Press Releases

Tonight, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) voted with 367 of her U.S. House colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass a $39.8 billion aid package in support of Ukraine. The package will provide urgently needed security, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as they continue to defend their sovereign nation against Russia’s unjust invasion. The legislation also includes funding for refugee support services for Ukrainians arriving in the United States under humanitarian parole.

“Only a few weeks ago, I was on the border of Ukraine where I saw women, children, and elders flee for their lives with just the clothes on their backs—and I met with leaders on the ground who urged the United States to send more aid and weaponry. Congress has sent weapons to help the sovereign nation of Ukraine defend itself from Putin’s war; banned Russian oil imports; and authorized billions in aid for those who’ve been forced to leave their homes and loved ones behind. Tonight, we delivered again for the people of Ukraine,” said Congresswoman Pingree, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

The Ukraine aid package includes:

• $6 billion to provide assistance, including training, equipment, weapons, logistics support, supplies and services, salaries and stipends, sustainment, and intelligence support to the military and national security forces of Ukraine
• $900 million for refugee support services such as housing English language classes, trauma and support services, community support (including school impact grants), and case management, for arrivals and refugees from Ukraine
• $5 billion to address rapidly growing food insecurity globally and the impact of rising food prices because of the conflict in Ukraine
• $13.9 billion for the Department of State to provide humanitarian, economic, diplomatic, security, and more types of support for Ukraine and other countries affected by the situation in Ukraine
• $4.35 billion for International Disaster Assistance to provide emergency food assistance to people around the world suffering from hunger as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and other urgent humanitarian needs of populations and communities inside Ukraine 

A complete breakdown of the $40 billion Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act can be found here. 

On April 28, Pingree voted to pass the Ukraine Democracy Lend-Lease Act, a World War II-era program that allows President Biden to supply Ukraine more efficiently with defense systems to protect civilians. President Biden signed the bill into law on Monday. 

Pingree joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives on a weeklong trip to bordering allied nations in March to get a firsthand look at humanitarian efforts and to learn what more can be done to help the millions of refugees and what more we can do to support Ukraine in their fight against autocracy.

Click here to learn more about Pingree’s efforts to support Ukraine.

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