According to CNN, President Joe Biden has asked more than USD 105 billion in security assistance from Congress for the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
The US President made his appeal in a nationally televised Oval Office address, describing the current situation as “an inflection point” in American history.
The appeal will assist in reducing “the global humanitarian impacts of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and of Hamas’ horrific attacks on Israel, including by extending humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,” according to him.
According to CNN’s cited sources, the request would also demand increased spending for the United States’ southern border with Mexico and initiatives in the Indo-Pacific area.
Director of the US Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young outlined the funding request in a letter to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, breaking it down as follows: USD 14.3 billion in aid for Israel; USD 61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine, including USD 9.15 billion in aid for humanitarian aid; USD 7.4 billion in aid for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region; and USD 13.6 billion to address security at the US-Mexico border.
Americans have a right to expect their leaders to work together and accomplish these goals, and the world is watching. Young has urged Congress to resolve the issues in the next weeks as part of a broad, bipartisan accord.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer responded positively to Biden’s request, saying he supports the package and will work to pass it as soon as possible.
The House needs to get their act together before we can move forward with this legislation. We hope our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding, and Senate Democrats will move swiftly on this request.
According to media reports, out of the total USD 105 billion in aid, Biden has requested USD 61.4 billion for Ukraine, with the majority of that sum earmarked to pay for the purchase and delivery of weapons and ammunition through defense contracts and refill depleted US stockpiles.
The leftover funds would be used for resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, nuclear security projects, intelligence and military logistics support, and economic and operational help.
He also said that USD 14.3 billion will be set aside for Israel and that nearly all of it would be spent on defense contracts and the transfer of weapons and ammunition from US stockpiles to Israel.
The White House has stated that the package will include ammo for Israel’s ground-based laser air defense system, Iron Beam, as well as the missile defense systems known as Iron Dome and David’s Sling.
Furthermore, congressional leaders have stated that precision-guided munitions, kits that convert standard bombs into precision weapons, and artillery shells will all be included in the package.
More border patrol officers, immigration judges, shelters, and detention centers are just some of the ways that the $13.6 billion he mentioned will be put to use for border security.
More than a billion dollars were allotted to combat fentanyl trafficking.
InfoStride News reports that two major Republican priorities—funding to build a border wall and changes to the way refugees seeking asylum are permitted into the country—are missing from the proposal.
More than $9.15 billion will be set aside for humanitarian aid, with the statement making clear that money will be used to help civilians in need in the areas affected by the violence on all sides.
The White House, however, did not specify the exact amount of aid that would be sent to each category.
To offset China’s growing influence in the region, the Biden administration has requested an additional USD 7.4 billion for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, including funding for Taiwan’s military.
Over USD 3 billion will be used to fund US submarine construction, while another USD 2 billion would be allocated to development aid.
It is unclear at this time if these additional USD 2 billion are for Taiwan’s military alone or will be split with other countries in the region.
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