[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



    Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act

  Second issue, I will try to be brief. Mr. President, as you know, we 
have spent over $100 billion to help Ukraine defeat Vladimir Putin, 
whose thirst for blood we now know is legendary. He has the same--
``he'' meaning Vladimir Putin--has the same thirst for blood that 
Stalin did. We have spent over a hundred billion dollars helping 
Ukraine. Some people think we have spent too much. Some people think we 
need to spend more. Some people think we shouldn't have spent their 
money there at all. Some people think we ought to spend less.

  This is America. You know, opinions are kind of like bellybuttons; 
everyone has one. Some are innies; some are outies. But everybody has 
one, and you are entitled to share it in America.
  The Senate is going to be debating Ukraine soon, as you know, Mr. 
President. But regardless of how you feel about beating back Putin and 
whether you think that is in America's national security interest and 
whether you agree with me that Putin is a pirate--he is a gangster--
wherever you stand on that, there is one thing we all ought to be able 
to agree on: This hundred billion dollars plus--it is actually around 
$113 billion--and that is not just money for arms. That is also money 
for humanitarian aid and money to keep the government of Ukraine 
running. And that money, that $113-plus billion didn't just fall from 
heaven. We thank heaven for it. But it came out of people's pockets. 
Those people are called the American taxpayers.
  And one thing--regardless of what you think about Ukraine--I think we 
can all agree on is that we have to watch that money like a hawk. We 
cannot allow it to be stolen. We cannot allow it to be wasted.
  Now, Mr. President, I know you have had this experience in life 
because I know you are a wise man. Nothing in this world makes it 
easier to resist temptation than a proper upbringing, a strong set of 
values, and witnesses. And we need more witnesses, and I am talking 
about an inspector general.
  Senator Sinema and I have a bill; it is called the Independent and 
Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act. All this bill does, it 
says, Mr. President--not our Mr. President here in the Senate, 
President Biden--appoint an inspector general to watch this money like 
a hawk.
  And that inspector general would have to be confirmed by the U.S. 
Senate. President picks; we confirm. And that inspector general would 
give periodic reports to the President, to the Congress, and to the 
American people on a weekly basis, if they would like, about its audits 
of this money and who has been stealing, if anyone, and who has been 
calling.
  Now, let me make two quick points. President Zelenskyy is also 
fighting corruption, and there has been some corruption in Ukraine. You 
would expect there to be, frankly, when you are spending $100-plus 
billion. And President Zelenskyy--I am proud of him--he has fired the 
people that he has caught, and they are prosecuting others. So he is 
watching.
  I also want to be fair. Right now, the inspector general from the 
Department of Defense and an Agency called USAID and the Department of 
State, they say they are auditing the money, and I am not saying they 
are not. I am not saying they are not. But have any of you heard from 
them? I haven't.
  I know they had one meeting where they came up here at their 
convenience to talk to us, and a bunch of us couldn't go. We were in 
hearings or something. But they haven't been giving periodic reports to 
the American people. And I am not saying they are doing a bad job. I am 
not saying that. What I am saying is that we don't need a cluster of 
Agencies involved here turning into a cluster of another description. 
Just like we did in Afghanistan, we need one inspector general, one 
woman or man, that we can hold responsible, appointed by the President, 
confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
  The inspector general at the Department of Defense and the inspector 
general of the State Department, the inspector general at USAID can 
work under the people's inspector general, under Senator Sinema and I's 
bill. But we need one person--one person--to hold accountable, just 
like we did in Afghanistan. And the American people, regardless of how 
they feel about the funding in Ukraine, and the Members of the U.S. 
Senate, regardless of how they feel about the war in Ukraine--surely, 
we can agree that we will all rest easily--or at least easier if we 
follow the money.
  Now, I tried to pass this bill once, Mr. President, and I want to be 
fair. Some of my Democratic colleagues opposed it, but some of my 
Republican colleagues opposed it, too. And some of them were quiet 
about how they opposed it, but I know who they are. I love them, but I 
know what they were up to. They were taking orders from the Department 
of Defense because the Department of Defense--bless their hearts--they 
don't want any of us intruding on their turf.
  They say, We have got this. Well, let me tell you something. There is 
one Agency in the Federal Government that has never been audited. One 
Agency in the Federal Government that has never been audited. Guess 
which one? The Department of Defense. The Department of Defense.
  Now, I am not saying that is the fault of the inspector general there 
now, but he needs to start with his own Department and let Senator 
Sinema and I pass this bill. We are trying to help him, not hurt him. 
We are trying to give him some help. So that is what our bill will do.
  I am not giving up. ``I will be back,'' as I said the other day, just 
like the Terminator, on another issue. This is something that all 
Senators can agree on, regardless of our position on Ukraine, that this 
money shouldn't be wasted.
  I am going to say it again. Nothing makes it easier to resist 
temptation than a proper upbringing and a strong set of values and 
witnesses.
  Senator Sinema's bill and my bill will provide those witnesses, those 
auditors, those inspectors general that we need.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Cortez Masto). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.