Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) sent a letter to U.S. Senate and House leaders calling for immediate legislation to provide critical and sustained security and economic support for Ukraine to ensure the country has the necessary resources to defend itself against Putin’s unjustified invasion.
“It is past time for the U.S. Congress to take up and pass legislation guaranteeing Ukraine has the critical resources necessary to continue defending themselves against Putin’s illegal war,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to act immediately to advance legislation that will provide critical and sustained security and economic support for Ukraine to the President’s desk for his signature.”
Senator Casey has consistently denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s efforts to amass power at all costs. Casey criticized Putin and his government’s aggressive escalation against Ukraine and the international community, from his annexation of Crimea to sponsoring militant groups, including those responsible for the deliberate downing of Malaysian Airlines flight 17, to interfering in U.S. elections. Casey called Putin’s invasion a “clear violation of international law,” stressed the importance for democratic leaders to stand together in the face of Putin’s aggression, and declared that the United States will do all it can to support the Ukrainian people in the face of President Putin’s unprovoked attack.
Last month, Senator Casey met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and, afterward, stressed the importance that the United States must remain fully committed to ensuring Ukraine has the resources to fight and win against Vladimir Putin and his military and urged his fellow Members of Congress to make a choice: support the people of Ukraine and democracy or support Putin and autocracy.
The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
Full text of the letter is below and the signed PDF is HERE.
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Leader Jeffries, Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Chair Granger, and Ranking Member DeLauro:
We write to request urgent action to advance critical and sustained security assistance and economic support for Ukraine. We appreciate the bipartisan statement issued by Senate leadership over the weekend, reiterating that support for Ukraine remains a top legislative priority. Congress cannot sit idly by while Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine continues.
This past weekend, Congress came together to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded and avoid an unnecessary and devastating government shutdown. We supported this important compromise to ensure a functioning United States government. However, we share our constituents’ frustration and concern that this package failed to include emergency funding necessary to support Ukraine in its response to Putin’s inhumane and illegal war. The bipartisan Senate CR included significant emergency funding for Ukraine, and we urge you to build on this work and put forward a bipartisan, bicameral funding package for Ukraine as soon as possible.
Now is not the time to slow our aid to Ukraine. Russian forces continue to bomb civilian populations – targeting hospitals, schools, churches, and apartment buildings. Such brutal, egregious violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and Ukrainian citizens’ basic human rights must not go unanswered. Our allies and partners continue to look to the United States to lead the effort to hold Russia accountable and stand up for democratic values and norms.
While Ukraine has started its counteroffensive and made progress in stemming the tide of the war, without sustained support, Ukraine’s aerial defense will falter, and munitions will run critically low. The Department of Defense (DOD) has exhausted nearly all available security assistance funding for Ukraine. While the Ukrainian soldiers are some the world’s best fighters, the Russian war machine funding is not stopping and dictators, like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, are aligning themselves with their malign effort. Our resolve signals to bad actors around the world – including the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) – that the U.S. and world’s democracies will not let an authoritarian regime invade a sovereign nation.
Our states are home to thousands of members of the Ukrainian diaspora. We hear from them daily, and they remind us of the importance of continuing our commitment to helping Ukrainians defend themselves and their homes. They have shared stories about their friends and family members who are living under constant threat of indiscriminate aerial bombing of civilian targets. We must follow their lead and reaffirm that American leadership remains committed to democracy and human rights.
Two weeks ago, President Zelenskyy addressed Members of Congress and made clear the vital need for additional aid. We appreciate the commitment exhibited both by President Biden and Senate leadership toward meeting President Zelenskyy’s call for action. Now that a government shutdown has been averted, we must provide Ukraine the resources necessary to defend themselves.
It is past time for the U.S. Congress to take up and pass legislation guaranteeing Ukraine has the critical resources necessary to continue defending themselves against Putin’s illegal war. We urge you to act immediately to advance legislation that will provide critical and sustained security and economic support for Ukraine to the President’s desk for his signature.
Thank you for your attention to this critical priority.
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