Washington, D.C. – With today’s Senate vote, Congress is finally sending to President Biden the national security supplemental funding he sought over six months ago. This package includes over $60 billion in critical support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, strengthens the capabilities of Taiwan and other partners in the Indo-Pacific, and provides $9 billion in lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza and other areas in crisis.
“It took far, far too long. But the overwhelming support we saw today for President Biden’s national security supplemental package sends a powerful signal – both to America’s friends and our adversaries,” said Andrew Albertson, Executive Director of Foreign Policy for America. “The United States is not going to retreat from the world. We will not stand idly by as Vladimir Putin continues his murderous assault on Ukraine and threatens Europe. By rejecting isolationism today, Congress has once again demonstrated our country’s strong bipartisan commitment to defending our allies and partners as they fight back against authoritarianism and aggression.”
To be clear, this bill is far from perfect. FP4A is concerned by the inclusion of the SHIP Act, which significantly expands secondary sanctions on Iranian oil, including on ports, which could have far-reaching consequences on our global economy, while providing limited waiver authority to the President to calibrate the use of sanctions for diplomatic purposes. It also maintains a blanket prohibition against funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which provides vital food, medicine, and other supplies to millions of Palestinian refugees around the region and is essential for addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The supplemental package also includes up to $14 billion in additional security assistance to Israel requested by President Biden in the immediate wake of the October 7 attacks. It is now incumbent on the Biden administration to ensure that this assistance is implemented consistent with U.S. law and policy concerning the protection of civilians, the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
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