Kaine Statement on Vote to Pass National Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after voting to pass a national security supplemental funding package:
“Our national security is at its strongest when we link arms with our allies. I’m glad to help Congress finally pass legislation to provide Ukraine with much-needed support in the fight against Putin’s invasion, and am proud that the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia will play a central role in delivering that support. The bill will also help Israel defend itself, and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which couldn’t be more important as negotiators work to secure a hostage release deal and ceasefire in Gaza. And it will bolster Taiwan’s security and support the Australia-U.K-U.S. agreement to sell Virginia-class submarines—much of which are produced in Hampton Roads—to Australia in light of increased aggression from China in the South China Sea. With this vote, we are sending a clear message to adversaries of freedom around the world: the United States will never abandon our allies.”
Kaine has been calling for the passage of a national security supplemental funding package with defense assistance for Israel and Ukraine and humanitarian aid for Gaza and Ukraine since October 2023, and helped pass similar legislation out of the Senate in February 2024. Due to House leadership’s decision to split the bill into multiple separate bills—all of which were passed last weekend—the Senate had to vote on the legislation again.
Key priorities included in the supplemental funding package include:
Helping Ukraine Defend Itself: Provides funding for the transfer of weapons and equipment to Ukraine, replenishment of Department of Defense (DOD) stockpiles—including through a $90 million investment in the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, Virginia—military and intelligence support, and economic and civilian security assistance.
Australia-U.S.-U.K. (AUKUS) Partnership: Provides support, which Kaine has pressed for, to strengthen implementation of the AUKUS agreement, in which Australia will purchase Virginia-class submarines and invest in the U.S. submarine industrial base. Maintains the readiness of the Navy’s fleet by providing $3.3 billion in funding to improve the Navy’s four public shipyards, including Norfolk Naval Shipyard; supports the Submarine Industrial Base to increase production rates and submarine availability; and invests in the submarine industrial base workforce.
Kaine has led efforts to ensure the AUKUS agreement is implemented effectively. Because a significant portion of Virginia-class submarines are built in Hampton Roads, this agreement creates opportunity for further job creation and economic growth in the region. In July 2023, Kaine hosted Australian Ambassador to the United States Dr. Kevin Rudd and U.S. Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven in Hampton Roads to discuss the importance of the AUKUS agreement and tour Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Kaine secured provisions to implement and strengthen AUKUS in the Fiscal Year 2024 national defense bill and the SFRC-passed State Department authorization bill.
Israeli Security: Includes funding for Israel’s defense needs, such as resources to replenish Israel’s air and missile defense systems, including Iron Dome, and resources to enhance U.S. embassy security.
Kaine has taken a series of steps to prioritize the release of hostages taken by Hamas, including directly engaging the Qatari and Egyptian governments, and to counter Hamas’ terrorist threats.
Humanitarian Assistance for Gaza and Ukraine: Includes funding for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians impacted by the war in Ukraine; the violence in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank; and other natural disasters and emergencies around the world.
Kaine led his colleagues in calling for a cessation of violence in order to ensure humanitarian assistance is reaching civilians in Gaza, and has been vocal about the need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and protect civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Taiwanese Security: Includes military assistance funding and resources to replenish stocks given to Taiwan, which are crucial given increased aggression by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea.
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