The United States asked Congress this Friday to approve a fund worth more than 105 billion dollars (around 100 billion euros), which, in addition to protecting the border with Mexico, will primarily be intended for military aid to Ukraine and Israel . and other national security purposes.
The request, contained in a letter to acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry, comes just hours after US President Joe Biden announced in a televised address from the Oval Office that he would seek an allocation of billions of dollars to cover it become. “U.S. national security needs” and supporting “critical partners.”
“The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and implement these priorities,” White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young said in the letter to McHenry.
If Congress approves this aid at the level requested by the administration, it will provide a total of $61.4 billion to help Ukraine so that the country invaded by Russia can try to reclaim its occupied territory. Around $14.3 billion will go to Israel for its war against the radical Palestinian militia Hamas. Another 9.15 billion will be used for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Israel, the Gaza Strip and “other needs.”
Specifically, the funds for Ukraine will be used, among other things, to purchase weapons and defense materials, provide aid to Ukrainians displaced by the war and finance “basic services for the population and the maintenance of their economy,” according to a fact sheet issued from the White House.
The departure to Israel will serve to replenish ammunition and other defense material that the Pentagon has already delivered to that country so that it can protect itself. The material also includes support for the Iron Dome missile defense systems.
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More than 50 billion of the requested funds will be invested in the US defense industry, which, according to the White House, will ensure that the needs of its armed forces are met. Without funds to offset the materiel transferred to Ukraine and Israel, “our Department of Defense would be unable to replace this equipment, which would impact American responsiveness.”
This money will also fund security measures on the border with Mexico – there is a budget for the deployment of 1,300 additional border patrol agents – combating fentanyl trafficking and providing services to migrants. Likewise, as Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young explained, they will “dedicate resources to ensure that we can compete with China by providing better-performing proposals to developing countries” and “enhancing security and stability in the country.” “Strengthening the Indus”. -Peaceful”.
In announcing that he would request this allocation, Biden had assured that it was “a worthwhile investment that will deliver benefits to American security for generations and help us maintain the security of America’s troops and a safer, more peaceful one.” and build a more prosperous world for our children and our grandchildren.”
“These conflicts may seem very far away, but the outcomes of these fights for democracy against terrorism and tyranny are critical to the security of the American people,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement. Telephone conversation with journalists.
But the president’s request could face major obstacles to approval. The House of Representatives, which must give its consent along with the Senate, has been without a president for more than two weeks, paralyzing its work. The Republican Party, whose internal divisions forced the resignation of current Speaker Kevin McCarthy, cannot agree on a replacement and no progress is in sight. This Thursday, the candidacy of Conservative MP Jim Jordan was again rejected in the third round of voting.
The idea of presenting budget proposals for such diverse concerns in a single proposal is aimed at increasing their chances of approval in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. An earlier request for funding for Ukraine failed in September due to resistance from the right-wing extremist wing of the Republicans in the House of Representatives. This group of congressmen believe that too much of the budget has already been allocated to a war with no end in sight and that money should be allocated to other priorities within the United States, including protecting the border from illegal immigration.
Support for military aid to the invaded country is majority in Congress, but with Republicans holding a very small majority in the House of Representatives, these lawmakers have disproportionate influence in that institution.
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