A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, encouraging Ukrainian Armed Forces’ support against Russia.
U.S. Reps. Michael Turner (R-OH), Mike Rogers (R-AL), and Michael McCaul (R-TX) joined U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) noted that Congress recently passed legislation that included an emergency supplemental allotment of $3 billion in direct authority and funding for the United States to deliver additional military aid to Ukraine, doubling what the Biden administration requested.
“We write to urge the Departments of Defense and State to rapidly exercise the authority Congress provided in the omnibus appropriations bill to provide a robust package of lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine based on assessed and anticipated military efficacy,” the legislators wrote. “This will ensure Ukraine’s military and security forces remain armed and provisioned to sustain their successful attempts to repel and disrupt Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unprecedented invasion.”
The lawmakers indicated they were seeking action in which departments used the emergency funding without delay.
“In addition to the funding increases to directly support Ukraine’s continued defense and to backfill our stocks and those of our allies and partners, Congress also expanded the authority of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to enable previously authorized and appropriated USAI funding to be dedicated not only to conventional Ukrainian armed forces’ efforts but also to organizations supporting resistance efforts as needed,” the legislators concluded. “Providing this expanded flexibility further illustrates Congress’s will to do everything we can to support Ukrainians defending their territory.”