WASHINGTON — The deadly conflict in Ukraine is making it more urgent for lawmakers to reach a bipartisan agreement on a huge government funding package. This would almost certainly include emergency aid for eastern European nations.
Congress faces a deadline fast approaching — the government will close next week without any action. Other funding issues are rapidly mounting.
Thursday’s request by the White House for $10 billion in humanitarian and emergency aid to Ukraine was linked to the larger Omnibus Spending Bill. This is an increase from the $6.4 billion just days ago. President Joe Biden also requested $22.4 billion more in coronavirus assistance to help develop new therapies, vaccines and testing methods to combat future variants.
Both Republican and Democratic appropriators stated Thursday that it was crucial to pass a package of government funding, including emergency money for Ukraine, prior to the March 11 deadline.
It would be a dereliction of duty to pass another temporary stopgap measure (known as a continuing resolution or Cr), said Jack Reed, D.R.I., Senate Armed Services Chairman.
He said that passing an Omnibus Package, which funds federal agencies until September, would give the Pentagon greater certainty and allow it to better respond to the crisis in Ukraine as well as strengthen our defenses at home.
Reed stated to NBC News that he believes we must pass the Omnibus for Defense Department. They are operating right now and need the funding certainty that the Omnibus will provide them. “And we need to deal with all the unanticipated expenses that are occurring in Ukraine.”
Sen. Senator Rob Portman (Republican from Ohio), who is on the Foreign Relations Committee, and was formerly White House budget director said that he has heard directly from U.S. military commanders “another CR” will hurt our readiness.
Portman stated, “Now in particular we want to increase our readiness so that we can protect not only Ukraine, but also our Eastern European allies, who are under such stress.” “So, yes, we must pass the Omnibus.”
The $10 Billion package would provide humanitarian, security and economic assistance to Ukraine and its central European allies “due Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked invasion”, Shalanda Young (acting White House budget director) wrote in a Thursday letter to Congress leaders.
She wrote that “Given Ukraine’s rapidly changing situation,” she anticipated that “new needs” might arise in the future.
One senior GOP aide suggested that a temporary bill might be needed to avoid a shutdown next Thursday just before the Senate closed on Thursday.
Senator Richard Shelby, R.Ala, is the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee. He stated that this weekend would prove “crucial” in determining if another CR is necessary.
Shelby said, “We cannot afford to stall this Saturday. Shelby said that if we do so, we are headed for a CR.”
Numerous Republicans, including Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), said they are open to the $10 Billion request for Ukraine, but balked at the White House’s request for $22 billion for additional Covid funds. This is at a time when omicron cases have plummeted and the administration continues to try to spend relief money that Congress has passed.
Lummis asked “Why?” Lummis answered, noting that billions of dollars in Covid relief from Biden’s American Rescue Plan had been authorized but not yet used. “This is a complete nonstarter.”
Portman added, “I would like to see an accounting of the billions of dollars.”
However, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the House Speaker, said Thursday that the White House’s Covid request was “absolutely necessary” but added that more than $22 million may be required for treatments, including antiviral drugs.
Pelosi stated, “I would hope they would see that the wisdom of science of what needs to be done in terms of Covid,” “because the last thing you need is more transmission.”
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said that most add-ons were resolved and that the bar is high for any new legislative language to be added. He stated that he would like to see a final agreement by Friday, so lawmakers can spend their weekend writing the bill.
Murphy, a senator appropriator, stated that the $22.5 billion in Covid funds was important.
He stated that the relief money was being used to prepare for the next type of emergency. “The money that we have taken in the past was used to address the emergency.”
Some key Republicans indicated that they would support Biden’s Covid request, provided that some of the spending is offset by reprogramming funding from the past.
“I am willing to spend more on Covid because the need is there,” stated Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), an appropriator and top Republican on Budget Committee. “We have spent a lot of money. Let’s reprogram some. It doesn’t necessarily have to match dollar for dollar. If we could reprogram some money to reduce the $22 billion impact, then I believe we are on the right track.
Graham said that multiple crises are hitting simultaneously. “I don’t believe Covid is behind. “I believe the Ukrainians are fighting like tigers, but time is not on our side.”
