Democratic and GOP sources in the US said there are many issues that need to be sorted out regarding the country’s Ukraine package – including drafting legislative language – and the whole process will take weeks before there are final votes in both houses .
The likely goal at this point is to get this package delivered before the Memorial Day break. But there are additional complications to be worked out – namely what to do with the stalled Covid-19 aid.
A senior adviser to the Democratic House of Representatives said US President Joe Biden’s subamendment still has a long way to go in both houses: “There will be bicameral, bipartisan talks on the subamendment. The language also needs to be worked out. It is also unresolved as to which chamber is being worked on first bring forward the supplement. This will not be an instant process.
In a sign of the potential roadblocks that lie ahead, many Republicans are already signaling that they need more information about Biden’s addition before they can commit to voting on it in the Senate.
Republicans are still going over the president’s supplement for Ukraine, but Sen. Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said he has concerns about a provision in the package that would authorize the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to budge spend $20 billion. It’s not new money. This money had previously been appropriated but had not been authorized. It’s an issue Republicans and Democrats have been bickering over for months, and Republicans say Biden slipped into that package.
It’s early days and Risch said many Republicans are still inclined to support the package, but warned that Republicans want to take a few days to more carefully consider what’s included.
“I need to go through the details,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican. “I’m not that fixated on the crowd. Is it more about what you want to offer them? Is that what they need now for the foreseeable future?”
Another rift emerging is that Republicans view the high price of humanitarian aid as potentially misguided. Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana who traveled to Ukraine during the break, told reporters he believes the money could be better spent on military aid.
“The war crimes that are currently being committed will not end until Ukraine wins this war. So while humanitarian aid is very important, the most important thing Ukrainians want is deadly aid to beat the Russians. I’m not convinced the White House understands that,” Daines said.
“I want to know what we are investing in. I want to make sure that between fatal aid and humanitarian aid, it actually gets where it’s supposed to. The devil is in the details,” said Ernst.
Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, said he was pleased with the price of the package.
“We must send a strong signal that we intend Ukraine to win this war against Vladimir Putin’s illegal war crimes,” Wicker said.
While members on both sides recognize the urgent need to get this legislation passed quickly, the mechanics of how this gets through the House and Senate are still heavily in flux, with some Democrats still insisting that money should be packaged with Covid-19 funds that was held up in Title 42 because of Biden’s immigration policy.
“It has to be done,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat.
Republicans, including Whip John Thune, have already said adding Covid-19 funds to this bill is a non-starter.