President Joe Biden is asking Congress to authorize a package of more than $30 billion in additional security, economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine to help the country fend off the prolonged Russian attack over the next five months. It includes more than $20 billion for security and military assistance, including $11.4 billion to fund equipment and replenish stocks already provided to Ukraine, $2.6 billion to support the deployment of American troops and equipment to the region, and $1.9 billion for cybersecurity and intelligence support. The request also includes $8.5 billion in economic assistance for the government in Kyiv to provide basic economic support, including food and health care services, as the Ukrainian economy reels from the toll of the war. An additional $3 billion would be provided for humanitarian assistance and food security funding, including medical supplies and support for Ukrainian refugees and to help stem the impact of the disrupted food supply chain. Lawmakers in both parties have voiced support for another round of emergency aid for Ukraine, having approved more money in March than what the administration initially requested at the time. It is unclear, however, how quickly the new measure will pass or what changes lawmakers might seek. In his letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), President Biden called on Congress to tie the aid package to $22.5 billion in pandemic response funding he requested in March, something Democrats have also floated. President Biden is also sending Congress a legislative proposal intended to make it easier for the United States to seize yachts, airplanes and other assets of Russian oligarchs and use the proceeds to help Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.
FACT SHEET: White House Calls on Congress to Provide Additional Support for Ukraine.
The Senate reconvened at 10 A.M. and is considering the Motion to invoke cloture to go to conference on H.R.4521 – America COMPETES Act of 2022 . The House passed the America COMPETES Act in February, sending it to the Senate. The Senate then took up the bill at the end of March, swapped its text with its own USICA legislation, then passed that version on March 29. That set the stage for the official conference request from the House, starting a process that was first announced last November. A total of 107 conferees – 26 Senators, evenly split among parties, and 81 Representatives, with 50 Democrats and 31 Republicans, were named before the break. The legislation aims to ramp up domestic semiconductor production, spur competition, and drive innovation. The conference will look to reconcile differences between the Senate-passed United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House-passed America Creating Opportunities, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act (COMPETES).
The House reconvened at 12:00 P.M. and is considering S. 3522 – Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 which the Senate unanimously passed earlier this month. The legislation would waive statutory requirements that currently govern President Biden’s ability to loan military equipment to Kyiv under the World War II-era lend-lease program.
Adam S. Olsen, Washington, D.C.
