[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4360-S4361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. President, now on another matter, I have spoken in recent days 
about the most common arguments deployed against U.S. assistance to the 
fight against Putin in Ukraine and how they fall short. Today, I would 
like to address the misconception that America's lethal aid lacks 
necessary accountability and protections against misuse.
  The United States probably has a deeper understanding of how Ukraine 
is using weapons provided by the United States and our allies than we 
have had with any other partner nation, period. There are many reasons 
for this.
  First, Ukraine is not Iraq or Afghanistan; it is a modern democracy, 
firmly committed to integration with the West.
  Second, Russia's escalation last year led to a political sea change 
in how Ukraine treats corruption. Today, corruption and misuse of funds 
or weapons can mean the death of loved ones or imperil critical Western 
support.
  I am not saying that corruption has vanished. Even in the worst 
conflicts or most advanced democracies, human nature remains. But the 
cost calculus has changed, and robust, independent anti-corruption 
bodies are making a difference.
  Third, American diplomats, military officers, and USAID employees 
have finally returned to Kyiv. Their presence allows for more oversight 
and accountability of our assistance.
  Senators who have visited the American-led headquarters in Germany 
and seen the professional, multinational effort supporting Ukraine 
firsthand have come away impressed. They have also been impressed by 
LTG Tony Aguto, the senior American officer who runs this effort and 
was confirmed by the Senate last year by a voice vote.
  Through these coalition efforts, we have unprecedented insight into 
how nearly 30 types of Western weapons systems and vehicles are being 
used by Ukraine, often down to the serial number.
  Take for example an American-led effort in Poland that remotely 
assists Ukrainian units on the frontlines to maintain and prepare 
various weapons and vehicles. When trouble arises, Ukrainian units have 
every incentive to share data, photos, and video in real time about the 
status of their weapons and benefit from engineering solutions we have 
provided to help maintain and prepare these weapons out in the field.
  This is a win-win. The United States gets unprecedented insight into 
how our weapons are being used--often overused--in combat, which helps 
us improve and maintain America's own arsenal. U.S. forces also get a 
unique view into the situation on the battlefield and the challenges 
Ukrainian forces are facing.
  Given his oversight role and regular contact with Ukrainian 
commanders, I have requested the administration make Lieutenant General 
Aguto available to brief Senators on these insights.

[[Page S4361]]

  Finally, here in the Senate, Ranking Member Risch, Ranking Member 
Wicker, Vice Chairman Collins, and Vice Chairman Rubio have been 
conducting proactive oversight based on lessons learned in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  We have ensured that $50 million was included in previous 
supplementals specifically to conduct oversight of assistance to 
Ukraine. We have added dozens of transparency and reporting 
requirements so Congress has more insight than ever.
  Tomorrow, my colleagues will have an opportunity to learn even more. 
At my request, the inspectors general for the Pentagon, the State 
Department, and USAID will come to brief Republican Senators on the 
state of their own independent oversight of these assistance efforts. 
Already, as the State Department's IG put it, ``Our completed work has 
not substantiated any allegations of diversion.''
  So it is my hope that each of our colleagues will take the 
opportunity to get the facts from these independent auditors.