As we all know, House Leader Kevin McCarthy has in the past called for further scrutiny of aid to Ukraine, responding in part to far-right members of the GOP who have been critical of US aiding Kyiv. But in a recent heated exchange with a Russian news agency reporter in Jerusalem, McCarthy made it clear where he stands on this issue.
“I vote for aid for Ukraine, I support aid for Ukraine,” McCarthy said. “I do not support what your country has done to Ukraine, I do not support your killing of the children either.”
McCarthy’s comments are an indication that defense spending and aid to Ukraine in particular could be spared cuts, as his party is seeking to cut discretionary spending by $130 billion next year and by $4.8 trillion over a decade as part of a standoff over raising the US debt ceiling.
The US has provided $35 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022 (Source: US State Department). It is clear that McCarthy believes in the importance of continuing this aid to support Ukraine in their conflict against Russia.
In addition, McCarthy also reiterated his support for fully funding Israel’s security needs in a speech to the Israeli Knesset earlier in the day. So far during the fiscal year, the US has provided $3.3 billion in funding to Israel for security.
“As long as I am speaker, America will continue to support fully funding security assistance to Israel,” McCarthy said.
However, McCarthy has yet to hear from President Joe Biden about holding budget talks after the House passed the $4.8 trillion budget-cutting plan tied to a $1.5 trillion debt ceiling increase last week. There have been rumblings of the US defaulting on it’s debt, which may happen as early as June without congress stepping in and taking control.
“We will not raise the debt ceiling without doing something about our debt,” McCarthy said.
The post Speaker Kevin McCarthy Expresses Full Support for Aid to Ukraine in Jerusalem appeared first on Steadfast Clash.
Source by [author_name]