House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) released the text of three foreign aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific.
The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act allocates $60.84 billion to the country and is designed to “assist our regional partners as they counter Russia,” according to a memo released by the House Appropriations Republicans.
$23.2 billion of the funds will be used for “replenishment of U.S. weapons, stocks, and facilities.”
$27.38 billion will be provided to Israel in its “effort to defend itself against Iran and its proxies, and to reimburse U.S. military operations in response to recent attacks,” the memo notes.
Another $8.12 billion will be given to the Indo-Pacific to “continue efforts to counter communist China and ensure a strong deterrence in the region.”
The three foreign aid bills will be “brought to the floor under a structured rule that will allow for an amendment process, alongside a fourth bill that includes the REPO Act, TikTok bill, sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran,” Johnson said, according to Just the News.
In response to the Ukraine funding bill, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced an amendment that would require members of Congress to “conscript in the Ukrainian military” if they vote in favor of the Act.
Despite claims that no previous aid to Ukraine was misused, a report from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the U.S. Navy overspent $398.9 million in Ukraine funds.
According to the report, the Navy “over-executed its funding three times during FY 2022,” totaling nearly $400 million. “While the Navy had funds available to reverse the over-execution on those occasions, such funds may not be available in the future, which could lead to a potential Antideficiency Act violation.”
“The Navy did not have adequate internal controls to prevent the over-execution of funds from reoccurring,” the report asserted, explaining that the internal controls “focused on identifying the over-execution after it occurred, rather than preventing it from occurring.”
Over-execution was due to the Navy Standard Accounting, Budgeting, and Reporting System’s (NSABRS) “limitations and inability to prevent the over-execution of funds.”
“Internal controls are essential as they serve as the backbone for ensuring accountability, integrity, and efficiency,” Inspector General Robert Storch said in a press release. “Without robust internal controls the DoD is vulnerable to inefficiencies that jeopardize its ability to achieve its mission and fulfill its financial responsibilities.”
