Press Releases

The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a Ukraine assistance funding bill tonight and U.S. Congressman Garret Graves attempted to direct funds toward Louisiana's ongoing disaster recovery and other priorities. The $40 billion funding legislation was introduced hours before the vote. Graves ultimately voted no on the Ukraine aid because it failed to include funding for Louisiana's hurricane and flood recovery.

"I was in Eastern Europe and at the Poland-Ukraine border less than a month ago. We saw firsthand the need to provide military and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians – and yes, these funds will help. The Ukrainian people and military deserve our help, but, we cannot continue to shell out billions in American taxpayer dollars for people in foreign countries without helping our own citizens in need in Louisiana. That's why I was a no. We've seen firsthand Hurricane Ida's damage in Kraemer, Houma, Grand Isle, Killian, and more south Louisiana communities, and the lasting damage years later from the August 2016 and May 2021 floods in the Capital Region. We have unmet needs right here at home and we cannot lose sight of these unresolved issues – that's what these amendments would have addressed. We will continue to push for these funds and fixes at every opportunity," Graves said.

Graves introduced the below amendments:

1. Amendments that would have provided $3 billion in recovery funds for Hurricane Ida and other disaster victims
2. An amendment that would have fully funded Duplication of Benefits victims who did not receive their full grant award
3. An amendment that would have required the Secretary of Defense to turn over billions of dollars in leftover equipment left behind in Afghanistan to Ukraine

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