Good afternoon, OnPolitics readers!
The Senate approved more than $40 billion of additional humanitarian and military assistance for Ukraine as the last aid package was expected to run out this week.
The bill, which now heads to President Joe Biden for his signature, is triple the amount of aid the U.S. has already committed to the war-torn country trying to beat back Russia’s invasion. It passed 86-11 with most Republicans joining every Democrat in approving the bill.
What’s in the package? The amount approved Thursday is $7 billion more than Biden initially requested. The package includes more than $20 billion for the Pentagon to provide weapons, intelligence and training, and nearly $14 billion for the State Department for food aid, refugee assistance and other diplomatic programs.
Along with the $13.6 billion passed in March, the combined $53.7 billion approved by Congress this year is about 81% of Russia’s 2021 defense budget. And it’s more than one-quarter the size of Ukraine’s pre-war economy.
It’s Amy and Chelsey with today’s top stories out of Washington.
House Democrats propose $28 million to aid baby formula shortage
House Democrats passed a $28 million emergency spending bill Wednesday to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the Democratic chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the money would increase Food and Drug Administration staffing to boost inspections of domestic and international suppliers, prevent fraudulent products from getting onto store shelves and acquire better data on the marketplace.
The shortage worsened thanks to a February recall by Abbott Nutrition that exacerbated ongoing supply chain disruptions among formula makers, leaving fewer options on store shelves across much of the country. DeLauro has also been critical of the FDA for a failure to address “with any sense of urgency” the safety concerns at Abbott’s plant in Michigan that prompted the shortage.
Actions taken by Biden: The president on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act to speed production of infant formula and authorized flights to import supply from overseas.
The Defense Production Act order requires suppliers of formula manufacturers to fulfill those orders before other customers. Biden is also authorizing the Defense Department to use commercial aircraft to fly overseas formula supplies that meet federal standards to the U.S., in what the White House is calling “Operation Fly Formula.”
Partisan rallying cries: The legislation gives Democrats a chance to show they are trying to address a frightening scenario for young families across the country scrambling to ensure they have an adequate supply of food for their babies. Some Republicans have placed responsibility for the shortage squarely on President Joe Biden’s administration while Democrats Tuesday blamed “corporate greed and consolidation.”
Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter here.
Real Quick: stories that you’ll want to read
Not already subscribed to USA TODAY? We’re having a special Memorial Day sale so you can access all the latest political news for the best price.
Biden’s first presidential trip to Asia
Biden embarked Thursday on a 5-day trip to Asia in efforts to reprioritize the region amid the war between Russian and Ukraine.
The president will meet with the leaders of South Korea and Japan as well as heads of state from Australia and India. Biden will use the opportunity to promote global solidarity for Ukraine and democracy over authoritarianism during the visit.
This message is also targeted at economic superpower China, the only country viewed by the administration as capable of seriously disrupting the international order.
“We are preparing for all contingencies,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, said Wednesday. Among the contingencies is a possible missile launch or nuclear test by North Korea during Biden’s visit.
The president is also charged with strengthening an economic alliance with the Indo-Pacific region, which some experts say will be difficult in light of ongoing conflicts in Europe.
Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the White House National Security Council, said past administrations who have wanted to focus on the region have been distracted by other challenges.
“There is a deep sense that that can’t happen again,” he said at a recent public event at the United States Institute of Peace.
It’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Here’s a list of USA TODAY-reviewed accessible tech products that help to overcome the challenges of a disability. — Amy and Chelsey
Leave a Reply