WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) introduced the Ukraine Lend-Lease Accountability Act, which would get rid of the exemptions granted in the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which passed through the Democrat-controlled House during the 117th Congress. This bill would restore the ordinary requirements found in the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act regarding any loans and/or leases of equipment made to Ukraine.
“The Biden Administration has spent over $113 billion taxpayer dollars to help fund Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. While America has a history of providing foreign aid, this is a unique situation in which the President has sent massive amounts of money and equipment with no strings attached to a country which is not an ally of the United States,” said Congressman Ogles. “My bill would simply ensure that the Biden Administration is following the traditional practices instead of giving money to Ukraine under the guise of a ‘loan’. There must be accountability and checks on the Executive by Congress to protect the assets and interests of the American people.”
Background: The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act exempts the Biden Administration from complying with certain requirements of the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act for leases to Ukraine. These requirements include:
- The lease is made for a fixed period of no more than five years,
- The President determines that there are compelling foreign affairs or national security reasons to lease the equipment rather than sell it,
- The President first considers the effects of the lease of the articles on the national technology and industrial base,
- The leasee has agreed to pay in United States dollars all costs incurred by the United States Government, and,
- The President provides detailed reports to the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees and their Senate counterparts.
Cosponsors: Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14).
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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-introduces-ukraine-lend-lease-act