White House Asks for Another $37 Billion in Ukraine Aid; Congress Needs to Say No
By streiff | 6:00 PM on November 15, 2022
The White House announced on Tuesday that it will seek an additional $37.7 billion in aid for Ukraine in the upcoming “lame duck” session of Congress.
According to reports, the proposed aid package would include the following:
$21.7 billion for equipment and ammunition for Ukraine and to replenish DoD drawdowns.
$14.5 billion for “direct budget support to Ukraine, critical wartime investments and security assistance as well as to strengthen global food security and provide humanitarian assistance.”
$626 million for “nuclear security” in Ukraine and modernizing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
$900 million for health care and support services to Ukrainians.
Keep in mind that these numbers are “authorizations.” Before they become real, Congress has to appropriate the money.
Congress should reject this request.
As I’ve reported before, much of the funding appropriated has yet to be obligated (Defense Department Announces Another $625 Million in Ukraine Aid So Let’s Take a Look at DoD IG Report on Ukraine Spending So Far).In my view, adding more money to the existing pot is not helpful for a lot of reasons.
First, this is being rammed through a lame-duck session. That is not the way a serious government acts or a serious Congress entertains funding requests. Any proposal of this size, particularly in a critical national defense area, must have hearings, so the American public knows what the money is for. For instance, how does the Strategic Petroleum Reserve relate to anything other than Joe Biden stupidly declaring war on oil and gas?
more
https://redstate.com/streiff/2022/11/15/white-house-asks-for-another-37-billion-in-ukraine-aid-congress-needs-to-say-no-n659344