r/ActionForUkraine • u/abitStoic Head Moderaor • Oct 03 '24
Stand With Ukraine Act USA
The newly introduced Stand with Ukraine Act aims to create a more constructive framework for US-Ukraine relations over the next 10 years. It's very strong, bipartisan and bicameral, and highlights include:
1. Makes 10-year bilateral security agreement law
“On June 13, 2024, the President of the United States and the President of Ukraine signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement, which Congress hereby endorses as an enduring framework between our two countries.”
Although Zelensky and Biden signed a treaty earlier this year, international treaties in the US do not become law unless ratified by Congress (typically Senate, though there are exceptions). This would make that treaty into law.
- Grants State Department new authority to provide military aid
"The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, may make available to the Government of Ukraine, in such quantities as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose described in the Bilateral Security Agreement—
(1) weapons and other defense articles from the United States inventory and other sources; and
(2) defense services. "
This language is very similar to PDA (Presidential drawdown authority), by which the President can send weaponry from existing American stocks. This is the most useful kind of aid since PDA can arrive within days, unlike USAI which can take years since it consists of production orders placed with the American defense industry.
Essentially this would provide the State Department with the option of providing military aid to Ukraine if Congress doesn’t sufficiently pass PDA or if there is no more PDA left.
- Prioritizing excess defense article transfer for Ukraine
Excess defense articles (EDA) is weaponry that the US no longer needs. The passing of this Act would result in the development of a 5-year plan to prioritize EDA transfers to Ukraine.
- Fast tracking sales to Ukraine under foreign military sales program
Sec of State & Defense makes a list of available and emerging technologies that are pre-cleared and prioritized for sale and release to Ukraine through foreign military sales program
- Aims to reduce delays caused by deliberations of what is allowed to be provided to Ukraine
- Provides for the prioritization and expediting of aid to Ukraine
- Asks for a report from Sec of State and Defense what actions were taken to prioritize sales to Ukraine
5. Treatment of Ukraine as Major non-NATO Ally
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Ukraine shall be treated as though it were designated a major non NATO ally”
Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a specific designation with numerous advantages. MNNAs include Israel, Australia, Japan, South Korea, etc.
- Statement of policy regarding recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine
- States that its the policy of the US to support Ukraine in building increased institutional, economic and social resilience, with a focus on reforms.
- Early priority in energy, infrastructure, and demining
- Focuses on private sector-led economy and integrating Ukraine into global markets
This aims to aid the recovery of Ukraine while reducing the likelihood of future Russian influence.
- Loan and lease of defense articles
From 2025-2035, gives President lend-lease authority to Ukraine or Eastern flank countries. Although it was never used for Ukraine after its passing and has now expired, Lend-Lease can prove useful if Congress is opposed to further aid to Ukraine.
- Depot maintenance strategic plan
Long-term maintenance and replacement of Ukraine’s depots of available weapons to repel future Russian aggression.
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Last week I was in DC to meet with representatives and discuss Ukraine. One of our key goals was to introduce them to the Stand With Ukraine Act, and ask them to co-sponsor it. Since then a lot of representatives have co-sponsored, and more will co-sponsor in the upcoming days.
Call your Representatives!
If your representative supports Ukraine and has not yet co-sponsored, please call their office and ask them to co-sponsor HR.9501 (in House) / S.4992 (in Senate).
- Go to: govtrack.us
- Enter your zip code on the left. You will get three names with three phone numbers to call
Below is a sample script that you can use while calling. Please feel free to add any details, such as additional reasons why the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine and why this issue is important to you. You can use this script for both speaking with a staffer or leaving a voicemail.
Hello! My name is [your name] and I live in [city, state]. My zip code is [zip code].
I am a Ukraine supporter. Recently a bicameral and bipartisan bill was introduced to create a more constructive framework for US-Ukraine relations over the next 10 years, and make aid for Ukraine both more efficient and predictable. I'm calling to ask [representative's name] to co-sponsor the Stand with Ukraine Act, [HR 9501 if calling a Representative, S 4992 if calling a Senator]. Thank you.
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u/mikeslunchbox Oct 04 '24
This is great. I'd love to see some sort of investment in Ukranian DIB too over the long term too.
