quote:
Thank you for contacting me about the national security supplemental. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, the Senate recently passed a $95 billion National Security Appropriations Supplemental. This supplemental will address the ongoing Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas conflict, continued support for our allies in the Indo-Pacific, and additional humanitarian support as well.

I believe that this funding request is vital to not just our security, but the security of our friends across the globe. Vladimir Putin’s malicious war in Ukraine has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands and has led to millions of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. Israel is waging a brutal war of self-defense after being attacked by Hamas. And as Chinese military aggression grows in the Indo-Pacific, this supplemental request will protect democracies in the Indo-Pacific such as Taiwan. Additionally, the majority of the funds in the supplemental will be spent domestically rebuilding our own defense stocks and increasing our ability to produce vital weapons.

Please know, included in this appropriations bill is millions of dollars for proper oversight of aid. The Special Inspector General for Ukraine aid, which was established at my direction, will continue to conduct oversight of all aid to Ukraine. This bill also prohibits US funding for the United Nations for Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), this United Nations organization was recently found to have partially supported Hamas’ attack against Israel. Earlier this year, I introduced legislation to prohibit the Biden Administration from funding UNRWA in the future.

Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about other matters that are important to you and your family.

Sincerely,

John Kennedy
United States Senator