The White House has requested additional funding for Ukraine and other needs.
It also includes a request of almost $68.23 million for the Department of Energy related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and relevant expenses.
This consists of more than $1.94 million for federal salaries and expenses of the staff of the department’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
It also includes almost $66.29 million for the NNSA’s efforts “to prepare for and respond to potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Ukraine, provide equipment and sensors to augment Ukrainian capabilities, assist Ukrainian partners with security of nuclear and radiological materials, and prevent illicit smuggling of nuclear, radiological, and dual-use materials,” according to Young.
Ms. Young also requested $100 million for the Department of Health and Human Services to help Ukrainian refugees resettle in the United States. She also asked for $28.2 million for the department’s efforts in Ukraine and for $700 million for the department to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
Along with other Ukraine-related funding requests, Ms. Young asked for $3.36 billion in economic assistance to the Eastern European country.
Ms. Young, in her letter to Mr. McCarthy, wrote that President Joe Biden “has reaffirmed that we will stand with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty for as long as it takes, a strategy that has successfully united our allies and partners and equipped Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression.
“Previous supplemental appropriations for direct military aid, economic and humanitarian assistance, and other support have been committed or nearly committed. The administration is requesting supplemental security, economic, and humanitarian assistance funding that would support Ukraine, as well as countries and vulnerable populations worldwide impacted by Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine.”
During the debt ceiling debate months ago, members of Congress called for a supplemental defense spending bill that includes assistance to Ukraine. Mr. McCarthy has rebutted these calls, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would not commit to bringing up such a bill.
Ms. Young asked for $1 billion for the State Department’s Foreign Military Financing program to, among numerous purposes, support the defense capabilities of Ukraine and Taiwan.
The OMB also requested $350 million to the Department of Health and Human Services to deal with the fentanyl crisis and other issues.
Ms. Young asked for $112 million for the Department of Homeland Security to help enforce immigration laws. She also requested $1.4 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to manage the southwest border. This includes $27 million to combat fentanyl.
The OMB also requested almost $758.6 million for U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement—$714 million to confront migrant surges at the southwest border and $45 million to combat fentanyl and other drugs coming over the border.
Finally, Ms. Young asked for $12 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to major disasters. She also requested tens of millions of dollars for firefighters combating wildfires as “more than 20,000 heroic firefighters would face a pay cliff starting as soon as October, with salaries being cut to as low as $15 an hour” if Congress does not take action.
