Letter to Congressional Leadership Regarding the Need for Urgent Action to Support Ukraine’s Defense

The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker,

I want to thank Congress for the resources provided to date for Ukraine and other critical national security needs. I write to you today not only to be clear about how that money has been spent and the ways this investment has halted Russia’s advances in Ukraine, helped Ukraine achieve significant military victories, and revitalized the American Defense Industrial Base (DIB)—but to express the acute urgency we face as Congress weighs whether we continue to fight for freedom across the globe or we ignore the lessons we have learned from history and let Putin and autocracy prevail.

I want to be clear: without congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and to provide equipment from U.S. military stocks. There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment. We are out of money—and nearly out of time.

Cutting off the flow of U.S. weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made, but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories. Already, our packages of security assistance have become smaller and the deliveries of aid have become more limited. If our assistance stops, it will cause significant issues for Ukraine. While our allies around the world have stepped up to do more, U.S. support is critical and cannot be replicated by others.

To date, you have supported $111 billion in supplemental funding to support Ukraine and critical national security needs. Of that, $67 billion, approximately 60 percent of the Ukraine supplemental funding that Congress has previously authorized, has bolstered our DIB in America or supported DOD and intelligence operations. That has improved our own military readiness since DOD is buying new equipment to replace what we are sending Ukraine, jumpstarting and expanding production lines, and is supporting good-paying jobs in dozens of states across the country.

As of mid-November, DOD has used 97 percent of the $62.3 billion it received, and State has used 100 percent of the $4.7 billion in military assistance it received. Approximately $27.2 billion, or 24 percent, has been used for economic assistance and civilian security assistance (such as demining) to Ukraine, which is just as essential to Ukraine’s survival as military assistance. State and USAID have used 100 percent of this amount. If Ukraine’s economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting, full stop. Putin understands this well, which is why Russia has made destroying Ukraine’s economy central to its strategy—which you can see in its attacks against Ukraine’s grain exports and energy infrastructure.

Of the approximately $10 billion in emergency funding for State and USAID humanitarian assistance, nearly $2.3 billion has gone directly toward humanitarian needs of those displaced or vulnerable populations inside Ukraine, and approximately $500 million to support refugees from Ukraine seeking safety in neighboring countries in the region. The remainder of the funding, approximately three quarters, has supported needs of vulnerable populations around the world who have been made victims by Putin’s use of food as a weapon in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the resulting impacts on global food security. This funding is now depleted.

The President’s most recent national security supplemental request will build on our successful efforts to date and will direct over $50 billion into our nation’s DIB, which builds on the funding that has already been invested in manufacturing lines across 35 states. While we cannot predict exactly which U.S companies will be awarded new contracts, we do know the funding will be used to acquire advanced capabilities to defend against attacks on civilians in Israel and Ukraine—for example, air defense systems built in Alabama, Texas, and Georgia and vital subcomponents sourced from nearly all 50 states. We will modernize vital munitions and equipment like Javelins made in Alabama; Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) made in West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas; tactical vehicles made in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana; and 155mm artillery shells made in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Iowa and many other states.

I must stress that helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future as a sovereign, democratic, independent, and prosperous nation advances our national security interests. It prevents larger conflict in the region that could involve NATO and put U.S. forces in harm’s way and deters future aggression, making us all safer. As President Biden has said, when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they will cause more chaos and death and destruction. They just keep on going, and the cost and the threats to America and to the world will keep rising. The path that Congress chooses will reverberate for many years to come. 

We are out of money to support Ukraine in this fight. This isn’t a next year problem. The time to help a democratic Ukraine fight against Russian aggression is right now. It is time for Congress to act.          

Sincerely,

Shalanda D. Young

Identical Letter Sent to:

The Honorable Mike Johnson
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
The Honorable Charles Schumer
The Honorable Mitch McConnell