Senate GOP proposes competing NDAA amendments for Ukraine aid oversight, both fail.
A Battle on the Senate Floor: Competing Amendments for Congressional Oversight of U.S. Assistance to Ukraine
A pair of Senate Republicans went head to head on Wednesday evening, presenting competing amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. Both amendments aimed to boost congressional oversight of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, but unfortunately, they were both defeated.
The First Amendment: A Strong Stand for Auditing
The first amendment was proposed by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), a staunch supporter of backing Ukraine against Russia’s military invasion. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), along with Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Wicker, joined forces to establish an office solely dedicated to auditing the funds and weaponry sent by the United States to Ukraine.
This amendment would have allowed the president to choose the leader of the office, whether it be an existing inspector general or someone new. It also required the office to regularly report to Congress and receive $10 million in funding to hire around 30 full-time staff members.
While Risch and Wicker have previously argued that there is sufficient oversight of Ukraine aid, they have recently shown willingness to consider centralizing those audits. Hawley, in an interview with the Washington Examiner, acknowledged that the amendment was not perfect but believed it was a step forward in achieving accountability.
It is worth noting that there was some Democratic interest in this measure as well.
The Second Amendment: A Call for Special Inspection
The second amendment was proposed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who has also been critical of the extensive resources allocated to support Ukraine’s war efforts. Paul’s amendment aimed to establish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction and Ukraine Aid. The special inspector general, appointed by the president, would report to the secretary of state and secretary of defense.
Unfortunately, both amendments fell short of the required 60 votes for passage. The Wicker amendment received a vote of 50-49, while Paul’s amendment received only 20 votes in favor and 78 votes against.
Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner.
Members of Congress have been engaged in a week-long debate over the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill that sets Pentagon policy and authorizes $886 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2024. The House has already passed the bill, but it is expected that several partisan provisions will be revised during the conference committee process.
Regardless of which amendment it was to be established through, House Republicans, who hold a slim majority, are likely to support the idea of an oversight office for Ukraine aid. Since Russia’s invasion last February, Congress has authorized over $100 billion in military and nondefense assistance for Ukraine on a bipartisan basis.
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