FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 26, 2023
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to Provide Much Needed Oversight of Ukraine Spending

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee introduced the Ukraine Aid Oversight Act which would extend the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s (SIGAR) oversight authority to supervise American spending to Ukraine in order to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.  

“A little over a year ago, I proposed an amendment to the massive $40 billion Ukraine spending package that would have entrusted a proven and effective Inspector General to oversee and track how funds are spent in Ukraine. My amendment was rejected, and today, over $113 billion in taxpayer dollars has been sent to Ukraine without proper oversight,” said Dr. Paul. “My Ukraine Aid Oversight Act would extend SIGAR’s oversight authority to include aid to Ukraine and provide taxpayers with an accurate accounting of how their money is spent, as well as to detect and prevent waste and fraud.”

Background: 

Last year, Dr. Paul offered a similar proposal as an amendment to the second Ukraine spending package. Since then, the U.S. has sent over $113 billion dollars to Ukraine.

Given the fast-evolving situation on the ground in Ukraine and the significant sums already committed, the American taxpayers deserve the oversight experience of tried-and-true investigatory personnel to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

Unlike other proposals, Dr. Paul’s bill would not create a new agency that would require unnecessary expense and effort to get up and running. SIGAR is fully established, with longstanding relationships in the executive branch and Congress, and would be able to get started quickly on its new mission. 

According to 2021 information from SIGAR: 

• SIGAR has issued 427 audits, 191 special project reports, 52 quarterly reports, and 10 comprehensive lessons learned reports.
• SIGAR’s criminal investigations have resulted in 160 convictions.
• Exposed billions of dollars of waste for the U.S. government.

You can read the full text of the Ukraine Aid Oversight Act HERE.

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