Krol

Aye

Mr. President,

I offer the following amendment:

TITLE III - SECURING AMERICA'S ALLIES

SUBTITLE A - DEMOCRACY DEFENSE COMMISSION

SEC. 3001. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY DEFENSE COALITION

In General — The Democracy Defense Commission is hereby established as an independent federal agency to oversee the procurement, allocation, and distribution of financial, humanitarian, and military aid and assistance to Israel and Ukraine in their efforts to resist foreign invasion, terrorism, and aggression.

SEC. 3002 OVERSIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION

(a) The Democracy Defense Commission shall oversee the allocation and distribution of financial, humanitarian, and military aid, assistance, and material to Israel and Ukraine, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and compliance with the objectives of supporting Israel and Ukraine

(b) The Democracy Defense Commission will be led by a commission consisting of fourteen appointed members, appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, seven of whom shall be registered as Republican voters and seven of whom shall be registered as Democratic voters, and all of whom shall have significant academic or professional expertise or lived-experiences in national security, armed forces, logistics, or accounting. The Secretary of Defense, or their designee, shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Commission and shall serve as the Chair. Appointments shall be made within thirty days following the enactment of this Act.

(c) The Democracy Defense Commission will be required to maintain a consistent accounting of all aid in accordance with industry best practices. 

(d) Reporting Requirements: The Democracy Defense Commission shall submit regular reports to the Senate, detailing the procurement, allocation, distribution, and impact of aid provided to Israel and Ukraine, including assessments of needs and recommendations for further assistance. 

SEC. 3003 FUNDING AND DISTRIBUTION STIPULATIONS

(a) All recipients of aid, assistance, or other resources from the Democracy Defense Commission will be required to provide quarterly accounting reports to the Commission for all aid and relief eligibility:

(b) Budget - There shall be appropriated to the Democracy Defense fund a sum of $30,000,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, $35,000,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2026.

(c) By a majority vote, the Democracy Defense Commission may request up to $10,000,000,000 of additional emergency supplemental funding per quarter. All such requests will require approval from the United States Congress by a simple majority vote. 
 

I yield back. 

Mr. President,

I thank my good friend from Hawai’i for raising this very important amendment. We must stand firm and strong in our opposition to the Russian War of Expansion and deny them any support or legitimacy for their illegal and barbaric annexation campaign. 
 

I yield back. 

Aye

Aye

Aye

With 8 votes in favor and none opposed, Senators Ross and deSonido are recognized as members of the Democratic Caucus under Charter Section 1.1.

With 6 votes in favor, 3 opposed, and 1 voting present, the 2/3 threshold has been met and the amendment is adopted.

Mr. President,

I move to amend the bill to read as follows:

SEC. 3002 OVERSIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION

(a) The Democracy Defense Commission shall oversee the allocation and distribution of financial, humanitarian, and military aid, assistance, and material to Israel and Ukraine, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and compliance with the objectives of supporting Israel and Ukraine

(b) The Democracy Defense Commission will be led by a commission consisting of fifteen members, three appointed by the President of the United States, six appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, and six appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Appointments shall be made within thirty days following the enactment of this Act.

(c) The Democracy Defense Commission will be required to maintain a consistent accounting in accordance with industry best practices. 

(d) Reporting Requirements: The Democracy Defense Commission shall submit regular reports to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the relevant Congressional Committees, detailing the procurement, allocation, distribution, and impact of all aid provided through the Commission, including assessments of needs and recommendations for further assistance.

SEC. 3003 FUNDING AND DISTRIBUTION STIPULATIONS

(a) All recipients of aid, assistance, or other resources from the Democracy Defense Commission will be required to provide quarterly accounting reports to the Commission for all aid and relief eligibility:

(b) Budget - There shall be appropriated to the Democracy Defense fund a sum of $30,000,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, $35,000,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2026.

(c) By a majority vote, the Democracy Defense Commission may request up to $10,000,000,000 of additional emergency supplemental funding per quarter. All such requests will require approval from the Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee of the United States Senate and the corresponding committee in the House of Representatives. 
 

I yield back. 

Per DNC Charter Section 1.1, a plurality of the DNC is needed to recognize an independent as caucusing in the Congress with the Democrats.

A motion has been made. Per my reading of the Charter, a second is not explicitly required, nor is there a requirement for a period of debate and discussion. The motion is recognized and is in order. A 24 hour vote will begin now. 
 

Chair votes aye. 

