Katie Britt: ‘Finish Building the Wall’ Before Sending Ukraine $40B

OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

Katie Britt, former Business Council of Alabama CEO and president, is running for Congress from Alabama.

She recently condemned Congress for approving to spend $40 billion in aid to Ukraine while America is facing its own crises at home, particularly at the southern border.

Britt argues that the U.S. should “finish building the wall” or “handle the baby formula shortage” before helping Ukraine.

She is recently surging in the polls. Britt attributes this success to her “America first” agenda.

“If you’ve got $40 billion, what would you do?” Britt asked. “You would finish building the wall. First and foremost, you would handle the baby formula shortage so that we’re not in crisis that moms and dads across this nation are not in crisis.”

“Unfortunately, we have way too many people in D.C. that the last time they had to feed a child was you know, a solid 62 years ago,” she said.

Britt continued, “It is clear on the campaign trail that people want new blood. They want new blood, they want fresh blood, they want someone who will shake things up in Washington, they want somebody who will really advance the America first agenda.”

“They are sick of people talking about it, and saying the right things but not actually getting anything done. And they want someone with the passion, the energy, the fire, and the intelligence to go really move our country forward,” she added.

“And so it’s that energy, that passion, that is getting people excited, and it has pushed us forward in this race,” she said.

“And let me tell you, I am all about helping and supporting the Ukrainian people against Russia, but we have to be smart about this,” Britt said. “We have too many Yes men and women and politicians in D.C. that just do what they’re told instead of asking tough questions.”

In the U.S. Senate, eleven Republicans voted against a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine.

The bill, dubbed the Ukraine Supplemental Aid Package, was still approved with a vote of 86-11.

Only 11 Senate conservatives opposed the legislation to grant tens of billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Ukraine.

These Republicans noted several reasons for their vote. First, they argued that America cannot keep spending more money while Americans are struggling to combat inflation as well as a baby formula shortage.

Second, they argued that it was not in America’s interest to instigate conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

Most importantly, these 11 conservatives argued for an “America First foreign policy vision of the old American Right.”

This vision was recently put forth by then-2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump who championed this foreign policy vision.

Here’s a look at the 11 senators via Breitbart:

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): “I think it’s important to know that we don’t have any money to send, we have to borrow money from China to send it to Ukraine. And I think most people kind of get that, and many Republicans will say that when it’s a new social program, but if it’s military aid to a country, they’re like we can borrow that, that’s a justified borrowing,” Paul said.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO): “Spending $40 billion on Ukraine aid – more than three times what all of Europe has spent combined – is not in America’s interests. It neglects priorities at home (the border), allows Europe to freeload, short changes critical interests abroad and comes w/ no meaningful oversight,” Hawley wrote.

“That’s not isolationism. That’s nationalism. It’s about prioritizing American security and American interests,” he added.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): “The House proposal would spend nearly ten times the annual defense budget of Ukraine while delegating broad discretion to the President and bureaucrats regarding where and how most of the money is spent. Much of the money will likely go to nations across the world not involved in the conflict. Putin’s aggression is indefensible, and we should look for appropriate ways to support Ukrainians in the noble defense of their homeland. We must also make sure Congress maintains its constitutional role of directing engagement in conflict and ensure that we are not spending unnecessary funds while in a time of historic inflation and ballooning national debt. My amendment will ensure we can help our friends without compromising our constitutional or financial integrity.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “I fully support the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russia. Vladimir Putin is a sick and evil human and must be held accountable. As written, this legislation has zero accountability into how taxpayer dollars are being spent. For example, the State Department is asking for $110 million to repair the Kyiv Embassy but has not even conducted a full damage assessment. Meanwhile, many previous authorizations – including $100 million in food aid – have yet to be executed.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN): “I’ll be a no on the package, Maria. It’s, as Senator [Rand] Paul said, we’ve got crises erupting across the nation. In my home state, mothers can’t get baby formula in Knoxville. You’ve got grandmothers and mothers that have sons and grandsons that won’t come home because of fentanyl overdoses because of the illegal drugs that are flowing across our southern border that President Biden will not protect. You’ve got crime running rampant across America, and people need to look at our nation and think we’ve got to look at… our own national security first, as Senator Paul has said. Other nations are watching us, too. China is seeing us not behave like a serious nation, rushing to put more aid into a country, who, again, I certainly don’t have anything against the Ukrainians. We want to see them win, but pumping more aid into that country when we’re not taking care of our own country—the best thing that Biden could do is stop the war that he’s waged on American industry. That would lower prices overall, that would take the funding away from Putin’s war machine against Ukraine. It would make our economy do better here. Biden will not do that. Biden will not be serious, and it’s taken us into a very bad direction. So, he just wants to throw another 40 billion dollars of American money into this when you’ve got other nations more approximate—the European nations that have sort of stayed with us, but they haven’t done this level of investment […] I know that there are other senators that are thinking very hard about this right now, as I have done. And I think it’s going to be up to each one’s conscience. We’ve already committed a great deal of money to this effort area. And I know that people are concerned that that money is being well spent, and we should certainly take effort to oversee that very carefully. At the same time, we have got to take care of things here at home first. That’s our primary duty.”

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY): “I am fully in support of Ukraine and its efforts to push back on Russian aggression. I am, however, concerned about this particular request. President Biden requested $33 billion, yet we are voting on a $40 billion package. It’s important to give Ukraine the support they need, but we also need to be pragmatic about the amount of money we are spending.”

Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN): “I support helping Ukraine expel the Russian invasion, but as inflation, gas prices, and shortages wallop Americans here at home I can’t support $40 billion of new spending unless it’s offset with cuts or taken from already authorized funds, especially when the European Union isn’t matching what we’re doing to end this conflict in their own backyard.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “The federal government can’t keep spending money without accountability or oversight. I’m all for supporting Ukraine, but we need to be responsible with taxpayer dollars,” Tuberville said in a statement.

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR): Ukraine has fought valiantly against Putin’s invasion, but it’s time to think more long-term and strategically about the U.S. role in this ongoing conflict. The Biden administration should offer a comprehensive plan with clear objectives and assurances that our aid and support is targeted and effectively protecting America’s interests. In light of President Biden’s disastrous policies on domestic and international fronts, the lack of oversight of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and his refusal to make American energy production a centerpiece of our response to Russia’s malign behavior, I can’t support this package.

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Combined with the original $13.6 billion installment signed into law in March, passage of this bill brings the total spending on Ukraine this year to $53.6 billion – the largest foreign aid package provided by Congress in more than 20 years. All the while, our NATO allies contributions have dropped off significantly, turning this essentially into a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia, there is no long term strategy, and no end in sight to the spending. Not to mention, this spending in support of Ukraine is coming at a time when our border is being overrun by illegal crossers, fentanyl is poising our communities, and inflation and supply issues are still rattling every American home. Our allies must step up their support and our leaders in Washington must demand more accountability, more strategy, and more prioritization of the issues Americans are facing here at home.”

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID): “I strongly support the United States assisting Ukraine in its own fight to remain free and independent from Russia’s totalitarian control, and providing assistance to Ukraine is a matter of both long-term national and economic security,” Crapo said in a statement. “However, any further spending must be offset.”