Nine Republican senators warned against the inclusion of any Ukraine funding in the aid package that the United States is sending to Israel in the wake of brutal Hamas terrorist attacks.
“We know there will no doubt be efforts to attach any funding to Israel to more aid to Ukraine, in excess of the already $113 billion Congress has provided to Ukraine,” the senators said in a Thursday letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “These are two separate conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line.”
“Furthermore,” they added, “it would be irresponsible and we should not risk a government shutdown by bundling these priorities together and thus complicating the process and lessening the likelihood of a funding package.”
The senators who joined in the effort were Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, JD Vance of Ohio, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
“We urge you to keep separate attempts to provide military aid to Israel from additional funds to Ukraine or other matters,” the senators said.
Vance had also joined Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts in warning against holding up aid to Israel in order to further funding to Ukraine. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of the Heritage Foundation.)
“Instead of holding up aid to Israel for additional Ukraine funding, Congress should give the situation in Israel the separate debate and vote that it deserves,” wrote Vance and Roberts.
“Conservatives should also insist on securing our own borders and fully enforcing our immigration laws,” they said, “considering that Hamas and other terrorist organizations have infiltrated our homeland through our open borders and continue to do so today.”
Lee reemphasized the point late Thursday, saying, “don’t hold Border security and Israel aid hostage so the Swamp can give Ukraine a blank check.”
“Using the war in Israel as a leverage point to squeeze more Ukraine dollars is a non-starter,” Marshall added in an “X” post.
President Joe Biden said Thursday that he will address the nation at 8 p.m. from the Oval Office, promising to discuss the “global inflection point” facing the U.S.
“Hamas’s terrorist attacks against Israel,” he tweeted. “The need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine. We are at a global inflection point that is bigger than party or politics.”
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