WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema released a statement following her vote delivering increased aid to Ukraine:
“Today’s bipartisan support in the Senate for increased financial, humanitarian, and military aid for Ukraine makes clear that the United States will not tolerate Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war. As Russia continues its attacks on a free, democratic, and sovereign Ukraine, we must continue promoting our country’s and our allies’ long-term security – including by supporting Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership bids, boosting our cyber defenses against Russian threats, and increasing financial punishments on Putin and his regime. I stand ready to support policies that keep America safe while ensuring proper oversight of our ongoing assistance to Ukraine.”
This week, Sinema joined a bipartisan letter supporting Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership bids and urging both the Senate and the Biden administration to support an expedient approval of these two bids. Sinema also cosponsored Republican Senator John Kennedy’s (La.) bipartisan legislation creating a new Special Inspector General for Ukrainian Military, Economic and Humanitarian Aid to oversee America’s aid distribution.
Previously, Sinema applauded the Senate’s efforts banning Russian oil and gas imports to the U.S. and stripping Russia of its preferred trade status, which places increased costs on the Russian regime. Last month, Congress passed the Sinema-backed Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, led by Republican Senator Cornyn (Texas). This bipartisan legislation increases the Administration’s capability to more quickly transfer military equipment to Ukraine, ensuring they have the tools to defend themselves. President Biden signed this bill into law this month in conjunction with a recognition of VE Day, marking the end of World War II in Europe.
Sinema has helped secure critical resources supporting Ukraine including:
- Additional funding for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Ukraine Task Force in addressing cybercrime threats and ransomware cases, and to trade and seize the proceeds of crime including cryptocurrency.
- $46.3 million for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for investigative and operational response to cyber threats; counterintelligence activities; cryptocurrency activities; and investigative support, including the establishment of a second Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (KARI) Team to focus on violations of Russian sanctions.
- $19 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to support development, coordination, implementation, and enforcement of targeted financial measures.
As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Sinema also secured an additional $161 million for FinCEN and $195 million for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, modernizing outdated IT infrastructure and boosting staffing to increase sanctions enforcement against the Russian Federation and others.
In the Ukraine Supplemental legislation recently passed into law, Sinema also helped advance emergency food assistance, health care, and other urgent support through the USAID International Disaster Assistance program; funding for the European Command operations mission, personnel, and intelligence support; key economic assistance to respond to energy and cybersecurity needs; and an increase to the President’s current authority to transfer defense equipment to Ukraine and other allies.