Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Need To Provide Emergency Assistance To Support The People Of Ukraine

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the need for the Senate to approve emergency assistance to support the people of Ukraine as they continue their fight against Putin’s aggression. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

As soon as today, the House may vote on nearly $40 billion in emergency aid to help Ukraine as the Ukrainians continue to fight back quite successfully against Russian aggression.

This is a large package, but the need is great and time is of the essence. After the House passes the legislation, it is my intention for the Senate to act on it as soon as we can.

The President has called on both chambers of Congress to act quickly on the Ukrainian aid package, so act quickly we must.

The Ukrainian ambassador will also be visiting us at our caucus lunch this afternoon, to discuss the upcoming package. And she will let us know how important it is to quickly approve it.

Quickly approving this emergency funding is essential to helping the people of Ukraine in their fight against the vicious Putin: it will mean more funding to provide javelins, stingers, howitzers, Switchblade unmanned aerial munitions, and other critical equipment. And it will mean more food, supplies, and shelter for the millions of Ukrainian refugees, who are in the midst of the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War.

We have a moral obligation to stand with our friends in Ukraine. The fight they are in is a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism itself, and we dare not relent or delay swift action to help our friends in need.

And make no mistake, the Senate will move swiftly to get an emergency funding package passed and sent to the President’s desk.

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