Krol

The Amendment has been adopted. We will now begin a 24 hour vote to ratify the amended charter. 
 

Chair votes aye. 

Aye

Present

Aye

Aye

Nay

Nay 

Nay

Democrats Lead on Foreign Aid, Republicans Obstruct

Senate Democrats, led by DNC Chairman Jon Krol (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Assistant Senate Democratic Leader John Starnes (D-VA), today presented the Unified Aid Bill of 2023 in the Senate to provide critical aid money to Israel and Ukraine, as they respond to the unprecedented atrocities committed against them. Senator Krol attempted to pass the bill immediately by unanimous consent but was blocked by Senator Michael Allen (R-SC) in a brazen show of obstruction.

Speaking to the press outside of the Senate Chamber, Senator Krol said "I am very disappointed to see my Republican colleagues engage in such blatant partisan obstruction. We have a good, strong bill that the President has said he will sign - getting vital aid to both of our allies immediately. Instead they refuse to support the people of Ukraine - and in doing so harming democracies across the globe - while also blocking the largest aid package to Israel in decades." Both Israel and Ukraine are suffering at the hands of rogue hostile actors, with civilians, including women and children, bearing the brunt of these horrific attacks. Senate Democrats have presented amendments to increase humanitarian aid funding and ensure there is proper Congressional oversight of the funding. Senator Krol said that those amendments should both receive "a 100-0 vote" and the Unified Aid Bill should "be on the Resolute Desk by the end of the week. It is up to Speaker Johnson and his allies in the Senate what happens now."

The Democratic Party stands firmly with President Biden's belief that both aid packages must be passed together as a single bill, in a show of strength and solidarity with the Israeli and Ukrainian people.

Madam President,

I offer the following pair of amendments:

Krol I

Quote

 

SEC. 6. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCY.

Israel-

Administration Of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Programs

(1) For an additional amount for “Diplomatic Programs”, $150,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for responding to the attacks in Israel and areas impacted by the attacks in Israel, including for crisis response and relocation support for Mission Israel, of which $100,000,000 shall be available until expended for Worldwide Security Protection to sustain requirements for Mission Israel and other United States missions affected by the attacks in Israel: Provided, that such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

Emergencies In The Diplomatic and Consular Service

(2) For an additional amount for “Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service”, $50,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for emergency evacuation of United States Government personnel and citizens in Israel and in countries in the region impacted by the attacks in Israel: Provided, that such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

Humanitarian Assistance

(3) For an additional amount for “Humanitarian Assistance”, $1,000,000,000 5,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for responding to the attacks in Israel and areas impacted by the attacks in Israel: Provided, that such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

(A) Funding to the government of Israel to provide humanitarian assistance to its citizens and citizens within Palestine who remain in the region or who have fled their homes due to the attacks in Israel, including—

(1) funding to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical assistance, and other forms of relief the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate; and

(2) funding to rebuild damaged or destroyed infrastructure

 

Ukraine-

Administration Of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Programs

(1) For an additional amount for “Diplomatic Programs”, $150,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the situation in Ukraine and in countries impacted by the situation in Ukraine: Provided, that such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

Humanitarian Assistance

(2) For an additional amount for “Humanitarian Assistance”, $600,000,000 1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, to respond to the situation in Ukraine and in countries impacted by the situation in Ukraine: Provided, that such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

(A) Funding to the government of Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance to its citizens who remain in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees who have fled their homes due to Russian aggression, including—

(1) funding to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical assistance, and other forms of relief the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate; and

(2) funding to rebuild damaged or destroyed infrastructure

 

Krol II

Quote

 

SEC. 9. OVERSIGHT

 

(1) No later than December 31, 2025, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Department of State Office of Inspector General, and Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General shall jointly report to the President of the United States, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the various chairs of the appropriate Congressional committees with oversight of the relevant departments on the expenditure and allocation of the funds appropriated in this bill, including but not limited to unused funds, funds diverted to other programs, and potential instances of fraud.

(2) The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Department of State Office of the Inspector General, and Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General shall jointly issue an interim report every six months, beginning six months after the enactment of this bill, to the President of the United States, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the various chairs of the appropriate Congressional committees with oversight of the relevant departments on the expenditure and allocation of the funds appropriated in this bill, including but not limited to unused funds, funds diverted to other programs, and potential instances of fraud.

 

I yield back.