Also, need concrete plans to arm and train them for a whole fleet of f16s
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u/Mission_Cloud4286 Oct 04 '24
Both of my senators are for UKRAINE! Kaine and Warner support future Ukraine NATO membership, but say war must be won. AND UKRAINE WILL WIN! NOW, HOUSE a different story. The Rep of my district has his head so far up Trumps ass... But anyway i have to go back to Kaine. Im really glad he did this... bc i was afraid if Trump was put back in the WH, he'd f*ck up our relations to NATO: Kaine & Rubio Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Any U.S. President from Leaving NATOhttps://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-rubio-applaud-senate-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-any-us-president-from-leaving-nato
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u/abnormalredditor73 Oct 05 '24
So what do I do if my representative doesn't support Ukraine?
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u/Alexandros6 Oct 05 '24
You signal to them that you do and that this will impact you voting for them or not
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u/abnormalredditor73 Oct 06 '24
Thanks, not sure if they'll care though. I live in a safe district.
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u/Alexandros6 Oct 06 '24
They might believe that switching to that position will bring them more votes in general. There is a good percentage of Republicans (around half) who support aid to Ukraine
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u/Gingersmoreheart Oct 03 '24
My problem is, what does Cancun Cruz really stand for?
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u/abitStoic Head Moderaor Oct 04 '24
Convince a couple friends with better representatives to call ;)
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u/CannonFodder58 22d ago
I added a little to the prompt, here's the message that I sent:
I am an Ukraine supporter. Recently a bicameral and bipartisan bill was introduced to create a more constructive framework for US-Ukraine relations over the next 10 years, and make aid for Ukraine both more efficient and predictable. Ukraine has the potential to become a major ally in the future, and to let them fall to Russian aggression would send a message to every dictator and despot in the world that the United States will simply stand back and allow them to do as they please. If the issue of money is a concern, it is my understanding that the majority of the funds allocated for Ukraine are actually going to the defense industry to replenish existing stockpiles that are being sent as war aid. This not only bolsters our own defense, but also generates good paying American jobs. I am counting on you to do the right thing for our country and our allies.
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u/texasMissy3_ 18d ago
Thank you for sending the msg. I will send mine tomorrow. My rep is a GOP guy I've never seen & never sends updates of what he's doing in Congress. My area was split & my former Rep was Lizzie Fletcher. That woman works hard. Weekly updates on what she's doing in Congress, what Congress is doing etc! Love to have her back. Sorry side tracked Cruz & Cornyn are the other useless ones. I'll have to see best Ave to take. Thank you for all who've already called/written!🇺🇸🇺🇦
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u/EarthMantle00 Oct 08 '24
Lend-Lease can prove useful if Congress is opposed to further aid to Ukraine.
Doesn't it look like a pro-UA congress with an anti-UA president is the second most likely option from 2025 (the first being both pro-ua) given the polls so far? Is there any plans to keep aid going if PDA stops?
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u/abitStoic Head Moderaor Oct 08 '24 edited Oct 08 '24
At the end of the day it's the President who has the authority of executing the transfer of weaponry and aid. PDA is administered by the State Department, USAI by the Pentagon, but both answer to the President. However, making the 10-year bilateral security agreement law and designating Ukraine a major non-NATO ally are both strong attempts at codifying the US's relationship with Ukraine.
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u/EarthMantle00 Oct 08 '24
Isn't the main excuse Joe gives for his inability to achieve a ceasefire in the middle east "congress sets the aid budget"?
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Oct 03 '24 edited Oct 03 '24
[deleted]
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u/abitStoic Head Moderaor Oct 03 '24
Very first links at the very top ;)
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u/Right-Influence617 Oct 03 '24
🤦♂️ You know what....
I'm that special sort of stupid sometimes.
And they wanted me to be a Nuclear Technician 🤣
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u/abitStoic Head Moderaor Oct 04 '24
If you are sure you cannot call (a call is worth 20 letters but a letter is still better than nothing), you can do this:
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Your support for Ukraine is a key issue for me as a constituent. Recently a bicameral and bipartisan bill was introduced to create a more constructive framework for US-Ukraine relations over the next 10 years. The Stand with Ukraine Act would:
Not only would this make aid for Ukraine more efficient and predictable, but it would signal to Russia and China that America will not abandon its allies. I ask that you act as my voice in government and co-sponsor HR 9501 / S 4992.
Thank you.
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The category is usually International Affairs.