Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Senate Moving Forward To Deliver Much-Needed Support For The People Of Ukraine Despite Obstruction From Republican Senator Rand Paul

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today delivered remarks on the Senate floor in advance of a procedural vote to advance House-passed bipartisan aid package for the people of Ukraine that is being needlessly delayed up by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today the Senate is going to hold an important vote to move forward on desperately needed aid for the people of Ukraine as they continue fighting against Russian aggression. We have a moral obligation – a moral obligation – to pass this assistance as soon as we can in the Senate.

Now, the vast majority of us in this chamber are united in getting this aid done as quickly as possible, including myself and the Republican Leader. But last Thursday, the junior Senator from Kentucky prevented the Senate from getting Ukraine funding out the door and on to the President’s desk. The arguments he made on the floor last week make clear that he outright opposes giving aid to the people of Ukraine as they fight Russian authoritarianism.

Senator Paul’s obstruction of Ukraine funding is totally unacceptable, and only serves to strengthen Putin’s hand in the long run. I urge him to drop his opposition so we can reach an agreement to get this package passed through the Senate as soon as we can.

But to be clear, his obstruction will not – will not – prevent Ukraine aid from ultimately passing the Senate. One way or another we are going to get this done, and send a clear message to Ukraine and to the world that America stands on the side of democracy and against Putin’s deeply immoral campaign of violence.

###