KEY VOTE: “No” on the Senate Supplemental Appropriations Package (Senate amendment to H.R.815)

In the last three years, Congress has spent more than $7.5 trillion, resulting in a national debt that is now over $34 trillion and driving an inflation crisis that’s left many Americans unable to afford groceries, gas, and rent. The Biden administration’s “emergency” supplemental funding request for billions in deficit-financed spending is a disingenuous effort to conflate and leverage popular support for Israel and false promises of border security for continued spending on the conflict in Ukraine and an open southern border. The Senate’s attempt to fulfill that request with more than $118 billion and the destructive policies in this package is wildly irresponsible.

With the exception of replenishing defense capabilities for our ally Israel following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas— a genuinely time-sensitive and unforeseen crisis—all other priorities in this supplemental were fully known at the start of the current appropriations cycle. Rather than budgeting for these stated “priorities” by eliminating less important federal programs, this supplemental attempts to use the legitimate “emergency” designation for the war in Israel to dodge responsible budgeting for the Biden-designed crisis at the southern border and sending billions more of unaccountable taxpayer dollars into Ukraine.

Taxpayers have sent more than $113 billion to Ukraine since the start of the conflict—all without responsible accountability measures or a clear understanding of future American commitments. The additional $62.3+ billion would bring the taxpayers’ total to more than $175 billion in less than two years—more than $1,300 per American household and more than $11,500 per Ukrainian household. This bill violates the responsible principles consistently laid out by conservatives to consider additional aid to Ukraine: There is no public accounting of the expended military and economic aid, it is not being considered on its own, and the administration has not articulated the end goal, expected U.S. commitment, impacts of drawdown authority, and assurances of further commitments from our European partners. Tens of millions of U.S. dollars have already been stolen by corrupt Ukrainian officials because of Congress’s chaotic and reckless push to provide aid without guardrails, and the administration has yet to explain how further fraud will be prevented.

The Biden administration has facilitated the invasion of 10 million illegal aliens and signed 94 executive actions in the President’s first 100 days to dismantle any semblance of border security and immigration enforcement. The more than $20 billion for “border security” will continue funding for a demonstrated illegal immigration agenda while making border chaos permanent and limiting capabilities for future administrations to stop it. The bill codifies massive catch and release policies and expands the abuse of parole authority. The immigration provisions would strengthen illegal immigration magnets by codifying a crisis-level daily crossing allowance, expanding free services for illegal aliens, and giving amnesty-like work permits and status to 250,000 illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, the few provisions for detention and expulsion—the only way to reverse the flow—are tied to billions more in funding for the NGOs and sanctuary cities that have acted as traffickers for illegal immigrants while profiting off the chaos.

The nearly $16.5 billion for Israel and the Middle East should be focused on military capabilities that are in the security interests of the United States— not paired with earmarks for various so-called “humanitarian” initiatives that fund Hamas terrorist activities. As a major non-NATO ally with decades of deep and lasting friendship with the United States, our support for Israel should not be conditioned on additional Ukraine funds and money for failed immigration policies.

Americans are looking for relief from inflation, accountability for Ukraine funding, a secure border, and focused aid to Israel—all separate debates on different policy questions. This bill fails on every count.