  IN THE SENATE

  Mr. Krol (for himself, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Millhouse, Mr. Valdez, Mr. Ross, Mr. deSonido, Mr. Stokes, Ms. Kamaka, and others) introduces the following bill

                                                                                                                                                       A BILL

Section 1. Short Title

I. This Act may be cited as the "HIV/AIDS Eradication Act of 2025"

Section 2. Codification of Existing Programs

I. The Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) shall continue to operate the "Ready, Set, PrEP" program, initiated in December of 2019, unless directed to cease the program by an Act of Congress.

II. The Department shall continue to operate the "I'm Ready" public awareness campaign, initiated to support the "Ready, Set, PrEP" program, unless directed to cease the campaign by an Act of Congress.

Section 3. Review of Over-the-Counter PrEP

I. No later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) shall initiate a review of the scientific research, and other materials available, of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS prevention (PrEP).

II. No later than December 31, 2026, the Secretary shall report to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House on the availability of PrEP without a prescription.

Section 4. Pilot Program

I. No later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall promulgate rules, in accordance with the existing federal process, for the establishment of a nationwide pilot program through which 250 men-who-have-sex-with-men are provided PrEP at no out-of-pocket cost for a period of one year and 250 men-who-have-sex-with-men are provided with PrEP at the nationwide standard out-of-pocket cost as determined by the Secretary for a period of one year.

II. No later than June 30, 2027, the Secretary shall report to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House on the public health benefits, societal and economic costs, and other general findings of the pilot program.

                                                                                                                                                                  Plain English Summary 

This bill: codifies existing programs to support free PrEP to uninsured individuals, initiates a study into PrEP as an over-the-counter drug, and initiates a pilot program for free PrEP for men-who-have-sex-with-men.

Mr. President,

I rise to applaud the comments of my colleague from Indiana.

I represent New York City, one of the most LGBTQ cities in the entire world. And a city which has known its share of loss from the HIV/AIDS Crisis.

In the 1980s, no city in the world suffered more from the crisis than New York City. It was, in fact, a New York City doctor who first made the connection between men-who-have-sex-with-men and the spread of HIV/AIDS. It took a lot of work by dedicated community members to fight the stigma of the early days of the crisis and show that everyone is worthy of love and compassion. Especially the sick.

We find ourselves in a time in this country where we more often than not see our fellow man as our enemy, as something to be avoided and shunned. Perhaps the issue of HIV/AIDS eradication can be the issue that bridges that gap and brings us closer together, reminding us of our shared humanity.

I yield back.

CS

Name: DNC Chair Jon Krol (D-NY)

Media/Outlet: Fox News Sunday

Reason: Democratic v. Republican Agendas

• My colleagues and I have made it very clear, from Day One of this new Washington, that we are the party of positive change. Reproductive health, housing, equal pay, health care, education rights, integrity in government, voting rights - we've got a plan on all of it to enact meaningful, positive change to make lives better for the American people.
• The message out of the new President and her allies in Congress is fear, fear, and fear. Republicans are coming out against everything and for nothing. When was the last time a Republican proposed a new policy to make American lives better, rather than fighting to roll back something that they don't like? I think they just wake up in the morning, grab a newspaper left over from the Obama or Biden Administrations, and find something we did that they want to undo.
• I'm glad we have such a great Speaker in Hakeem Jeffries so that we can continue to show that Democrats are the sane party of government. Just look at his first docket in the House compared to the Senate Republicans' first docket. It is night and day. We're fighting to make your house more affordable, your health care more personal, and your family time more secure. That's what we should be doing in the Senate, and I hope we get to that point soon. We have big issues in this country - let's address them.

Senator Krol Speech at 2025 Women's March

"Thank you! I am so glad to see so many people here today to stand up for women!

Yesterday, America made history by inaugurating our first female President. But don't let anyone fool you - Leah Ross is no ally to women. She has shown with her campaign rhetoric and her cabinet nominations that she is simply a continuation of the horrible women's rights record of Donald J. Trump. How will Ben Carson's HHS address mifepristone access? How will Ellen Lord's DoD protect service members' reproductive health needs? How will Allen West's* FBI ensure women aren't hunted across state lines for seeking an abortion they need? Do not let Leah Ross' historic moment trick you into complacency: women's rights are in danger - nationwide. Thankfully, we have a robust Democratic majority in the House and many dedicated Democratic Senators who will stand as a check on the Ultra MAGA radical agenda. Women fought for their rights for generations, we will fight to restore the rights women enjoyed for 50 years until the Republican Supreme Court took them away, and we will not let this new Administration roll them back any further.

