Ukrainians in USA appeal to House Speaker Mike Johnson

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) has appealed to US House Speaker Mike Johnson to approve security aid for Ukraine. Six former US Senators from various states also signed the letter.

“The UCCA has released a cosigned letter addressed to The Honorable Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging the Speaker to provide steadfast security assistance aimed at aiding Ukraine’s territorial defense against the russian aggressor. The letter was signed by former Senators Portman (OH) and Gardener (CO), as well as former Representatives Shimkus (IL), Blunt (MO), Gerlach (PA), and Dougherty (PA),” the UCCA wrote.

The letter outlines key facts regarding US support for Ukraine. The assistance to Kyiv aligns with Washington’s national interests and the geopolitical position of the United States, according to the Ukrainian community. This decision is seen as a modest investment that will yield a significant impact.

“Moreover, of the aid that we are providing Ukraine, 60% stays in the United States. American Enterprise Institute’s (AEI) Marc Thiessen argues that support for Ukraine at this particular juncture “puts America first.” Not only will it help revitalize our industrial base and help us prepare better militarily domestically, it will weaken the adversarial Sino-Russian alliance,” the appeal reads.

The UCCA emphasizes that the support provided to Ukraine by the US undergoes rigorous scrutiny and oversight, ensuring that “taxpayers’ dollars are being closely tracked, monitored, and audited.” Ukraine also continues its fight against corruption.

“Ukrainian Americans recognize the bipartisan support for Ukraine funding and are collectively urging the Senate and House of Representatives to take up supplemental funding immediately.”

On February 4, US senators unveiled a long-awaited package of laws totaling US$118 billion. The document combines border security policy with aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies. However, Republicans in the House of Representatives sharply criticized the initiative.

In particular, Mike Johnson stated that the bill would not be approved in the House of Representatives if the information about its terms is accurate. “I wanted to provide a brief update regarding the supplemental and the border, since the Senate appears unable to reach any agreement. If rumours about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway,” said Johnson.

Earlier, the UCCA urged American voters to call on the US Congress to allocate the necessary financial assistance to Ukraine. Andriy Futey, UWC Vice President and the UCCA President, posted templates of letters that participants of the advocacy campaign can use.