Blackburn, Marshall, GOP Colleagues Demand Any Aid Package to Israel Not be Jammed With More Ukraine Funding

October 20, 2023

NASHVILLE, TENN. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) led a letter to Senate Leadership requesting any federal assistance to Israel not be leveraged for more Ukraine funding.

In the letter, the senators highlighted that these are two separate and unrelated conflicts that cannot be considered as a ‘package deal.’ Any attempt to give additional money to Ukraine risks complicating the process and prolonging the time it will take to get aid to our ally Israel. 

“It is critical we give prompt consideration to any request for financial aid or other material support requested by Israel. Based on the breadth of responses from members of Congress, there is a shared urgency to consider such a request,” the senators wrote.

“That being said, 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 continued. “These are two separate and unrelated 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, 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… We urge you to keep separate attempts to provide military aid to Israel from additional funds to Ukraine or other matters,” they conclude. 

  

ADDITIONAL CO-SIGNERS:

  • Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined the letter.

 

RELATED:

  • READ: Blackburn Blasts Biden For Holding Urgent Israel Aid Hostage With More Ukraine Funding

Click here to view the letter.