Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Ahead Of Today’s Vote To Approve Emergency Military, Humanitarian, And Economic Aid For The People Of Ukraine

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding today’s vote to approve much-needed military, humanitarian, and economic aid for the people of Ukraine. Senator Schumer also announced that last night, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Bridget Brink as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today the United States Senate will keep its promise to stand with the people of Ukraine.

In a few moments, we will begin voting to finally pass $40 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid that President Biden has called on Congress to approve.

This is a large package, and it will meet the large needs of the Ukrainian people as they fight for their survival. As President Zelenskyy has said, the Ukrainians are caught up in a fight for democracy – the very democracy we love.  It is a fight we should not and cannot turn away from.

By passing this emergency aid, the Senate can now say to the Ukrainian people: help is on the way. Real help. Significant help. Help that could make sure that the Ukrainians are victorious.

Help is on the way in the form of javelins, and stingers, and howitzers, and other tools critical for victory on the battlefield.

Help is on the way in the form of food and shelter and supplies for the six million Ukrainians who’ve fled to neighboring nations because of the brutal, brutal, nasty, horrible bombardment by Putin, who I believe is a war criminal.

And help is on the way in the form of economic aid, food aid, in assistance necessary to rebuild what Putin and Russia have sought to tear down but never can. And they can't tear down the hearts, the minds, and the strength of the Ukrainian people.

Now, given how important this is, I wish I could say this vote will be totally unanimous. Every single Democrat in the House voted for this emergency aid package for Ukraine. And every single Democrat in this Chamber, the Senate, is ready to support Ukrainians as they defend their young democracy.

But unfortunately once again with MAGA Republicans, who seem to be way out of line in so many ways, the story is different on the Republican side.

While most Senators in both parties want this package done, it is beyond troubling to see a growing circle of Senate Republicans proudly oppose Ukraine funding. Two days ago, 11 Republicans voted against merely debating this legislation.

It appears more and more MAGA Republicans are using the same soft-on-Putin playbook used by former President Trump. We all knew how President Trump reacted to Putin. Sometimes it was flattery, sometimes it was just fear, fearful, but always seemed to go along and bow down to Putin. Now we've seen Putin's brutality. We've seen how wrong President Trump was, but these 11 MAGA Republicans voted against even debating.

Around the world, our enemies are watching what we do right now. What do you think they’ll conclude if they start seeing more and more U.S. Senators oppose aid to democracies under attack by authoritarianism?

Our adversaries might conclude that we are divided. America is divided.

They might conclude that we lack purpose. The MAGA influence on the Republican party is becoming all too large and all too dominant.

We, Americans, all of us, Democrat and Republican, cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand while Vladimir Putin continues his vicious belligerence against the Ukrainian people, while he fires at civilian hospitals and targets and kills children and innocent people. But when Republicans and a significant number oppose this package that is precisely the signal we’re sending to our enemies abroad.

Still, I am glad, for the most part, that this chamber is united in supporting Ukraine.

And I am also glad that yesterday—on the same day that American diplomats and Marines raised the stars and stripes over the American Embassy in Kyiv—this chamber unanimously voted Bridget Brink as US Ambassador to Ukraine. It is the first time that we have an Ambassador to Ukraine since 2019, and her confirmation is terrific news that comes at a critical moment for both our countries.

Finally, later today, Leader McConnell and I will host a bipartisan meeting with the leaders of Finland and Sweden. Their application to NATO will soon come before this chamber, and just as we quickly worked to confirm Ambassador Brink, I hope we will be able to act swiftly and in a bipartisan way on the resolution admitting these nations into the ranks of the NATO alliance.  

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