Tennessee U.S. Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) introduced the Ukraine Lend-Lease Accountability Act on Wednesday, which would “restore the ordinary requirements found in the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act regarding any loans and/or leases of equipment made to Ukraine.”
We need accountability and transparency regarding the BILLIONS of dollars Biden has sent to Ukraine.
Which is why I just introduced the Ukraine Lend-Lease Accountability Act. We must protect the interests of the American people first. pic.twitter.com/i9gBLwNsOv
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) April 19, 2023
Ogles’ bill would ultimately nullify the exemptions granted in the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden last year. The law allows Biden to lend or lease defense weapons to Ukraine during the fiscal year 2022 and 2023 while avoiding certain requirements to ensure equipment is delivered quickly.
One of the exemptions granted by the law included a requirement that generally prohibits a loan or lease period from exceeding five years. Under Ogles’ bill, this exemption would require any lended or leased equipment to Ukraine to be made for a fixed period of no more than five years.
Ogles’ bill would also require that the president:
- Determines that there are compelling foreign affairs or national security reasons to lease the equipment rather than sell it,
- First considers the effects of the lease of the articles on the national technology and industrial base, and,
- Provides detailed reports to the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees and their Senate counterparts.
In addition, Ogles’ bill would require the lessee to have agreed to pay all costs incurred by the United States Government in United States dollars.
The requirements listed in Ogles’ bill are all part of the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act for leases to Ukraine.
“The Biden Administration has spent over $113 billion taxpayer dollars to help fund Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. While America has a history of providing foreign aid, this is a unique situation in which the President has sent massive amounts of money and equipment with no strings attached to a country which is not an ally of the United States,” Congressman Ogles said in a statement.
“My bill would simply ensure that the Biden Administration is following the traditional practices instead of giving money to Ukraine under the guise of a ‘loan’. There must be accountability and checks on the Executive by Congress to protect the assets and interests of the American people,” Ogles added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Andy Ogles.
