Rep. Panetta Leads Bipartisan Letter Calling for Ukraine Travel Restrictions to be Lifted for Congress

Monterey, CA - United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) led a bipartisan letter urging the Biden Administration to lift restrictions on Members of Congress traveling to Ukraine. The letter, co-led by Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02), argues that lawmakers need the ability to travel longer and more freely in Ukraine to conduct appropriate oversight of American assistance and to make informed decisions on future foreign policy. Current U.S. State Department policy prevents congressional delegations (CODELs) to Ukraine from staying overnight and from traveling outside of Kyiv. These restrictions limit the number of site visits and meetings with Ukrainians that lawmakers can accomplish.

"These restrictions on CODELs to Ukraine prevent Members of Congress from developing a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the country and the type of support that is needed, and altogether deters future Congressional visits.," wrote the Members. "It [is] critical that Congress witness and assess how U.S. weapons and humanitarian support are faring on the battlefield. Such an opportunity to view the realities of the war in Ukraine would allow us to deliver an accurate account of the support by the United States to our constituents."

Joining Reps. Panetta and Wilson are Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Don Davis (NC-01), Austin Scott (GA-08), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Tom Kean (NJ-07), Jim Costa (CA-21), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05).

Read the full letter hereand below.

Dear Secretary Blinken,

We write to request that the current rules on Congressional trips (CODELs) to Ukraine be modified to allow Members of Congress to stay longer and travel beyond the capital of Kyiv. Congressional travel to Ukraine not only demonstrates unwavering U.S. support, but also has enabled both Democrats and Republicans to provide appropriate oversight of our assistance to Ukraine and to make informed decisions on future U.S. support. Lifting these restrictions would allow Congressmembers to better experience and understand the nation, its challenges, and how our assistance is meeting Ukraine's needs.

Current U.S. State Department policy prevents CODELs to Ukraine from staying overnight and from traveling outside of Kyiv. To abide by those restrictions, CODELs must fly to Poland and embark on a ten or more-hour overnight train ride to Kyiv. The CODELs can then conduct meetings only within the capital, and must immediately take another ten or more-hour train ride back to Poland that same day. The current structure of the trips limits the number of site visits and meetings with Ukrainians across the country. Ultimately, these restrictions on CODELs to Ukraine prevent Members of Congress from developing a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the country and the type of support that is needed, and altogether deters future Congressional visits.

Additionally, the current State Department restrictions on CODEL travel in Ukraine limits Congressional oversight on U.S. aid and weapons support. Since February 2022, Congress has appropriated approximately $174 billion to support Ukraine's wartime and humanitarian needs. This is an enormous amount of money in a short period of time, making it critical that Congress witness and assess how U.S. weapons and humanitarian support are faring on the battlefield. Such an opportunity to view the realities of the war in Ukraine would allow us to deliver an accurate account of the support by the United States to our constituents.

Congress plays a vital role in shaping U.S. foreign policy when it comes to supporting our democratic partners throughout the world. CODELs play an important part in developing our understanding of our partners and our policies. That is why we request that the rules for CODELs to Ukraine be changed to allow for Congressmembers to stay overnight and travel beyond Kyiv. Such changes would allow Congress to produce more accurate and proper policies for Ukraine by granting Congressmembers a unique education experience that can only be afforded through CODELs. We thank you for your consideration of this request as well as your understanding of what is necessary for Congress to make informed policies and conduct proper oversight as we continue to make decisions on support for Ukraine.

Sincerely,

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