Thank you! Thank you!"

* At the time of the speech, it was widely reported that former Congressman Allen West was going to be appointed Director of the FBI. That decision was rescinded after heavy backlash on the incoming Administration.

Democrats Pledge to Fight for Women at 2025 Women's March, Republican Attacks Continue

Numerous Democratic Senators, Congressional Representatives, and activists joined hundreds of thousands of others from across the nation to loudly declare their support for women, in opposition to the oppressive reality of the new Ross Administration.

Senate Democratic Whip Janice Kamaka (D-HI) gave a very well received speech in which she warned "[President Ross] is no friend of reproductive rights nor is she an ally in the fight for an equitable society for all. While she profits off of conflict overseas, she has made clear her intention to do the bidding of the most extreme anti-choice elements of the Republican Party right here at home and enact their agenda."

Senator Naomi Wolfe (D-GA) spoke to the millions of women trapped in anti-abortion states and said "We are going to stand with women in my state of Georgia who face one of the most punishing abortion bans in the country, led by a governor dripping open contempt for women's rights to their own bodies; and we are going to stand with women across the country fighting for their reproductive rights." 

Senator Madeline White (D-MI) urged President Ross to take advantage of the moment be a champion of women, saying "The most powerful person on the planet is the President of the United States. If that person is a woman, there is no excuse for not making consequential steps in eliminating the underrepresentation of women in key positions of power. This is the responsibility of this Administration."

DNC Chair Jon Krol (D-NY) frankly reminded the crowd "Do not let Leah Ross' historic moment trick you into complacency: women's rights are in danger - nationwide."

The timing of the 2025 Women's March served as poignant counter programming to the first actions of the Ross Administration. Almost immediately after taking office, President Ross and extremist Republicans introduced a slew of Executive Orders and Presidential decrees to restrict and limit women's rights nationwide. Senator Krol blasted the President for, with the stroke of a pen, "undoing decades of progress and putting women, many in the very states that propelled her into the White House, into serious medical danger by limiting access to medication which induces abortions" and making it even harder for women in a medical emergency to receive the care they need.

Senator Krol said "Women's health care needs are purely that - a health care need. No woman is seeking an abortion because she is bored on a Friday night and wants something to do. These are deeply personal, reflective decisions that women make in times of great stress and anxiety. We should be supporting and elevating women in these moments, not inserting new government barriers." 

CS

Aye

Aye

24 hours has passed and the Krol Term Limits Amendment has been adopted.

Quote

 

SEC. 2. DNC Leadership

1. The DNC shall be led by a Chairperson, who shall coordinate the operations of the DNC, represent the DNC to the public and to the media, and manage DNC finances.

2. The DNC Chairperson will appoint one DNC Vice Chairperson, and may appoint non-statutory deputies of specific portfolios at their discretion.

3. The DNC Chairperson may dismiss the DNC Vice Chairperson or non-statutory deputies at their discretion. The DNC Vice Chairperson and non-statutory deputies shall be automatically removed from office following election of a new DNC Chairperson, unless reappointed.

4. In the event the office of DNC Chairperson is vacant, the next statutory member of DNC leadership in the order of precedence as ranked in subsection 5 will fulfill the responsibilities of the DNC Chairperson until a new DNC Chairperson is elected.

5. The following are statutory members of DNC leadership, ranked in order of precedence:

a. the DNC Chairperson;

b. the DNC Vice Chairperson;

c. the Democratic Leader in the United States Senate;

d. the Democratic Whip in the United States Senate;

e. the President pro tempore or Senior Acting President pro tempore of the United States Senate, if a Democrat.

6. The President of the United States of America, if a Democrat, may request the resignation of the DNC Chairperson, which must be duly submitted.

7. The DNC Chairperson, the DNC Vice Chairperson, and non-statutory deputies are prohibited from seeking the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America unless they first resign their leadership position in the DNC.

8. The Democratic Leader in the United States Senate will appoint the Democratic Whip in the United States Senate, and may appoint as many non-statutory Deputy Democratic Whips In the Unites States Senate as they feel appropriate.

9. The Democratic Leader in the United States Senate may dismiss the Democratic Whip in the United States Senate or non-statutory deputies at their discretion. The Democratic Whip in the United States Senate and non-statutory deputies shall be automatically removed from office following election of a new Democratic Leader in the United States Senate, unless reappointed.

10. No independent person caucusing with the Democratic Party under Charter Section 1.1 will be allowed to stand for any elected leadership position within the DNC, nor will they be eligible to be appointed to any leadership position within the DNC, or any sub-caucus thereof, unless an extraordinary vote is held by the members of the DNC to allow their candidacy or appointment.

