The US House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that gave Ukraine $40 Billion in aid to its troops to fight back against Russia’s Invasion. 

US Senator Joni Ernst says she voted for the package because a majority of the package would go to help Ukraine stabilize their agricultural production so they can export goods to Middle Eastern countries and Africa. 

“Those are unstable countries and when there’s food insecurity, terrorism typically bubbles up and you have those organizations that are able to recruit and pay people because people are starving, they need to feed their families and that in turn, puts our allies and partners as well as the United States at risk.”

She adds that a portion of the bill does go toward the US Department of Defense to replenish supplies. Those who oppose this bill say that not enough funding is going towards the United State’s national security. 

“It’s not one or the other, we need to make sure we are taking care of our own national security as well as our own domestic policy.” 

The bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden on May 21.