Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement on the Biden administration’s supplemental request for Ukraine:
“Ukraine can win this fight if they have the right tools and equipment. I applaud the Department of Defense’s leadership in fighting for a robust request that recognizes the critical role the United States plays in supplying military aid to Ukraine and shoring up NATO’s security posture. This request is much more substantial than what the administration has done so far, and I hope it means they have learned we can’t continue to be a day late and a dollar short.
“I am reviewing this request closely to ensure whatever supplemental Congress puts together provides adequate funding for military aid to our friends in Ukraine and our allies and partners in Eastern Europe and around the world doing their part — just as we did back in March, when Senate Republicans led the charge to nearly double the President’s request for military aid. I remain concerned this request still does not fully meet the scope and scale of the challenges the Armed Forces of Ukraine face over the next several months. We’ve seen that the fighting in the east is heavy, and the Russians have no plans to let up.
“I will also be looking closely at the backfill portion of the supplemental request, where we are still moving much too slowly. I am glad that the Department of Defense is taking real steps to address the shortfalls in our stocks of various critical munitions and those of our allies and partners. With the flexible munitions funds, Department of Defense leadership is thinking creatively, and we will work to ensure that creativity is met in kind. I will work with my colleagues in considering this request with a mind to move out immediately to fix these problems while not slowing down our direct aid to Ukraine—we cannot afford to choose between the present fight and our future defense.
“Congress must act immediately to get the right aid to Ukraine, and we may need to do so again in the future. Once this legislation is enacted, I urge the administration not to delay in getting this military assistance out the door. It took them two months to draw down the last package we provided — that’s time Ukraine just doesn’t have.”