Kinzinger, Santorum among former lawmakers backing Johnson on Ukraine aid

A coalition of former lawmakers on Saturday sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) thanking him for moving forward with the foreign aid package the House is set to vote on.

“We recognize the political peril this decision carries and are deeply grateful for your determination to put the interests of our country’s national security ahead of political expediency,” the lawmakers, including former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), wrote in the letter. “There is a cacophony of misguided narratives being advanced from across the political spectrum. Our allies deserve the certain and stalwart support that comes from partnering with the greatest country the world has ever known.”

“Your call for America to reemerge as the country that defends freedom and confronts tyranny is a clarion one for our time,” they added. “This is not a debate of American security versus international security, but rather one of confronting threats to American security wherever they rear their evil head.”

The letter comes as the House prepares to vote on a series of bills that would provide funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, among other national security interests. The lower chamber advanced the spending package on Friday despite vehement opposition from conservatives, opening up the door for debate on the legislation.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has also hit Johnson with a motion to vacate over additional funding for Ukraine, which the Speaker moved forward with the support of Democrats. At least two other GOP lawmakers have backed her resolution, but Greene has not moved to force a vote on whether to oust Johnson or said when she plans to do so.

The former lawmakers pushed back against the internal division in their letter, warning it is only a “distraction” for the enemy.

“These forces of evil are not only attacking our friends and allies, they are attacking America itself through our allies,” the letter reads, pointing to the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. “Further, they are counting on our internal political divisions to provide the distraction that allows them to get away with it. We must ensure that calculation proves woefully misguided.”

“Now is the time to acknowledge that our freedom to engage in robust debate — and even dissent — hinges on our courage to stand together against our common threats,” they continued. “The world needs America now more than ever to unite our allies and defend our friends who are under direct attack from our enemies.”

The letter was signed by more than 30 former lawmakers and other advocates for additional aid to Ukraine.

Republican divisions have become routine this Congress, as conservatives have sought to press GOP leaders to fight harder for Republican priorities — the dynamic that led to the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last October.

But, the signatories said the decision to pass more aid to the embattled country is based on a choice: “Supporting our allies to ensure victory or risk being drawn into a larger scale war
that, as you say, will draw in American troops.”

“Some will continue to say this funding is about international security. Saying something does not make it so,” the lawmakers concluded. “The threats currently facing our allies are a threat to America itself, and we must meet the moment.”

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