Wilson and Cohen Introduce ‘Freedom First Lend-Lease Act’

Washington, DC – U.S. Helsinki Chairman Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Ranking Member Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the Freedom First Lend-Lease Acttoday. The Act cuts red tape to provide President Trump with flexible authorities to lend or lease military equipment to allies and partners in Eastern Europe to deter Russian invasion and provides massive leverage as he works to end this invasion responsibly.

     “The lend-lease program is one of the great successes of American foreign policy and enabled the defeat of German aggression in the 1940s. Now, Europe faces a similar threat from war criminal Putin, who seeks to rebuild the failed Soviet empire. Putin kidnaps Ukrainian children and tries to make them Russian, just as Hitler kidnapped Polish children and tried to make them German. Putin similarly denies Ukraine’s very existence just as Hitler denied the existence of many peoples. War criminal Putin even invades for the same reasons Hitler gave, claiming response to non-existent aggression against Russia and Russians. And just as Hitler was defeated by American lend-lease, now Putin will be defeated by American lend-lease. This bill will give President Trump all the authorities he needs to end the war responsibly,” said Chairman Wilson.

     “It is imperative that we get Ukraine the munitions and equipment it needs to defend itself. They are fighting on behalf of democracy and the free world, and we must help in any way we can. The Freedom First Lend-Lease Act expedites the delivery of this critical material at a time when it is most needed,” said Ranking Member Cohen.

     See the bill here.

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