Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
Floor Speech
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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, it has been 6 months since President Biden sent his security supplemental to the Congress and 2 months since the Senate passed it, but today, the House will finally act. It is not a moment too soon, for the situation in Ukraine is dire.
Vladimir Putin has failed to release thousands of Ukrainian children who have been kidnapped and continues to murder Ukrainian citizens on a daily basis. The Ukrainian military faces a severe shortage of ammunition, ammunition to protect their citizens and their sovereignty. Why? Because for months this House has remained silent, but today that changes.
Today, we will pass this legislation. We will provide security and economic assistance to Ukraine. We will replenish depleted stocks of U.S. equipment here at home. We will join and show the Baltic nations, Romania, and Poland, that we stand with them, along with our European and NATO allies.
Together, we will support the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom. We will make it clear to authoritarian nations that America will always stand up for democracy here at home and around the world.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support these bills.
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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
Mr. Chair, I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment. Cutting the funding in this bill would be devastating. To zero out our support for Ukraine will only embolden Putin more.
As I said earlier, murdering civilians on a daily basis is what the Russian Government is up to, as well as holding thousands of Ukrainian children as captives.
As ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I know the funds included in this bill will provide Ukraine with the vital support they need to defend themselves.
If this amendment were to pass, we would send a signal that the United States does not stand against Putin's campaign of death and destruction in Ukraine. We absolutely must stand against Putin's aggression.
If Putin is allowed to succeed in snuffing out Ukraine's democracy, it will put our allies in the Baltic States, Poland, Romania, and other NATO partners, at great risk.
The funds in this bill also strengthens America's national security by supporting our operations in New York, backfilling our own military stocks so that we are prepared.
Mr. Chair, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.
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