President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law providing seven federal agencies with additional funding to deliver assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
The legislation also authorizes the president to transfer defense articles and services from the Department of Defense to foreign countries or international organizations and enables the implementation of sanctions against foreign fentanyl traffickers.
The agencies receiving supplemental emergency appropriations under H.R. 815 for fiscal year 2024 include the departments of Defense, State and Energy and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The law requires providing humanitarian aid and refugee assistance and ensuring security at U.S. diplomatic facilities in Ukraine and Israel.
Following the signing of H.R. 815, DOD has confirmed the delivery of defense capabilities worth approximately $1 billion to Kyiv through the Presidential Drawdown Authority. Products that will be provided include RIM-7 and AIM-9M missiles for air defense, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems.
Voice of America reported that earlier in April, CIA Director William Burns warned that the absence of additional aid from the United States could result in Ukraine losing its fight against Russia by the end of 2024.
