May 1, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Johnson's bill unveiled: send Ukraine $61 billion and ATACMS


US House Speaker Mike Johnson proposes to allocate $61 billion to help Ukraine and provide it with long-range ATACMS missiles.

This is stated in the document he developed. billwhich, writes “European Truth” stipulates:

  1. Allocation of $28 billion for all operations related to military assistance USA to Ukraine.
  2. Of this, almost $13.8 billion will be allocated until September 30, 2025. for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative programunder which the Pentagon signs contracts with American defense companies to provide Kyiv with new weapons and equipment.
  3. Just over $13.4 billion could go for replacement and repair of weapons transferred to Ukraineas well as to finance the education of Ukrainians.
  4. Under the Foreign Military Financing program, which provides providing grants for the purchase of weapons from manufacturersJohnson's project is budgeting an additional $1.6 billion.

A separate provision of the bill stipulates that the US presidential administration must “as quickly as possible” transfer ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine. At the same time, Joe Biden may postpone this decision if it “would harm US national security interests.”

Regarding economic assistance, the bill provides allocation of $7.85 billion in loans until September 30, 2025 of the year. Among the conditions for spending these funds is a ban on pension payments.

In the same time after November 2024, the US President will be able to write off 50% of the debt on these loans, and from January 1, 2026 – 100% of the debt, provided that this decision is supported by the US Congress.

The House Speaker's bill contains a number of reporting requirements for the Biden administration. Within 30 days of its enactment, the administration must provide Congress with a report on all weapons and related funding that the United States has provided to Ukraine since February 24, 2022. And within 60 days – a report on how control over the registration of weapons was carried out.

Within 45 days, the US Congress must receive from the Biden administration a “strategy to support Ukraine,” which should be multi-year and contain a list of “specific goals” that the administration seeks to achieve.

Let us remind you: a vote on this bill in the US House of Representatives is expected on April 20. If approved, it must be passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden.

US President Joe Biden expressed readiness to sign If Congress approves bills for additional funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which were introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson, the statement said Online White House.

Biden said he “strongly supports” Johnson's proposed bills to support Israel and Ukraine, as well as strengthening security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region:

“Israel faces unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine faces constant bombing from Russia, which has escalated dramatically over the past month. The House of Representatives should pass the package this week, and the Senate should quickly follow.”

The US president promised to “immediately sign” the bills to “send a message to the world: we stand with our friends and will not allow Iran or Russia to succeed.”

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday introduced four separate bills on aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and national security priorities. How writes The Hill, Johnson unveiled his proposal during a closed House GOP conference on Monday, after months of delaying any action on the politically sensitive topic. The plan is to move the four bills under one procedural rule that would allow amendments, according to two GOP lawmakers who were at the meeting.

A fourth national security-related bill, according to one GOP lawmaker, would include a ban on TikTok, a provision that would allow the U.S. to use confiscated Russian assets to help Ukraine, a Lend-Lease Act for military aid and convertible loans for humanitarian aid.

The White House announced Monday that it opposes a separate aid bill for Israel without Ukrainian assistance. Briefing by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:



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