced negative views of America.

The witness said she emigrated to the United States without English, was raised in Section 8 housing in Baltimore City, and benefited from freedoms she contrasted with her upbringing. She told the panel she supported legislation associated with Congresswoman Salazar, and described a curriculum effort by her organization: "We actually have, a teacher training session right now at our museum where we have over 30 teachers who came from across the country."

She closed by urging continued focus on educating the next generation about those historical experiences. The transcript does not show any vote or formal committee action tied to her remarks.