The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved a $40 billion package in aid for Ukraine, with U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) being the only member of Alabama’s congressional delegation to vote against the measure.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who voted against the aid package in the upper chamber’s procedural motion earlier this week, will oppose the spending measure in its final vote Thursday.
During his weekly press call Wednesday, Tuberville advised that he was not against financially supporting Ukraine but opposed what he called the lack of “accountability and oversight” in how tax dollars would be utilized.
“I want to be clear that I’m not voting against the why – I’m voting against the how,” asserted Tuberville. “Let me explain. I have concerns with the lack of accountability and oversight with this amount of funding.”
He added, “In March, I supported – and Congress approved – a $13.6 billion dollar emergency funding bill for Ukraine. That included $6.9 billion for traditional foreign aid, $3.5 billion for military supplies, $3 billion for U.S. deployments and intelligence, and $176 million for enforcing sanctions and other aid.”
Alabama’s junior senator went on to state his support for a “smaller” funding measure that would be expended over a longer period.
“But all of a sudden, we’re going from these amounts to $40 billion with no oversight into how that money will be spent and utilized,” he lamented. “It also gives too much money at one time to the State Department for discretionary spending – again, with no oversight. Instead, I think we should take a step back and craft a targeted, strategic funding package that is smaller and more measured over a length of time.”
Tuberville concluded, “I’m all for supporting Ukraine. I want them to win their fight for freedom against a tyrant. At the same time, we need to be responsible with the taxpayers’ dollars. That is why I will be voting against final passage of this legislation.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
