I'm Samantha Sharers, I'm John Popp, and this is the Daily Signal Top News for Wednesday,

December 21st.

Here are today's headlines.

Ukrainian President Zelensky visited the White House today and is set to deliver a speech

to Congress this evening.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Joe Biden welcomed Zelensky earlier this afternoon.

Let's take a listen to some of Biden's remarks while meeting with the Ukrainian leader VIA-W-USA9.

No reason other than intimidating.

And he's escalated as a soul on civilians after these schools, orphanages, hospitals, landmarks.

He's trying to use winter as a weapon, but Ukrainian people continue to inspire the world.

The Associated Press reports that the United States will provide an aid package that includes $1 billion in weapons and equipment from Pentagon stocks, including the Patriot battery for the first time.

And $850 million in funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Included in the massive omnibus spending package, totaling $1.85 trillion, $45 billion in aid will be given to Ukraine should it pass.

Richard Stern, a senior policy analyst for budget policy here at the Heritage Foundation, points out that only 62 percent of it would go toward military activities.

A total of $17 billion would go to economic assistance and efforts to support the Ukrainian government.

As I mentioned earlier, Zelensky is scheduled to speak to Congress tonight around 730.

Congress has not yet voted on passage of the massive $1.85 trillion omnibus spending bill as the Friday deadline approaches.

Many conservative lawmakers are continuing to speak out against the bill, including incoming House Oversight Chairman James Comer.

Our colleague Rob Blue reports that Comer is urging his Senate counterparts to reject the $1.85 trillion omnibus spending bill in order to strengthen the GOP's oversight authority for the next Congress.

Comer told the Daily Signal in a statement, it's imperative that we stop the massive omnibus so that Republicans can use our majority power next Congress to conduct oversight of the federal government, hold the Biden administration accountable and enact good government reforms.

Passage of the omnibus spending bill would insulate the Biden administration from a spending fight for the next year.

The bill, making its way through the Senate, funds the President's agenda through September 30, 2023.

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