A local lawmaker’s legislation is receiving praise on the international stage.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which was sponsored by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, and signed into law Monday by President Biden.
The 8th District Democrat who was present for the Oval Office signing, said that passing the bill with almost unanimous support in Congress “proves that Republicans and Democrats can still work together to address the key security challenges of the moment. The country needs to see that, as does the world.”
Zelensky used his Wednesday address to note the nearly $40 billion in military, economic and humanitarian support the package will bring to his nation, which continues to fight off an invasion by Russia that began on Feb. 24.
“I am grateful to the people of America and to all our friends in Congress and administration for their support,” he said.
The measure, which is based on the historic 1941 law used to aid U.S. allies during World War II, gives Biden more unilateral authority to send military equipment and supplies to Ukraine, expediting the process.
The bill “is important and even historic,” Zelensky said. “Simply put, lend-lease is a scheme to give us everything we need for defense.”
