FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 20, 2023
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
Dr. Rand Paul Puts Congress on Notice, Opposes Ukraine Spending at the Expense of American Taxpayers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor making it abundantly clear that he will not consent to the expedited passage of any spending measure providing more American aid to Ukraine.
Below are excerpts from Dr. Paul’s remarks:
“I rise to put the leadership of the House, the Senate, and the president of the United States on notice. I will not consent to any expedited passage of any spending bill that provides any more American aid to Ukraine. It’s as if no one has noticed that we have no extra money to send to Ukraine. Our deficit this year will exceed $1.5 trillion.”
“As elected officials, we have an obligation to pursue a foreign policy that advances the security and prosperity of our country, funneling billions of dollars that have to be borrowed into the meat grinder of eastern Ukraine does neither. The longer this conflict continues, the greater the risk that miscalculation or purposeful escalation draws the United States into direct conflict with Russia.”
“We cannot continue with business as usual. We cannot continue to put the needs of other countries above our own. We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy, and we certainly cannot save Ukraine by fighting a war with Russia. As we go further and further into debt, we become weaker. It’s not just that this is not helping our national security.”
“The very threat to our national security is our debt. The more we send money overseas, the more we deplete our munitions, the worse things get. No matter how sympathetic we are to the Ukrainian people, we must put the American people first. And to that end, I encourage my colleagues to oppose any effort to hold the federal government hostage for Ukraine funding.”
You can watch Dr. Paul’s floor remarks HERE, and can read his op-ed penned in The American Conservative HERE.
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