Shaheen Speaks with Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker

(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations, Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, released the following statement after speaking with Penny Pritzker, the new Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery. As a former Secretary of Commerce, Special Representative Pritzker will work alongside the Ukrainian government, the EU, the G7, international allies and partners and the American public and private sectors to help Ukraine regain their standing as a prosperous European democracy and rebuild from Russia’s war of aggression.

“Special Representative Pritzker’s appointment demonstrates the Biden administration’s commitment to rebuild Ukraine as Putin’s war continues to devastate its land, economy and people,” said Senator Shaheen. “Her record of service as Secretary of Commerce and her extensive private sector experience make her an excellent choice for this position. I look forward to working alongside her and my colleagues in the Senate as we work to bolster Ukraine’s economic security, including by partnering with American businesses.”

A member of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, Shaheen has led action in the Senate to support Ukraine in response to Putin’s barbaric war. Shaheen has led multiple bipartisan delegations to Ukraine and met with President Zelenskyy and members of his Cabinet. Shaheen leads legislation in the U.S. Senate to address a U.S. strategy toward key political regions in Europe to bolster European security and transatlantic unity. As chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees U.S. policy towards Europe, Shaheen is a leading policymaker on efforts in defense of democracies around the globe amid Putin’s efforts to destabilize the continent. Shaheen led on the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which was signed into law, and establishes a military lend-lease program to enhance security assistance to Ukraine. Shaheen also leads the Promoting Readiness for Overseas Contingencies and Unexpected Responses to Exigencies (PROCURE) Act with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), which would establish a Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund (CMAF) to allow the Secretary of Defense to better manage industry production lines and sustain particular munitions lines that are critical to U.S. national security interests.  

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