Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) announced Wednesday he would not pass more spending packages that includes more money for Ukraine as the federal government prepares to shut down if they fail to reach a deal.
Congressional leaders are working to pass a resolution to keep the federal government funded past September 30.
However, there are concerns amongst some Republicans that the resolution will include the additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine, which Jo Biden recently requested.
Paul voiced concerns on the Senate floor and in a recent op-ed, declaring the federal government should “not be held hostage for Ukraine funding.”
“Today I’m putting congressional leadership & @POTUS on notice that I will oppose any effort to hold the federal government hostage for Ukraine funding,” Paul wrote online.
“I will not consent to expedited passage of any spending measure that provides any more US aid to Ukraine.”
As Paul noted, the $113 billion in Ukraine aid now averages “$6.8 billion per month—or $223 million per day,” as Paul said.
Rand Paul said he opposed American taxpayers paying their money for “another endless quagmire” in Ukraine, and called attempts to include the aid in the continuing resolution a “clear dereliction of duty.”
Paul wrote:
“With no clear end in sight, it looks increasingly likely that Ukraine will be yet another endless quagmire funded by the American taxpayer.
That’s why public support for the war is waning. A CNN poll from August shows that most Americans now oppose Congress authorizing additional funding to Ukraine.”
The Senate leadership of both parties know this. That’s why they are trying to hold the federal government hostage by inserting the $24 billion aid request in a continuing resolution: to force our hand. Either we fund an endless war in Ukraine, or the uniparty will shut down the federal government and make the American people suffer.
This is a clear dereliction of duty, and I will not stand for it. My colleagues: As representatives of the American people, you should not stand for it.
The bill that comes before us should be about funding our own government, not anyone else’s. I will do everything in my power to block a bill that includes funding for Ukraine.”
Paul went on to say that “corruption runs deep in Ukraine,” citing news that Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense fired six deputy defense ministers over “corruption concerns.”
“This comes two weeks after the firing of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who was removed after it was discovered that the Ministry of Defense had mishandled military contracts,” Paul noted.
Rand Paul made the remarks as Senators prepare meet with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who will be asking for more money.
Meanwhile, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell urged Congress to provide more aid to Ukraine.
Democrat Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also called for more funding for Ukraine but did not specify whether he would attach it to a continuing resolution to fund the government.
“We’d like to work on a bipartisan basis on the CR with the Republicans. We’ve gotten indications that they want to do that. We’ve done it very successfully on the appropriations process and hopefully, we can come together bipartisan here as well,” Schumer said Tuesday.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) also voiced support for more Ukraine funding, saying he wants it in a standalone bill.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged $1 billion more for Ukraine, including $300 Million for the country’s law enforcement, saying the United States is “determined to continue to walk side-by-side” in its ongoing war with Russia.
We are determined in the United States to continue to walk side-by-side with you,” Blinken told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
“President Biden asked me to come, to reaffirm strongly our support, to ensure that we are maximizing the efforts that we’re making and other countries are making for the immediate challenge of the counteroffensive as well as the longer-term efforts to help Ukraine build a force for the future that can deter and defend against any future aggression, but also to work with you and support you as you engage in the critical work of strengthening your democracy, rebuilding your economy,” Blinden said.
The money for Ukraine included the following:
$175 million in military assistance
$100 million for “longer-term military needs”
$206 million for humanitarian aid
$300 million to support “law enforcement”
While Blinkden noted that the US pledged $520 million a few months ago to help Ukraine rebuild its energy infrastructure, it was unclear if that money was included in the $1 billion.
This comes as the US experiences soaring crime in major cities compared to 2019, according to a recent study.
Homicide rates are 24 percent higher in the first half of 2023 than in the first half of 2023, according to the Council on Criminal Justice.
READ: Mike Pence: Trump Isn’t ‘Conservative’ Because He Would End the War in Ukraine
