For Those Who Serve
ALERT: Tell your representatives to cosponsor the Pay Our Coast Guard Act now! The Senate has just introduced legislation to accompany the House version of the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, but both need more cosponsors! Please use the following link to email your Members of Congress:
Where to begin??? The G20 summit wrapped up in Delhi with some notable accomplishments and some disappointments. Bad news first- the G20 statement on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine left much to be desired. The statement condemned the human suffering caused by the war but went out of its way to avoid condemning Russia directly. On to the good news- with Xi Jinping not attending, President Biden and the West were able to make major inroads with the global south in an effort to counter China’s growing influence with those countries. The United States, the European Union, India and Saudi Arabia, announced a joint plan for significant international infrastructure development rivaling China’s Belt and Road initiative.
In Ukraine, a major attack on the Russian naval port in Sevastopol has taken the war into yet another chapter as Ukraine steps up attacks on occupied Crimea and the Russian homeland while also continued to progress in its counteroffensive. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to discuss a potential arms deal. The meeting was notable for numerous reasons including the potential for disrupting China’s role as North Korea’s only real ally. Still, Putin cannot be happy that he must now meet Kim on equal footing. If Russia needs North Korea’s help, it is not doing well.
China’s Defense Minister has disappeared amidst a corruption investigation, while Australia and the Philippines signed a strategic partnership agreement. And, of course, the devastation of the earthquake in Morocco and the flooding in Libya continue to reverberate throughout the region.
On to Congress… what a week! The House punted on efforts to move defense spending legislation forward resulting in a heated confrontation between Speaker McCarthy and GOP hardliners. Questions continue to swirl regarding the fate of must pass spending bills, continuing resolutions, or the potential for a government shutdown. The House has also launched an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, though this action has been met with a tepid response from Senate Republicans.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti testified before the Senate that the AUKUS agreement would require increased submarine production while also warning that new construction would not be able to begin under stopgap funding bills or, of course, under a government shutdown. This is a good reminder that perhaps no government agency is more harmed by continuing resolutions than the Department of Defense.
And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Capitol Hill next week as some lawmakers voice skepticism over the next round of Congressional aid for Ukraine.If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please use the link at the bottom of this page or contact us directly.