Politics

$1.7 trillion ‘Omnibus’ spending bill includes $45 billion for Ukraine

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The government funding “Omnibus” bill contains $45 billion in new emergency funds for Ukraine – $8 billion more than President Biden asked Congress for last month.

Among the 4,100-page bill, some of the funding for Ukraine includes:

  • $9 to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which will find Ukrainian military training, equipment and intelligence support;
  • $6.98 billion to the U.S. European Command mission and intelligence support, pay, equipment and related activities;
  • $300 million for advanced nuclear reactors and advanced nuclear fuels;
  • $126.3 million to prepare for and respond to potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Ukraine;
  • $2.47 billion to address humanitarian needs;
  • $13.37 billion in economic support for Ukraine;
  • $2.4 billion to resettle Ukrainian refugees into the U.S.

The government spending plan ultimately added up to $1.7 trillion dollars. The U.S. military will get around $858 billion of this.

The bill has drawn bipartisan support, despite many Republicans having previously condemned the exorbitant amount of funding that the U.S. has already given to Ukraine.

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said she wouldn’t support the bill until getting a full audit on how Ukraine has used the funding that the U.S. has already sent them.

“Sadly, what I didn’t hear tonight was a clear explanation of where the first $50 billion we sent to support their efforts went. Until Congress receives a full audit on where our money has already gone, I will not support sending additional money to this war,” Boebert said, according to NBC News.

Meanwhile, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that supporting Ukraine is the “morally right” thing to do and said that funding their war with Russia is in the internet of American citizens.

“The Ukrainian people are courageous and innocent, and they deserve our help. President Zelenskyy is an inspiring leader. But the most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical, American interests,” McConnell said.

He continued, “By assisting Ukraine today, America is directly demonstrating our commitment to the basic principles of territorial integrity and national sovereignty, changing the calculus for others considering military aggression and lowering the odds of a far costlier and far more deadly future conflicts in the process.”

He added, “So I’ll say it one more time: Continuing our support, continuing our support for Ukraine is morally right, but it’s not only that, it’s also a direct investment in cold hard American interests.”

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy gave a speech to Congress on Wednesday night where he thanked lawmakers and American taxpayers for funding their war with Russia, but he also emphasized that the funding hasn’t been enough. Zelenskyy also met directly with President Biden.

ARTICLE: PAUL MURDOCH

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: INDEPENDENT.CO.UK

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Paul Murdoch

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

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