Senate Sends Government Funding Legislation with Robust Assistance for Ukraine to President’s Desk
**As Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, Shaheen leads action in the Senate in support of Ukraine**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation – issued the following statement after the Senate passed final government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022 that includes $13.6 billion in military assistance for Ukraine. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“We don’t have a moment to spare in providing assistance to Ukraine as its people risk their lives to fight for their freedom. This military and humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to help Ukraine defend itself and to respond to the devastating humanitarian crisis spurred by Putin’s violent assault on the nation and population,” said Shaheen. “Putin is attacking civilian infrastructure, bombing maternity hospitals, shelling corridors promised for safe passage and making every effort to seize a nation that he has no right to. The U.S. will not sit idly by while he violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and disregards international law. His delusional fantasy of rebuilding the Soviet Union will not happen on our watch. I appreciate the swift action in Congress to usher this assistance through both chambers and deliver it to the President’s desk. Our efforts to support Ukraine – within the U.S. and among our international allies – is enduring and we will continue to work in lockstep to support our partners, protect NATO frontline countries and ensure Putin pays a heavy price for his crimes.”
In addition to this military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Shaheen also supported the inclusion of $59.4 million for the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute sanctions violations, cyber threats and ransomware related to the Russian threat and war in Ukraine, including efforts to combat kleptocracy. She also worked to include $22.1 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security within the Department of Commerce for enhanced export control enforcement, economic and trade-based analysis and increased coordination with allies’ and partner countries’ control authorities. Senator Shaheen chairs the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds both the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce.
Shaheen has led action in the U.S. Senate in support of Ukraine in response to Vladimir Putin’s belligerence against Ukraine, which also threatens the stability and security of Eastern Europe and NATO allies. Last month, Shaheen led a successful bipartisan effort with Portman to pass a resolution that conveys a renewed and overwhelmingly bipartisan message from the U.S. Senate in fierce support of Ukraine. In January, Shaheen and Portman led a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine, where they met with President Zelenskyy and members of his administration.
Senator Shaheen has long led efforts in the Senate to hold Russia accountable for its malign activity against the U.S. and its allies. Because of her role as a negotiator on Russia sanctions legislation known as “CAATSA” and her successful efforts to ban Kaspersky Lab software from operating on U.S. systems, Shaheen was sanctioned by the Kremlin in 2017. Before the Shaheen-Portman congressional delegation visit to Ukraine in January, Shaheen led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, last June.
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