NASCAR owner Richard Childress pledged to send ammo to Ukraine. A new bill would 'cut red tape.'
Last week, NASCAR Hall of Fame owner Richard Childress announced his plans to donate one million rounds of ammo to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to help in the ongoing war with Russia.
Upon seeing that, Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) and U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz (R-IN) introduced the American Ammo in Defense of Ukraine Act on Wednesday, which will make donations of ammunition to Ukraine like Childress' possible by waiving current export restrictions.
"In the face of Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced he 'needed ammunition, not a ride.' The American Ammo in Defense of Ukraine Act will do just that by cutting red tape to ensure American ammunition can reach Ukraine faster," Hudson said.
"America must support Ukraine's self-defense and I appreciate Congresswoman Spartz and our colleagues for joining this common-sense bill."
NASCAR steps up with ammunition donation, disaster relief in wake of Ukraine-Russia war
Last week, Childress told Fox News in an interview that the ammo would be donated through AMMO, Inc., and that he planned to work with a private company to ensure it gets to Ukraine as soon as possible.
Childress, who is a member of AMMO, Inc.’s Board of Directors, has been in NASCAR for over five decades, first as a driver before becoming an owner in the early 1980s.
He wasn't the only NASCAR fixture to support Ukraine, either.
Later in the week, team owner Rick Hendrick announced that he would be donating $200,000 to the Samaritan's Purse disaster relief efforts in Ukraine, while Xfinity Series driver Stefan Parsons drove a "Ukraine Strong" paint scheme on his Chevrolet in Saturday's race at Las Vegas.
A release sent by Hudson's office said the bill would "make it easier for manufacturers like AMMO, Inc. to get this ammunition to Ukraine by authorizing the President to waive Department of State and Department of Commerce export criteria and transportation costs on ammunition."
