WASHINGTON – Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with two million grassroots activists, released a statement from Executive Director Jessica Anderson calling for the Senate to pass Senator Hawley’s proposed amendment to create a special Inspector General to conduct much-needed oversight on U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
“As the Senate continues their consideration of important legislation to repeal the outdated 1991 and 2002 AUMFs, they should also use this opportunity to reassert Congress’s Article I constitutional authorities when dealing with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Senator Hawley’s proposed amendment would create a special Inspector General, similarly structured to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, to conduct much-needed oversight on U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
Common sense Americans have long been calling for appropriate and increased oversight on the $113 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars, equalling 13% of the DOD’s annual budget or $31.5 billion more than the State Department’s annual budget, that have been sent to Ukraine. Especially as Ukraine is actively engaged in war, a special Inspector General will be able to go beyond the basic oversight measures and appropriately protect American taxpayer dollars from any corruption or misuse. Working towards this goal, Senator Hawley’s amendment is a first and necessary step that Congress must take for accountability and transparency.
Given the limited opportunities to accomplish this goal in the Senate, this amendment is an important vote for Senators to signal their position on strengthening oversight measures in Ukraine. The American people are counting on all senators to support this amendment, protect their taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse, and strengthen national security. Heritage Action urges all Senators to Vote Yes.”
BACKGROUND:
Heritage Action: Ukraine Aid Package Puts America Last
Heritage Action: Ukraine Package: Product of Broken Washington System