 

The time for debate and discussion on this amendment has expired. We will now hold a 24 hour vote on adoption of this amendment. It requires a 2/3 majority of those present and voting to pass.

Chair votes aye.

On 12/10/2023 at 3:46 PM, Krol said:

I will propose the following charter amendment:

 

 

SEC. 3. Leadership Elections

1. The following leadership officers will be elected by the DNC:

a. the DNC Chairperson;

b. the Democratic Leader of the United States Senate;

c. the President pro tempore or Senior Acting President pro tempore of the United States Senate, if a Democrat.

2. Leadership elections will take place in the DNC War Room, via a thread, with no poll.

3. The DNC Chairperson will preside over elections, unless the office of DNC Chairperson is vacant or the DNC Chairperson is a candidate in the election, in which case the next statutory member of DNC leadership in the order of precedence who is not a candidate in the election will preside.

4. Election nominations will be open for 36 hours. In order to qualify as a candidate, a member must be nominated and seconded, and if not self-nominating must accept nomination before nominations end. A member may self-nominate, but may not second their own nomination.

5. Election voting will be open for 48 hours. If there is only one candidate for any office, that candidate will be immediately elected by acclamation. If there are only two candidates for any office, members will vote by declaring the name of their preferred candidate. If there are more than two candidates for any office, members will vote by ranking each candidate in order of preference.

6. After votes are tabulated, if a candidate receives a majority of votes that candidate will be elected. In the event no candidate receives a majority of votes, the candidate who received the fewest votes will be eliminated, and votes redistributed to the next ranked candidate each of that candidate's voters selected. This process will continue until a candidate receives a majority of votes and is elected.

elected.

7. All elected leadership officers terms will end at the next general election after their election. The outgoing Chair of the DNC will remain in office as a caretaker to oversee the election of new leadership until a Chair is properly elected.

The time for debate and discussion on this amendment has expired. We will now hold a 24 hour vote on adoption of this amendment. It requires a 2/3 majority of those present and voting to pass.

Chair votes aye.

I have half a mind to argue that they can't under the existing rules, unless, per Section 1.1, we've had a plurality vote to admit them into the caucus.

But, to be exceptionally clear:

SEC. 2. DNC Leadership

1. The DNC shall be led by a Chairperson, who shall coordinate the operations of the DNC, represent the DNC to the public and to the media, and manage DNC finances.

2. The DNC Chairperson will appoint one DNC Vice Chairperson, and may appoint non-statutory deputies of specific portfolios at their discretion.

3. The DNC Chairperson may dismiss the DNC Vice Chairperson or non-statutory deputies at their discretion. The DNC Vice Chairperson and non-statutory deputies shall be automatically removed from office following election of a new DNC Chairperson, unless reappointed.

4. In the event the office of DNC Chairperson is vacant, the next statutory member of DNC leadership in the order of precedence as ranked in subsection 5 will fulfill the responsibilities of the DNC Chairperson until a new DNC Chairperson is elected.

5. The following are statutory members of DNC leadership, ranked in order of precedence:

a. the DNC Chairperson;

b. the DNC Vice Chairperson;

c. the Democratic Leader in the United States Senate;

d. the Democratic Whip in the United States Senate;

e. the President pro tempore or Senior Acting President pro tempore of the United States Senate, if a Democrat.

6. The President of the United States of America, if a Democrat, may request the resignation of the DNC Chairperson, which must be duly submitted.

7. The DNC Chairperson, the DNC Vice Chairperson, and non-statutory deputies are prohibited from seeking the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America unless they first resign their leadership position in the DNC.

8. The Democratic Leader in the United States Senate will appoint the Democratic Whip in the United States Senate, and may appoint as many non-statutory Deputy Democratic Whips In the Unites States Senate as they feel appropriate.

9. The Democratic Leader in the United States Senate may dismiss the Democratic Whip in the United States Senate or non-statutory deputies at their discretion. The Democratic Whip in the United States Senate and non-statutory deputies shall be automatically removed from office following election of a new Democratic Leader in the United States Senate, unless reappointed.

10. No independent person caucusing with the Democratic Party under Charter Section 1.1 will be allowed to stand for any elected leadership position within the DNC, nor will they be eligible to be appointed to any leadership position within the DNC, or any sub-caucus thereof, unless an extraordinary vote is held by the members of the DNC to allow their candidacy or appointment.

Aye

Aye

Aye