The draft version of the Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) includes $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, as requested in the President’s Budget.

This is a (relative) drop in the bucket compared to the billions already appropriated on an emergency basis to help Ukraine fight back against Russian aggression. We’ve counted just under $40 billion so far.

So, color us skeptical that this “Assistance Initiative” will be the sum total of money devoted to helping Ukraine fight the Russians. But even more unhelpful is that the bill language, found in those pesky General Provisions of the draft, lists how the money could be spent. There is no accompanying table or list saying how that money will be spent.

The full list of potential ways the money could be spent:

• Training
• Equipment
• Lethal assistance
• Logistics support, supplies and services
• Salaries and stipends
• Sustainment
• Intelligence support for the military and national security forces Ukraine, and to other forces or groups recognized and under the authority of the Government of Ukraine, engaged in resisting Russian aggression against Ukraine
• Replacement of any weapons or articles provided to the Government of Ukraine from the inventory of the United States, and
• To recover or dispose of equipment procured using funds made available in this section in this or prior Acts

As we have previously said in a letter to Congress, oversight is key when we’re talking about billions of dollars entering the Ukrainian economy. In this case, we hope Congress will further stipulate how much may be spent on things like salaries and stipends, or to replenish U.S. stockpiles. And, to the extent possible, that breakdown should be made public so taxpayers might see where their dollars are going.