Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word as the designee of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment which prohibits security assistance for Ukraine.

The bill contains funding and conditions for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is different from the funding that has been included in supplementals for Ukraine. This funding is not sent directly to Ukraine; rather, it pays for training and procurement of U.S. equipment.

Congress has funded this initiative every single year since it was authorized in 2016 during both Democrat and Republican administrations. Just last month, the House voted to authorize this funding at the same level.

Madam Chair, this assistance and the partnership between Ukraine and the California National Guard is what enabled the Ukrainians to beat back the Russian invasion and greatly diminish Russia's conventional military forces.

I have been very clear to the Department: No blank checks. That was why this bill contains many new oversight provisions and funding for a special inspector general for Ukraine, if authorized in the final NDAA.

The gentleman has often noted that funds used in support of Ukraine should go to securing our southern border. I argue that we should secure the border and partner with Ukraine to degrade Russia while never taking our eye off China.

We do not yet know how the war will play out, but I do know that voting for this amendment will send the wrong message at the wrong time.

Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source