A last-minute phone call from Mitch McConnell to Chuck Schumer helped seal an unprecedented congressional infusion of aid to Ukraine, increasing the ask by $1.5 billion in a single conversation.

While Ukraine came under attack, Congress scrambled to boost lethal and humanitarian aid for the European ally. So as leaders finalized a $1.5 trillion government spending bill that included emergency assistance for Ukraine, the Senate GOP leader phoned his Democratic counterpart this week with a simple but significant request: Double the size of a critical $1.5 billion fund for Ukraine to help its military fight Russian invaders.

“To Chuck’s credit, he said, ‘OK,’” McConnell recalled in an interview Thursday in his Capitol office. “It wasn’t a hard sell.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/11/mcconnell-phone-call-congress-ukraine-aid-deal-00016583

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Monday will participate in a University of South Carolina School of Law roundtable discussion on the current war in Ukraine.

The discussion, titled “Assessing the Conflict in Ukraine and Possible War Crimes” will be held in the Judge Karen J. Williams Courtroom at 11:00 a.m.

https://www.counton2.com/news/south-carolina-news/lindsey-graham-to-participate-in-uofsc-law-roundtable-on-ukraine/

CAMBRIDGE — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday offered her views on rising gas prices, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and the adolescent behavioral health crisis in hospital emergency rooms during a visit to Cambridge.

Pelosi, a Democrat, spoke during a roundtable event at the Cambridge Health Alliance at the invitation of US Representative Katherine Clark, the assistant house speaker, whose district includes part of Cambridge. They were joined by two other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, Ayanna Pressley — who also represents part of Cambridge — and Lori Trahan.

Pelosi’s visit was billed as an opportunity to discuss the impact of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act on health care and its cost. The plan, signed into law last March, set aside about $5.3 billion for Massachusetts to help the state recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In December, Governor Charlie Baker signed a $4 billion spending bill to disperse those funds.

A year after the massive spending bill was signed, rising gas prices and inflation have dominated economic headlines. Pelosi blamed the increased gas prices on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. In response to Russia’s aggression, President Biden has implemented an array of economic sanctions on Russia, including a ban on oil imports from that country.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/12/metro/nancy-pelosi-visits-cambridge-health-alliance-roundtable/?camp=bg:brief:rss:MSN&rss_id=MSN_rss_brief

By the way, great rally tonight! Really enjoyed it!