Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) on Thursday introduced legislation to supply the Ukrainian government with supplies and equipment to aid in their continued struggle against the Russian separatist army.

Burgess, who serves on the Helsinki Commission and recently traveled to Ukraine, said it has become increasingly clear the Ukrainian army is in dire need of supplies. 

“The Obama administration has done nothing to help the Ukrainians when they need it most,” Burgess said. “We have yet to supply Ukraine with the requisite equipment, despite a request to do so by President Poroshenko. Ukraine is our ally; we need to start treating them as such. After all, a strong and free Ukraine is in the best interest of the United States.”

The bill, H.R. 5315, would create a lend-lease program in which the U.S. government would lease specific military equipment and supplies that is coming back from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to Ukraine. The legislation states unequivocally that no part of this should be construed as an Authorization for Use of Military Force. 

“As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close, the equipment that was used is coming back to the U.S. in droves,” Burgess continued. “There would be no better use of these weapons and supplies than to lease them to those who are in dire need: the Ukrainian government.”

                                                                                                           ###