Nay

Madam President,

The world faces two great, active challenges right now - a despot in Russia seeking to revive the Soviet Union and cripple democracy in Eastern Europe and a terror group conducting an ethnic genocide in the Middle East. We must address both of these challenges and we must not delay in doing so. We cannot look at one challenge and say “your civilian deaths are less important than other civilian deaths”. In both Israel and Ukraine, helpless civilians are being forcibly removed from their homes and slaughtered as political pawns. Ukrainians and Israelis share the same yearning for peace, for safety, and for security. The United States of America can and must respond to those calls. 
 

My Republican colleagues’ opposition to supporting democracy in Ukraine is concerning, because it is not just Ukraine this funding supports. If Kyiv falls, we know the Russian President will turn his focus to Poland, and Latvia, and Romania, and all across Europe until an Iron Curtain falls across Europe once again. And I assure you all that Xi Jinping is watching how we respond to the annexation of Ukraine and, based on my Republican colleagues’ position, licking his lips. Because if our enemies see we abandon the people of Ukraine, if they see we abandon the causes of freedom and self-determination, Taiwan will be next. Then South Korea. And more and more. Until there is a Russian empire in Europe and a Chinese-backed empire of puppet states in Asia. We cannot forget the Taliban as well, and the threat of Islamic Jihad terror. These causes and challenges are all related and intertwined. We must respond as such. 
 

The United States of America, as the preeminent world power, must stand tall and stand firm. We made a commitment to support the free people of the world and we must follow through with that commitment. This bill is the only way to do that in a meaningful and timely way - it is the only bill that our President will sign and the only bill that this Senate will pass. 
 

Let’s do the right thing and pass this bill - now. 
 

I yield back. 

Madam President,

I move to suspend the rules and pass this critical bill by unanimous consent. 
 

I yield. 

I am just trying to follow the charter as it is written. The charter says we elect a whip. 

Appointment is withdrawn. 

3 hours ago, Krol said:

Pursuant to Section 2.2 of the DNC Charter, I am appointing Senator Erik Kaberle (D-PA) as Vice Chair of the DNC.

 

Because Senator Kaberle has made an endorsement in the Presidential race, I am taking the unusual step of opening up a 24 hour confirmatory vote on this appointment (simple majority) to ensure the party accepts this decision. Based on the number of people running for President, and other potential candidates for Vice Chair declining the appointment or already running for Senate Leader, I believe Senator Kaberle is the best candidate available for the position, even with him having waded into the presidential contest.

After conversations with various candidates and Senator Kaberle, the appointment is withdrawn. 

Pursuant to Section 3 of the DNC Charter, a 24 hour period will begin to nominate the Senate Democratic Whip.

Candidates

Nominated:

Seconded:

Accepted:

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 Democratic Whip of the United States Senate;

d. 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 24 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.

John Starnes has been unanimously elected Senate Democratic Leader. Congratulations, @Starnes!

Please have any changes to this bill suggested by 10:00 PM Eastern tonight. I have to have our bill to the AB tonight. 

A 24 hour confirmation vote will be held (simple majority) on my appointment of Senator Erik Kaberle (D-PA) as Vice Chair of the DNC. 

Pursuant to Section 2.2 of the DNC Charter, I am appointing Senator Erik Kaberle (D-PA) as Vice Chair of the DNC.

Because Senator Kaberle has made an endorsement in the Presidential race, I am taking the unusual step of opening up a 24 hour confirmatory vote on this appointment (simple majority) to ensure the party accepts this decision. Based on the number of people running for President, and other potential candidates for Vice Chair declining the appointment or already running for Senate Leader, I believe Senator Kaberle is the best candidate available for the position, even with him having waded into the presidential contest.

43 minutes ago, Starnes said:

I’d like to see the Senate Leader choose the Whip. 

The 24 hour period to propose amendments has passed. This is unfortunate as it is an amendment I would support. Under the terms of the Charter, it would not be appropriate to recognize this amendment at this time. It can be considered, however, once the charter is ratified as a new amendment under Sec.6.2. 

Erin Mendenhall has been nominated for Utah in the Discord. 

My preferences for candidates for the TBD races would be:

Arizona - Rep. Gallego

CA - Rep. Schiff

FL - Fmr. Rep. Mucarasel-Powell

MI - Rep. Slotkin

MO - Major Kunce

NJ - First Lady Murphy

TX - Rep. