US President Joe Biden speaks on how “Bidenomics” helps clean energy and manufacturing, at Arcosa Wind Towers in Belen, Latest Mexico, on August 9, 2023.Â
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — The White House unveiled an almost $40 billion supplemental funding request on Thursday to supply additional aid to Ukraine and reply to natural disasters, including wildland firefighter pay and border management.
The White Home is looking for $12 billion for ongoing disaster relief, $60 million to cover pay increases for firefighters and $3.9 billion to handle border and migration issues.
The request got here as federal agencies, led by FEMA, mobilized to reply to deadly wildfires in Hawaii that already claimed three dozen lives. President Joe Biden said FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell can be on Maui by Friday, but he warned the danger is “not over yet.”
Biden’s request also seeks over $24 billion in additional funding for Ukraine’s slow-moving defense against Russia’s illegal invasion.
Within the nearly 18 months since Russian troops poured over Ukrainian borders, the U.S. has unleashed a war chest value greater than $43 billion to bolster Kyiv’s arsenal.
Ukrainian soldier with call-sign Ryba, which suggests “fish” in English, stands on the vehicle with a homemade four-tube multiple rocket launcher n Kryvyi Rih on September 28, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Genya Savilov | Afp | Getty Images
“For people who is likely to be concerned that the prices financially are getting too high, you understand, we might ask them to think about what those costs — not only in treasure but in blood, maybe even American blood — if Putin subjugates Ukraine after which sets his sights on our NATO allies,” Kirby said in a Wednesday teleconference with reporters.
“If we just sit back and let Putin win, if we let him take Ukraine, where does it stop next?”
“We’ve seen throughout this war solid support from the American people, solid support from the Congress in a bipartisan and a bicameral way, for continuing to support Ukraine, and we’ll stay focused on that,” Kirby added.
