House Advances $300 Million Ukraine Funding Measure
The House of Representatives on Sept. 28 advanced a $300 million financial aid package to Ukraine.
The financial assistance package, which was removed from the larger Pentagon spending package to which it was originally attached, advanced in a 217–211 vote. Specifically, lawmakers voted to detach aid for Ukraine from the larger defense appropriations bill, allowing for votes to be tallied on each of the two measures.
Of that $300 million, $280 million in the bill is slated to go toward the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to be used for training, equipment, lethal assistance, logistics support, salaries, and other expenses incurred by Ukraine [pdf].
An additional $20 million is slated for use in establishing an Office of Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance, a concession to Republicans who say the U.S. government is sending too much money—with not enough oversight—to the notoriously corrupt Eastern European nation.
Nevertheless, this concession is unlikely to sway House Freedom Caucus critics of the United States’ Ukraine policy like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and others.
With the House’s vote to advance the bill, it is set for final passage through the House later on the evening of Sept. 28, when lawmakers plan to stay late to continue their work to fund the government.
So far, the United States has sent around $75 billion to Ukraine, a figure critics say is too high.
Still, despite opposition from the right flank of the Republican Party in the House, the Ukraine funding measure is a shoo-in for passage when it goes up for a vote later tonight. Democrats are unanimous in their support for funding Ukraine’s war effort, while a majority of Republicans are in favor of continued funding for Ukraine.
The $300 million allocated in the package falls far short of the $24 billion requested by President Joe Biden.
By Joseph Lord and Ryusuke Abe
