Paul objected to the deal reached between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), calling for the measure to be amended to include language to form a special inspector general to manage how the further aid is spent. The amendment is unlikely to pass the upper chamber.
Paul took to the Senate floor to claim that his “oath of office is the U.S. constitution, not to any foreign nation, and no matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America.” He also raised concerns about the U.S. economy.
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Top lawmakers in both parties were looking to bypass changes to the bill, which passed the House in a 368-57 vote on Tuesday evening, so they wouldn’t have to send the measure back to the lower chamber for a second vote.
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“The vast majority of senators on both sides of the aisle want it. There’s now only one thing holding us back. The junior senator from Kentucky is preventing swift passage of Ukraine aid because he wants to add, at the last minute, his own changes directly into the bill. His change is strongly opposed by many members of both parties,” Schumer announced.
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“I’m offering to hold a vote on his amendment, even though I disagree with it. Let the chamber speak its will. Let both sides of the aisle have input and for heaven’s sake, let Ukraine funding get done ASAP,” Schumer continued. McConnell called for a vote on the amendment and the bill on Thursday yet eventually delayed the process.
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Schumer filed cloture on the measure, with the bill now expected to be brought up for a vote next week.
President Joe Biden has strongly advocated that Congress move quickly to pass the supplemental aid, with lawmakers deciding to bring it up as a stand-alone bill, removing language to deliver pandemic response funding, as current aid is supposed to run out in the following days.
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The $39.8 billion legislation came in significantly higher than Biden’s initial request of $33 billion and includes provisions to provide funding for resources for the nation to fight back against Russia’s unprovoked assaults, medical aid support, and screening and funding for diplomatic programs and embassy security.
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