Democrats sent a warning to President Obama Monday with the overwhelming passage of a resolution calling on him to use his authority to provide military assistance to embattled Ukraine.
The bipartisan measure was sponsored by Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a leading critic of the Obama administration’s refusal to provide Ukraine with lethal military equipment to defend itself against Russian aggression.
The 348-48 vote came as Obama has faced increasing bipartisan criticism on foreign policy, including the administration’s efforts to secure a nuclear deal with Iran.
“Policy like this should not be partisan,” Engel said. “And that is why we are rising today as Democrats and Republicans, really as Americans, to say enough is enough in Ukraine.”
And Engel is isn’t stopping with his resolution.
In the coming days, Engel plans to amp up pressure on Obama by introducing legislation that would go beyond simply calling on Obama to provide the military equipment to Ukraine.
According to Democratic aides, the legislation will put some force into the call from Congress for Obama to provide the equipment and implement sanctions, although they declined to provide specifics.
“It will offer Ukraine greater assistance on a variety of fronts,” Engel said earlier this month, previewing the measure. “It will dial up the pressure on Vladimir Putin for his reckless, destructive, and destabilizing policies. And it will send a clear message that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression.”
Monday’s bill simply called on Obama to use his authorities under the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which passed in December and provides the president with specific power to provide military assistance to the Ukraine government.
The president has provided food and other equipment including night vision goggles and blankets but has not decided whether to give more lethal aid to fighters fending off Russian separatists.
Both Republicans and Democrats took to the House floor Monday, calling on Obama to use the authority Congress provided him in December and give Ukraine defensive military equipment, including tanks and radar equipment.
“We sent legislation to the president’s desk,” Engel said on the House floor. “The president signed it into law. And here we are again to renew this call and to send an unambiguous message to the administration, the president and our allies in Europe, the time has come to do more.”
The bill follows a March 5 letter from Republicans and Democrats, including Engel, criticizing Obama for failing to provide the level of military equipment they believe Ukraine needs to preserve its independence and sovereignty against Russia, which has poured tons of military aid over the border in its effort to encroach on the country.
“To date,” the lawmakers wrote, the administration has not utilized authorities provided in the Ukraine Freedom Support Act to provide defensive military systems to the Ukrainian government.”
Democrats in support of Monday’s measure included House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who criticized the administration for its indecisiveness on the matter.
“The unwillingness, or inability, to create a consensus for giving the ability to the people of Ukraine to defend themselves is not good policy,” Hoyer said.
