HR 1158
Freedom First Lend Lease Act
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Bill overview
The Freedom First Lend Lease Act temporarily expands the President’s authority to provide defense articles to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries affected by Russia’s invasion. It allows for loan and lease agreements exceeding the typical five-year limit and waives certain standard requirements related to these agreements. The bill also mandates expedited procedures for delivering these defense articles to Ukraine, ensuring a quicker response to the ongoing conflict.
Key provisions
- Expands the President’s authority to lend or lease defense articles to Ukraine and Eastern European countries.
- Allows loan and lease periods longer than five years.
- Waives certain standard requirements for lend-lease agreements.
- Requires the establishment of expedited procedures for delivering defense articles to Ukraine.
- Any loan or lease is subject to laws regarding the return, reimbursement, and repayment of defense articles.
- The President can delegate this authority to a Senate-approved official.
Who is affected
- United States Government
- Government of Ukraine
- Eastern European countries
- Russian Federation
Notable changes
- Waives Section 503(b)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
- Waives Section 61 of the Arms Export Control Act.
- Allows loan and lease periods exceeding the standard five-year limit.
Fiscal impact
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 1158
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To provide enhanced authority for the President to enter into agreements with the Government of Ukraine to lend or lease defense articles to that Government to protect civilian populations in Ukraine from Russian military invasion, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Freedom First Lend Lease Act
.
Subject to paragraph (2), for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the President may authorize the United States Government to lend or lease defense articles to the Government of Ukraine or to governments of Eastern European countries impacted by the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine to help bolster those countries’ defense capabilities and protect their civilian populations from potential invasion or ongoing aggression by the armed forces of the Government of the Russian Federation.
For the purposes of the authority described in paragraph (1) as that authority relates to Ukraine, the following provisions of law shall not apply:
Section 503(b)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311(b)(3)).
Section 61 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796).
Any loan or lease of defense articles to the Government of Ukraine under paragraph (1) shall be subject to all applicable laws concerning the return of and reimbursement and repayment for defense articles loan or leased to foreign governments.
The President may delegate the enhanced authority under this subsection only to an official appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish expedited procedures for the delivery of any defense article loaned or leased to the Government of Ukraine under an agreement entered into under subsection (a) to ensure timely delivery of the article to that Government.
In this Act, the term defense article
has the meaning given that term in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794).