September 18, 2023
‘Groundbreaking’ Report Card: How House Republicans Grade on Giving Ukraine Aid
A recent report card by the Center for American Progress (CAP) grading House Republicans on Ukraine aid shows a stark split between party members on this policy priority. CAP, a left-leaning think tank, compiled U.S. House vote tallies from the 34 current House Republicans who voted against both $1.5 billion in 2020 fiscal year aid to Ukraine and $655 million in conflict minerals aid Ukraine received in 2019. Of the 34 who voted against such aid, 25 received “F” ratings and nine received “D-” ratings from CAP. Meanwhile the 25 House Republicans who voted both in favor of the 2020 aid and the 2019 aid received “A” ratings, signifying “support for Ukraine and pragmatic leadership.”
The report card showed that the divide between Republicans who voted in favor of aid to Ukraine versus those who did not is deeply partisan, in addition to being represented geographically. Of the nine Republicans who received the “D-” rating, eight are from California (seven from the Central Valley and one from the Los Angeles area). Kentucky’s Andy Barr is the only one outside of California. All those receiving the “F”s were from either California, New York, Illinois, Florida, or Texas.
The only two Republicans in the House who received a “B” were from Florida and Ohio – Representatives John Rutherford (R-FL) and Steve Chabot (R-OH). Both of them voted yes to the aid packages in 2020 and 2019.
The report highlights some of the lingering impacts of dissent among conservative legislators on important foreign policy issues. According to the Center for American Progress, support for USAID and humanitarian assistance programs which can help countries like Ukraine should be prioritized and bi-partisan. The stark split within the Republican party on this issue could have implications for the party moving forward as it is hampered by its internal divisions on important international issues.