WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Republican Senator Joni Ernst (Iowa), Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), and a bipartisan group of senators introduced a resolution honoring and recognizing the women of Ukraine working for peace and security.
“We honor the Ukrainian women leading efforts and risking their lives for peace, security, and a free and democratic Ukraine,” said Sinema.
Sinema’s bipartisan resolution recognizes women’s work in the defense of Ukraine and the preservation of Ukraine’s freedom, recognizing that women in Ukraine are keeping families and children safe, delivering supplies and weapons, administrating medical care, fighting as part of the armed forces, and more.
Sinema applauded the Senate’s recent action banning Russian oil and gas imports to the U.S. and stripping Russia of its preferred trade status, which places increased costs on the Russian regime.
Recently, the Senate passed the Sinema-backed Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, led by Republican Senator Cornyn (Texas). This bipartisan legislation increases the Administration’s capability to more quickly transfer military equipment to Ukraine, ensuring they have the tools to defend themselves.
Sinema helped secure critical resources supporting Ukraine including:
• Additional funding for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Ukraine Task Force in addressing cybercrime threats and ransomware cases, and to trade and seize the proceeds of crime including cryptocurrency.
• $46.3 million for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for investigative and operational response to cyber threats; counterintelligence activities; cryptocurrency activities; and investigative support, including the establishment of a second Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (KARI) Team to focus on violations of Russian sanctions.
• $19 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to support development, coordination, implementation, and enforcement of targeted financial measures.
As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Sinema also secured an additional $161 million for FinCEN and $195 million for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, modernizing outdated IT infrastructure and boosting staffing to increase sanctions enforcement against the Russian Federation and others.
In the Ukraine Supplemental legislation recently passed into law, Sinema also helped advance emergency food assistance, health care, and other urgent support through the USAID International Disaster Assistance program; funding for the European Command operations mission, personnel, and intelligence support; key economic assistance to respond to energy and cybersecurity needs; and an increase to the President’s current authority to transfer defense equipment to Ukraine and other allies.
