Today, April 28th, 2022, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) released the following statement after voting YES on S. 3522, the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which passed the House with a vote of 417-10 and unanimously passed the Senate earlier this month.
“The strength and courage the Ukrainian people have shown since the start of Russia’s illegal invasion have inspired the world. I am proud to vote in support of the democratically-elected government of Ukraine once again and against the authoritarian government of Russia and President Putin. This overwhelmingly bipartisan bill will ensure that the Ukrainian military has the resources it needs to counter Russian aggression. This sends an important message to the world that Congress is committed to taking serious action to support our allies.”
Background:
S. 3522 is bipartisan legislation that would streamline the President’s authority to lend or lease defense articles to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to help bolster their defense capabilities and protect vulnerable civilian populations.
Under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, the President has the authority to lend and lease defense articles to U.S. partners and allies. This legislation temporarily waives certain requirements related to those authorities when entering lend-lease agreements with the government of Ukraine.
The President is required to establish procedures for expediting the delivery of loaned and leased defense articles to Ukraine and report those procedures to Congress. Any loaned or leased defense articles provided under these authorities are subject to all applicable laws concerning return, reimbursement, and repayment.
Last month, Miller-Meeks voted to send nearly $14 billion in critical military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine respond to Russian aggression. Miller-Meeks also voted to ban all imports of oil and gas from Russia.
Miller-Meeks was recently sanctioned by the Russian government and has cosponsored several pieces of legislation intended to sanction Russia, its government, and its leadership, including the GUARD Act, the Putin Accountability Act, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, the Prohibition on Imports of Russian Oil Act, condemning Russia’s actions and calling for an investigation into potential war crimes, the Make Russia Pay Act, the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, sanctioning the Russian Parliament, and to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Defenders of Ukraine.
Original source can be found here
