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Civic Register
| 4.30.22

President Biden Asks Congress for $33B in Aid for Ukraine - Are You In Favor?

Do you support $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine?

What’s the story?

  • President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a new request for Congress to provide $33 billion in additional funding for Ukraine’s security and humanitarian needs arising from Russia’s war of aggression. Biden said, “The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen. We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country or we stand by as the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine.
  • Once the new request is translated into legislative text and introduced in Congress, it’s expected to receive bipartisan support as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told he would “very likely” back the package and he recently spoke about the need to ramp up defense industrial production to replenish U.S. inventories of items sent to Ukraine. It’s unclear how quickly the proposal can clear both chambers, as the House is on recess until May 10th.
  • The latest request comes after Congress previously provided $14 billion in funding for security, humanitarian, and economic support to Ukraine and regional partners through the omnibus appropriations package. Additionally, Congress approved an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill to establish a Lend-Lease program to provide military equipment to Ukraine and Eastern European allies due to Russia’s aggression. That bill is expected to be signed into law in the near future.

What’s in the new request?

  • The request includes a total of $33 billion in additional security, economic, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, which the White House and Pentagon expect will cover needs through the end of fiscal year 2022 in late September. That includes:
  • $20.4 billion in security and military assistance for Ukraine and for U.S. efforts to strengthen European security in cooperation with NATO allies and regional partners. That includes $5 billion in drawdown authority; $6 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; and $4 billion for the State Dept.’s Foreign Military Financing Program. 
  • The military and security aid would provide additional artillery, armored vehicles, anti-armor, and anti-air capabilities that flow into Ukraine; accelerated cyber capabilities and advanced air defense systems, increased intelligence support, and improved production capabilities for munitions and strategic minerals; plus aid to clear landmines and other explosive ordnance. It would also support U.S. troop deployments on NATO territory.
  • $8.5 billion in economic assistance to help Ukraine’s government by supporting food, energy, and healthcare services in Ukraine; countering Russian disinformation and propaganda narratives, supporting the freedom of expression, and promoting accountability for Russian human rights violations; and supporting small- and medium-sized agro-businesses during the fall harvest and for natural gas purchases by the Ukrainian state energy company to address critical emerging needs in Ukraine.
  • $3 billion for humanitarian assistance to stabilize food supplies and provide lifesaving aid to people displaced by the war in Ukraine. This would include direct food support for individuals in developing countries impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; medical supplies, high thermal blankets, emergency health kits, safe drinking water, shelter materials, and other lifesaving aid for displaced Ukrainians
  • $500 million in domestic food production assistance to support the production of U.S. food crops experiencing a global shortage due to the war in Ukraine, such as wheat and soybeans, through higher loan rates and crop insurance incentives to improve access to credit and lower the risk for farmers. Funding will also allow the use of the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production of critical minerals and materials that have been disrupted by Putin’s war in Ukraine and that are necessary to make items ranging from advanced missile systems to cars.
  • Funding would also bolster the Dept. of Justice’s KleptoCapture Task Force’s efforts to pursue high-value asset seizures from sanctioned individuals related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.


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— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Carnell via DVIDSHUB / Public Domain)