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Robert McConnell, Director of External Relations for the Foundation’s Friends of Ukraine Network, periodically sends out legislative updates to apprise USUF followers as to the Ukraine-related legislation before Congress. Included here is an extensive update, but action must first be underscored. The Senate returns from recess on Monday the 25th and the House returns on Tuesday the 26th. If enough constituents contact them, hopefully some of this meaningful legislation will pass forward.
ACTION ITEM
Russia is readying a major new offensive and Ukraine needs the weapons, intelligence and support systems to counter the new Russian offensive – and it needs it now!
Attend any campaign events taking place this week, call or visit your representatives’ offices urging that they support immediate delivery of much needed weapons and systems to Ukraine including heavy artillery, long-range drones and push the White House to use its influence and power to get the countries having Soviet MiG and Sukhoi fighter aircraft to deliver those aircraft to Ukraine now.
Let your elected representatives and candidates for federal office know getting Ukraine the weapons and support it needs to win this war is an immediate priority to their constituents.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
You will see that there is a lot of Ukraine-related legislation before Congress but very little action on any of that legislation has taken place. While you will see there are bills you will see that need to be considered and passed over the last few months the most critical things Members of the House and Senators have been able to do – in Robert McConnell’s opinion – is press the White House to act. Progress is taking place but much more needs to be done as indicated earlier. Time is of the essence.
When Congress returns there are a number of bills that should be considered and acted upon.
Among them will be the Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Defense and Department of State authorization bills and well as the critical FY23 Defense and State appropriations bills. They have not yet been introduced by work is being done. Provision for Ukraine support in these 2023 bills will be critical and soon serious consideration is going to be required for reconstruction assistance.
Also worth of attention is S. 3522, Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022. If enacted the legislation will temporarily waive certain requirements related to the President's authority to lend or lease defense articles for Ukraine. The bill passed the Senate on April 12th and its companion bill, H.R. 6753 is in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs but no action has taken place.
In addition, you might note H.R. 7276 has passed the House of Representatives and, if enacted calls for the President to submit to Congress a report on the government’s efforts to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence and information related to Russian war crimes. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Obviously there are multiple ongoing to build a war crimes case but this type of legislation continues the push to get this done and promote the action necessary to identify Putin and other Russians as what they are – war criminals.
For a complete list of relevant legislation, click here.
This legislation listing includes all relevant legislation proposed during the current session which relates to Ukraine. Liberty was taken to exclude laws/agreed-upon resolutions and some legislation which mentioned Ukraine but did not touch on Ukrainian affairs or support of substance (i.e.. limiting the U.S. ability to purchase oil from Venezuela, giving defenders a gold medal). Resolutions relating to Ukraine but that contain little of substance or practical impact (praising Ukrainian women, condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine, acknowledging the contributions of Ukrainians in Ohio, obtaining a Zelensky bust for Congress) were excluded. Excludes all bills proposing actions which the administration later took independently.
While one cannot know what exactly Members of Congress have done to push the Administration in support of Ukraine or other actions they may have taken, you can see the sponsors and co-sponsors of legislation if you wish to “monitor” your senators’ and representatives’ efforts on behalf of Ukraine.
Less-relevant legislation or outdated legislation (i.e., legislation opposing the Biden Administration’s easing of Nord Stream II sanctions) was deleted from this list.
Descriptions are from the Congressional Research Service or, where not available, pulled from text of the bill/resolution.
This document is divided into two categories: 1) All Legislation that Came About Pre-Invasion 2) All Legislation that Came About Post-Invasion.
With that preface – here you go … For a complete list of relevant legislation, click here.