WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), Vice Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee, along with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced legislation to establish a Special Inspector General to oversee the humanitarian, economic, and security assistance funding that the U.S. Congress had provided to Ukraine to ensure the funds are appropriately spent and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in such programs and operations.
This legislation is the House companion of S. 4190, The Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act, which was introduced by Senator Kennedy of Louisiana and Senator Rubio of Florida. This bill would establish a Special Inspector General using $20 million of previously appropriated funds, and the Special Inspector General role would conclude once U.S. taxpayer spending falls below $250 million per year.
“I remain committed to ensuring that Ukraine receives the support it deserves to maintain its independence and defeat Russia,” stated Rep. Wittman. “Congress delivered nearly $40 billion in additional aid to Ukraine to support its people as they fight for their future and for our shared ideals—freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Congress must also fulfill its role as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, which this bill seeks to ensure. The outcome of this war will indelibly shape the future of the European security environment and the scale of our role in the theater. Our continued aid to Ukraine today is a demonstration to Vladimir Putin that further aggression will not be tolerated or go without consequence. The United States and our NATO allies must continue to act with unity in support of Ukraine.”
“I am proud to join my colleagues in establishing a Special Inspector General for Ukraine to oversee the correct and efficient use of our taxpayer dollars sent to the embattled country,” stated Rep. Stefanik. “The United States must do its due diligence any time we send dollars overseas, and this Special Inspector General will prevent waste and abuse as well as ensure this money is helping Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and freedom.”
“Having been in Ukraine and hearing firsthand from those on the ground, there is a strong desire for greater oversight,” stated Rep. Walberg. “We owe it to taxpayers to make sure this generous aid package is spent efficiently and wisely to prevent waste. Establishing a Special Inspector General is a commonsense step to increase oversight, and I am proud to join my colleagues to introduce this legislation.”
To read the full legislation, click
here.
