House approves USD 40 billion in Ukraine aid, beefing up Biden request

The House emphatically approved a fresh 40 billion Ukraine aid package Tuesday as lawmakers beefed up President Joe Bidens initial request signalling a magnified bipartisan commitment to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putins bloody threemonthold invasionThe measure sailed to passage by a lopsided 36857 margin providing 7 billion more than Bidens request from April and dividing the increase evenly between defence and humanitarian programmes The bill would give Ukraine military and economic assistance help regional allies replenish weapons the Pentagon has shipped overseas and provide 5 billion to address global food shortages caused by the wars crippling of Ukraines normally robust production of many cropsThe measure was backed by every voting Democrat and by nearly 3 out of 4 Republicans House debate reflected a perspective shared broadly by both parties that the US has even more at stake than standing by UkraineThe Ukrainian people they need us they are in desperate need of our support said Rep Rosa DeLauro chair of the House Appropriations Committee Vladimir Putin and his cronies must be held responsible This bill does that by protecting democracy limiting Russian aggression and strengthening our own national securityAs China Iran and North Korea watch our response we must show the world that America stands firm with its allies and will do what is necessary to protect our interests abroad said Rep Kay Granger of Texas top Republican on that committeeThe new legislation would bring American support for the effort to nearly 54 billion including the 136 billion in support Congress enacted in March Thats about 6 billion more than the US spent on all its foreign and military aid in 2019 according to a January report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service which studies issues for lawmakers Its also around 137 of the entire federal budgetThe measure was released as Washington has become increasingly assertive about its goals and its willingness to help Ukraine with more sophisticated weapons Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said recently the US wants a weakened Russia that cant quickly restore its capability to attack other countriesRussian attacks on Ukraines southern port of Odesa have intensified in what seems an attempt to hamper deliveries of Western arms Those weapons have helped Ukraine hold its own surprisingly well against its more lethal foe but the grinding war is taking its tollSenate approval of Ukrainian aid seems certain and members of both parties have echoed the need for quick action As Putin desperately accelerates his campaign of horror and brutality in Ukraine time is of the essence said House Speaker Nancy PelosiBut it was unclear when the Senate would act and changes there were possible with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell insisting that the measure be narrowly focused on the war I think were on a path to getting that done McConnell told reporters It needs to be clean of extraneous matters directly related to helping the Ukrainians win the warSome Republicans used the electionseason debate to accuse Biden of being unclear about his goals Honestly do we not deserve a plan said Rep Michael Burgess He said he agrees that Western countries must help Ukraine stand up to Russia but added Does the administration not need to come to us with where we are going with thisOksana Markarova Ukraines ambassador to the US attended Tuesdays separate Democratic and Republican Senate lunches and expressed gratitude for the support theyve received Senator Chris Coons said Markarova told them her country has depleted its stockpiles of Sovietera weapons and said continued NATO support is vitalCoons said the Ukrainians message was Thank you do more We have a hard fight ahead With your support we can win The new measure includes 6 billion to arm and train Ukrainian forces 87 billion to restore American stores of weapons shipped to Ukraine and 39 billion for US forces deployed to the areaTheres also 88 billion in economic support for Ukraine 4 billion to help Ukraine and allies finance arms and equipment purchases and 900 million for housing education and other help for Ukrainian refugees in the USTo enhance the measures chances in Congress the House bill dropped Bidens proposal to ease the pathway to legal permanent residency for qualifying Afghans who fled to the US after last summers American withdrawal from that country Some Republicans have expressed concerns about the adequacy of security screenings for applicantsIn their biggest concession Biden and Democrats abandoned plans Monday to include additional billions of dollars to build up US supplies of medicines vaccines and tests for COVID19 Republican support for more pandemic spending is waning and including that money would have slowed the Ukraine measure in the 5050 Senate where at least 10 GOP votes will be needed for passageDemocrats hope to produce a separate COVID19 package soon though its fate is unclear Biden met in the White House Situation Room Tuesday with Pelosi and six other House Democrats who travelled recently to Ukraine and Poland Afterward Rep Jason Crow a member of that delegation and a former Army Ranger said the Ukrainians need advanced drones and longerrange weapons like artillery rockets and antiship missiles that will help them push back the RussiansThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever