Shaheen Helps Advance Additional Aid to Ukraine in FY23 Annual Defense Bill
Shaheen has led efforts in the Senate in support of military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate Armed Service Committee advanced the fiscal year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes $800 million in additional military aid to Ukraine. The annual defense legislation also includes other priorities championed by Shaheen in response to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, including language in support of NATO and Ukraine amid Russia’s campaign of violence. The legislation will next be considered by the Senate.
"Ukraine’s fight for freedom carries implications that will go beyond its borders. Helping our partners defend their sovereignty and freedom is not only a moral responsibility, but a key U.S. national security priority to show Putin he cannot seize any nation he’d like or destabilize our world order. The military assistance provided in the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act reaffirms that sentiment,” said Shaheen. “I was proud to support the inclusion of continued military assistance for Ukraine to defend itself and punch back at Putin, and I appreciate lawmakers approving my measures in support of Ukraine’s greater Euro-Atlantic integration, reaffirming the important contributions of Baltic states amid this military crisis and for agreeing that the Pentagon provide congressional defense committees with detailed information on the security implications for the Black Sea region, which we know is in Putin’s crosshairs. The bipartisan response in the United States, coupled by the historic coordinated global reaction in repudiation of Putin’s unprovoked war, have been pivotal to Ukraine’s defense. We cannot stop now. I look forward to building on this work when the Senate brings the NDAA to the Senate floor for a vote.”
In addition to increased military assistance, Senator Shaheen worked to include language that expresses the Sense of the Senate in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and its pursuit of greater Euro-Atlantic integration. Shaheen also added language reaffirming the important contributions of the Baltic States in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and emphasizing the need for the Department of Defense to give special consideration to their security cooperation needs and the backfill of equipment to Ukraine. Senator Shaheen similarly inserted report language directing the Secretary of Defense to provide congressional defense committees with a briefing on Department of Defense (DOD) posture, security cooperation and military-to-military engagement in the Black Sea region, which is a critical geopolitical area and target of Russian aggression. To continue bolstering our NATO allies and overcome supply chain issues, Senator Shaheen led efforts in the FY23 NDAA to encourage the Air Force to create a Sensor Open architecture engagement office to allow for increased sensor open system architecture alignment with the transatlantic alliance. Finally, Shaheen also authored a Sense of the Senate underscoring Congress’s deep support for the NATO alliance and highlighting the pivotal role of our allies in responding to Russia’s revanchist aggression.
Shaheen, also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and the Ukraine Caucus, leads action in the U.S. Senate in support of Ukraine in response to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked aggression, which also threatens the stability and security of Eastern Europe and NATO allies. Shaheen recently led a bipartisan congressional delegation with Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to the Balkans to convey continued U.S. support for its allies amid Russian aggression against Ukraine and the implications for European security in the region. In addition, legislation co-led by Shaheen to speed up military assistance to Ukraine and Eastern European nations was recently signed into law. In February, 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. Earlier this year, Shaheen and Portman led a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine, where they met with President Zelenskyy and members of his administration. 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. Shaheen, Chair of the SFRC subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, has consistently advocated and supported humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.
Later this month, Shaheen will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation with fellow Senate NATO Observer Group co-chair Thom Tillis (R-NC) to the NATO Summit in Spain.
###
