UAid Direct USA Co-Founder Attends Ninth Ukraine Action Summit in Washington

More than 650 volunteers and advocates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico gathered to advocate for sound U.S. policy regarding Ukraine. The Summit included a two-day conference and expo, followed by advocacy training on Monday, September 14, and two days of meetings with Congress. Participants held 459 meetings with senators and representatives.

A major legislative priority was passage of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (H.R. 5334). In an amazing confluence of events, the legislation passed the House by a vote of 262 to 159 on September 16, just moments after the final Summit meetings concluded.

This was the final order of business for the House late Wednesday afternoon before it adjourned for seven weeks.

Rich and many other Summit attendees had the privilege of witnessing the vote live from the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation was subsequently signed into law on September 18, 2026.

Advocacy works!

Those interested in learning more about the Summit and the issues discussed can visit the American Coalition for Ukraine and sign up for its newsletter. The newsletter highlights policy issues the coalition supports, explains their importance and provides information about communicating with members of Congress.

Following the Summit, Rich prepared to return to Ukraine to join the UAid Direct ground team for its next major project: receiving the organization’s eighth U.S.-sourced container of medical equipment and supplies.

These shipments require significant coordination and resources, from international freight and customs processing to unloading, sorting and delivering medical equipment to healthcare facilities and organizations throughout Ukraine.

Please consider making a donation to UAid Direct USA to help cover the costs of this shipment and future humanitarian aid projects.

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