Durbin Calls For Emergency Military And Humanitarian Assistance For Ukraine
In speech on Senate floor, Durbin reiterates President Biden’s call for Congress to approve aid package; exploration of possible humanitarian airlift; applauds State of the Union Address to defend democracy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, took to the Senate floor today to call on Congress to approve billions of dollars in emergency military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.
“President Biden urged Congress to approve billions of dollars in emergency and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. Sign me up. I’ll vote for that in a second and I hope it comes soon. We need to agree on an aid package without delay and get it to the President as quickly as possible,” Durbin said.
Durbin also addressed a possible humanitarian airlift. As the President said in his State of the Union Address, he promised to form a high level task force to enforce U.S. sanctions against Putin, Russian political elites, and corrupt oligarchs, a statement Durbin supports.
During his speech, Durbin applauded the brave Ukrainians for their efforts to defend their country.
“We’ve all seen the videos, the Ukrainian grandmother armed with nothing more than sunflower seeds and courage confronting Russian soldiers. We’ve seen ordinary Ukrainian men and women, teenagers taking up arms, making Molotov cocktails, building barricades, taking down highway and road signs to confuse the invading Russians. Even laying down their lives to stop Russian tanks and convoys. In the back of my mind, I’m sure I’m thinking what many Americans are thinking, could I do the same thing? Is my country at stake? The Ukrainians are answering that message every minute of every day. Their courage and unity in the face of this Russian barbarity is inspiring the world,” Durbin said.
Durbin and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova earlier this week.
Durbin, Portman, and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 39 Senators in a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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