{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/6/cornyn-coons-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-bolster-ukraine-s-defense-arsenal-using-seized-russian-sovereign-assets", "Cornyn, Coons, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Bolster Ukraine\u2019s Defense Arsenal Using Seized Russian Sovereign Assets", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Roger F. Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", "wicker", "https://www.wicker.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced the Seized Assets for Battlefield Equipment and Readiness (SABER) Act, which would amend current law to allow Ukraine to use assets confiscated from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other Russian sovereign assets for the purchase of military equipment to defend against Vladimir Putin\u2019s war machine:\n\n\u201cThe REPO Act laid important groundwork for seizing and repurposing billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to help the Ukrainian people defend their own sovereignty after Russia\u2019s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cBy extending the law\u2019s permissible use of funds to replenish Ukraine\u2019s arsenal, this legislation would go one step further to helping our ally defend against Russian aggression and force Putin to foot the bill for arming Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cUkraine is on the frontline of freedom in Europe, protecting the rest of the world from Putin\u2019s unprovoked aggression,\u201d said Sen. Coons. \u201cUkraine\u2019s army has fought courageously under incredibly difficult circumstances, and we need to ensure they have the tools and funds they need to defeat Putin on the battlefield and build back stronger once the war ends. With this bipartisan legislation, we are opening up new pathways for support so we can assure our and Ukraine\u2019s security.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act ensured that frozen Russian assets be used to support Ukraine\u2019s fight for sovereignty. As Ukrainians continue to resist Russia\u2019s assault, they should have every means available to defend themselves. The SABER Act would build on existing law, allowing confiscated Russian sovereign assets to be used to purchase military equipment Ukraine needs to defeat Putin\u2019s war machine,\u201d said Sen. Wicker.\n\n\u201cThe resolve and resilience of Ukrainians in defending their homeland from Russian forces has been commendable, and the international community must continue to do all we can to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to be successful on the battlefield and rebuild their country,\u201d said Sen. Kaine. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m joining my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to allow the use of Russian sovereign assets to buy defense articles that would support Ukraine\u2019s fight against Russia.\u201d\n\n\u201cPutin\u2019s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine sparked the largest land war in Europe since World War II, and the United States must do our part to stand with our Ukrainian allies. Our bipartisan legislation assists Ukraine as they continue to defend against Putin\u2019s unrelenting attacks. Importantly, this support for Ukraine comes at no cost to the American taxpayer,\u201d said Sen. Grassley.\n\n\u201cSeizing Russian sovereign funds so that war criminal Putin can\u2019t use them for his illegal invasion in Ukraine was the first step, and we achieved that through our bipartisan REPO law,\u201d said Sen. Whitehouse. \u201cHundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian funds should be put to good use repelling Russian invaders and supporting the brave Ukrainians fighting for freedom.\u201d\n\nU.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) is leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act, now law, currently permits frozen Russian sovereign assets under U.S. jurisdiction to be confiscated and transferred to Ukraine for the use of:\n\nMaking contributions to an international body, fund, or mechanism established consistent with that is charged with determining and administering compensation or providing assistance to Ukraine;\n\nSupporting reconstruction, rebuilding, and recovery efforts in Ukraine;\n\nAnd providing economic and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine.", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/6/cornyn-coons-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-bolster-ukraine-s-defense-arsenal-using-seized-russian-sovereign-assets"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8835801854729652, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}