Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), along with House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Committee Republicans on Thursday called on Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) to hold a hearing to oversee and evaluate the federal government’s performance and effectiveness in the distribution of U.S. taxpayer dollars in Ukraine.
The Republican lawmakers request Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power, Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin, and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young testify at the hearing.
Spartz
“In any crisis the speed and scale of response and proper implementation are critical to success,” Rep. Spartz said. “Congress must exercise its oversight responsibility more effectively and demand timely accountability from the Executive Branch.”
In response to the Russian invasion and subsequent war in Ukraine, Congress approved an emergency military and humanitarian aid package totaling $13.6 billion. The aid package provides $6.9 billion for traditional foreign aid, including humanitarian assistance, $3.5 billion for military supplies, $3 billion for U.S. deployment and intelligence programs, and $175.5 million for enforcing sanctions and other aid, including investigating cyber threats.
Russia continues to attack Ukrainian infrastructure like roads and rails, posing a significant challenge to the delivery of aid.
In the letter to Chairwoman Maloney, the Republican lawmakers stress the importance of ensuring red tape and federal bureaucracy do not delay the aid from reaching the Ukrainian people and military or lead to taxpayer dollars going to bad actors.
Click here to read that letter.