Shaheen Applauds Senate Passing of Ukraine Emergency Aid Package

May 19, 2022

(Washington, DC) – US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation and Senior Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Additional Assistance to Ukraine Bill to provide emergency military, humanitarian and economic assistance. The bill is now heading to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“The crisis in Ukraine escalates daily amid Russia’s deadly invasion, underscoring the need to maintain our support for the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom. I am pleased that the Senate has taken long overdue action to provide essential assistance to help Ukrainians protect their people and their land. As Russian forces attack Ukrainian communities, this package provides urgently needed sophisticated military supplies to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The package also includes essential food, supplies and shelter to help Ukrainians flee their homes during Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War II. This package will make a real difference for millions of beleaguered Ukrainians,” said Shaheen. “I am thrilled that this lifesaving assistance bill is now heading to President Biden’s desk for swift signing into law. The United States has a moral obligation to keep its promise to Ukraine as it stands on the front lines of defending democracy against the Kremlin’s campaign of aggression, both in Europe and around the world.

Shaheen, a member of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, leads an action in the US Senate in support of Ukraine in response to Vladimir Putin’s belligerence, which also threatens the stability and security of Eastern Europe and allies in the NATO. 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 to its allies amid Russian aggression against Ukraine and implications for European security in the region. Additionally, legislation co-led by Shaheen to expedite military assistance to Ukraine and Eastern European countries has been approved by Congress and will soon be enacted. In April, Shaheen and members of the Senate Ukrainian Caucus met with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova and members of the Ukrainian Parliament. 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 of fierce support for Ukraine. Earlier this year, Shaheen and Portman led a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine, where they met with President Zelenskyy and members of his administration. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she supported the inclusion of $13.6 billion in security assistance as part of government funding legislation signed into law by President Biden. Ahead of the Shaheen-Portman congressional delegation’s visit to Ukraine in January, Shaheen led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, last June.

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