Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
Senate Passes Aid Package to Replenish American Equipment and Defense Supplies, Support Intelligence Operations, and Address Food Insecurity
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the Ukraine supplemental aid package, totaling $40.1 billion, which passed the Senate in an 86-11 vote. The package includes support for direct military assistance and humanitarian aid. It also provides funding to replenish the U.S. supplies of military weapons and equipment that were sent to Ukraine to assist in Russia’s unprovoked war.
“The United States must not sit back as Russia continues its campaign against Ukraine’s sovereignty and democracy. Americans are united in our support of the Ukrainian people, and it’s critical we continue to send a message of strength and hope as we back the fight for global democracy,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “This package is urgently needed and simply the right thing to do. It includes significant investments to Ukraine’s military capabilities and will replenish American defense supplies, weapons, and equipment to ensure our own defenses. It invests in intelligence to fight against Russian weapons systems, and responds to the humanitarian crisis by providing emergency food assistance in Ukraine. I want to ensure that DOD is also providing training capacity along with weapons systems and am committed to engaging in congressional oversight to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used both transparently and efficiently as we continue to put our full support behind Ukraine.”
Bill Details: The funding package provides $6 billion for weaponry, intelligence support, training and other defense assistance to Ukrainian forces, as well as $8.7 billion to replenish American equipment sent to the country. It allocates $3.9 billion for European Command operations, including intelligence support and hardship pay for troops in the region and authorizes the transfer of up to $11 billion of American equipment, weapons and defense supplies. It sets aside $13.9 billion for the State Department, with the bulk going toward the Economic Support Fund to help Ukraine’s government continue to function. Another $4.4 billion is allocated for emergency food assistance and devotes $900 million to assistance for Ukrainian refugees, including housing, English language, trauma and support services.