news

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass a package of four security bills to strengthen the national security of America and its allies. The security funding package delivers critical support for Ukraine’s war against Russian aggression, provides for Israel’s right to defend itself and sends lifesaving relief to Gaza and other people in need worldwide, and enhances the security of Taiwan and other allies against China in the Indo-Pacific region. The final bill in the package includes additional bipartisan national security measures including forcing Chinese government influences to divest from TikTok, seizing Russian assets in the U.S. to support humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine, cracking down on fentanyl trafficking, and enacting sanctions on Iran.

“Today, I voted to support critical funding that strengthens American security and aids the defense of our allies and democracy,” said Congresswoman Wexton. “After months of unnecessary and costly delay by the extreme Republicans in the House, we’ve finally come together to deliver resources that will counter America’s adversaries in every corner of the globe and deliver critical humanitarian relief to where it is needed most, particularly in Gaza. I’m pleased that we’ve advanced these security measures in a strong bipartisan way, and look forward to their swift advancement to the President’s desk.”

The package mirrors funding that was included in the Senate-passed bipartisan National Security Act, which Wexton repeatedly called on the House to take up and pass over the past few months. Summaries of the four bills included in the House package are below:

• Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act which supports Ukraine in its defensive war against Russian invaders by providing $60.84 billion for weapon replenishment, military operations, advanced weapon procurement, and oversight and accountability of aid and equipment.

• Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act which aids Israel in its right to self defense, including from attacks by Iran like those last weekend, by providing $26.38 billion for missile defense systems like the Iron Dome, advanced weaponry, artillery and ammunition production, and the replenishment of defense articles and services. The bill also includes $9.15 billion for dire humanitarian relief for places such as Gaza.

• Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act which strengthens Taiwanese  defense from aggression from the Chinese government by providing $8.12 billion for integrated deterrence, naval infrastructure, defense services, ammunition production, and U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Peace Through Strength Act which includes a variety of security priorities to protect Americans’ safety and privacy, as well as the security of America’s allies, against international threats. The bill includes sanctions against: entities that traffic fentanyl, captagon, and other illicit drugs, support Iran via petroleum and missile dealings, or participate in or provide assistance to groups that commit acts of terrorism. It would also authorize the confiscation of Russian and Belarusian assets under U.S. jurisdiction; prohibit data brokers from selling Americans’ data to China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran; restrict the transfer of U.S. technology to Iran; and require the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok in order for the app to continue to operate in the U.S.

The legislation passed the House with a bipartisan vote and will now move on to the Senate.

The text of the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act can be found here.
The text of the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act can be found here.
The text of the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act can be found here.
The text of the Peace Through Strength Act can be found here.

###