As the Biden administration is set to distribute $100 million in foreign funds, Republicans are calling on the president to package any aid to Ukraine and Israel separately.
In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), nine GOP legislators demand that U.S. funds for Ukraine and Israel be considered individually rather than as a joint package. They argue that both conflicts could cause political complications and prevent aid from being provided to Israel.
However, the Biden administration plans to give Ukraine more than Israel in funds intended for each crisis.
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Israel is one of America’s greatest allies in the world, and we must stand with it after the October 7 Hamas massacre that brutally murdered more than 1,400 Israelis and 30 Americans,” Sen. Roger Marshall (D-Kan.). , who wrote the letter, told The Post. “As we look for ways to lend a hand our friends, we expect to see funding proposals for aid to Israel soon. My colleagues and I strongly believe that any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions of additional dollars to Ukraine. These are two separate conflicts at different stages and cannot be considered a ‘package deal’.
The letter was signed by: Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rick Scott (Fla.) and Ron Johnson (Wisconsin).
Schumer and McConnell suggested the aid package would be ready this week and would include $60 billion for Ukraine and $40 billion for Israel, Taiwan and U.S. border security.
In addition to the $113 billion that Ukraine has already received from the US, President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $24 billion to further support the country’s “fight” against Russia. However, Congress rejected Biden’s request.
“We note that 22 members of the United States House of Representatives wrote to the then-leading candidates to be the next Speaker of the House, urging them to deny efforts to conflate these issues,” the Republican’s letter continued.
Several GOP members do not support U.S. funding for Ukraine. However, most agree that Israel needs humanitarian assistance from our government.
