HYDE-SMITH, KENNEDY INTRODUCE BILL TO CREATE SPECIAL IG TO OVERSEE AMERICAN TAXPAYER AID TO UKRAINE
Bipartisan Measure Seeks Accounting for U.S. Security, Humanitarian & Economic Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today joined U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) in introducing legislation to establish a Special Inspector General (IG) for Ukraine.
The Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act would give the Special IG authority to oversee the security, humanitarian, and economic assistance funding provided by Congress for the Ukraine war effort and to ensure the funds are spent appropriately.
“The American people need and deserve assurances that their taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly in the defense of Ukraine and our allies. A special inspector general would work to account for the billions we are expending in the fight against Russia’s blatantly evil aggression against Ukraine and global security,” Hyde-Smith said.
“Americans are supporting Ukraine’s brave work to beat back Russia by providing at least $113 billion in aid and military equipment. This is not an act of charity. It’s bolstering our own national security. American taxpayers deserve to know that their money is helping Ukraine defeat Putin effectively, and Congress needs to guarantee that oversight,” Kennedy said. “This investment is too big to relegate to the normal bureaucratic channels. It demands an inspector general with singular focus on America’s return on investment in Ukraine.”
U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) also cosponsored the legislation, which would equip the Special IG for Ukraine with $20 million already appropriated by Congress to aid Ukraine. This investment in stronger oversight represents less than 0.02% of the $113 billion in supplemental aid set aside for Ukraine to date.
The bill also includes a termination clause to end the Special IG role once U.S. taxpayer spending for Ukraine drops below $250 million per year.
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