U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on oversight of U.S. military support to Ukraine.
Chairman Rogers' remarks as prepared for delivery:
Last Friday, we observed the one-year anniversary of Putin's illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine.
The American people have responded with extraordinary support for Ukrainians.
Millions of Americans have donated their time and money to charitable organizations helping the Ukrainian people.
Some have even volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Congress has responded by appropriating over $100 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and our NATO allies.
To date, the administration has distributed over $75 billion, including more than $46 billion in security assistance.
These are unprecedented numbers.
And it requires an unprecedented level of oversight by Congress.
This committee has been up to the task.
Last year, Chairman Smith started monthly classified briefings with administration officials that have continued under the new majority.
Many of us have traveled to Ukraine and surrounding countries to witness first-hand the train and equip mission.
We've made classified information on the situation in Ukraine available to all Members
And our staff are constantly being briefed on the latest developments.
But today is the first time a Committee of the House is holding an open public hearing on the matter.
I've asked the Inspector General and the Under Secretary to appear today because it's imperative for the American people to understand –
Where is our security assistance going?
How's it being used?
And what protections are in place to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands?
But oversight is about more than just accounting.
It's about ensuring the administration is setting strategic goals and implementing a policy to achieve them.
That is where I have very real concerns.
Since the beginning, the President has been overly worried that giving Ukraine what it needs to win would be too escalatory.
This hesitation has only prolonged the war and driven up costs in terms of dollars and lives.
This conflict must end.
And the President must be willing to do what it takes to end it.
Continued reluctance and indecision only empowers Putin.
And it sends all the wrong signals to President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
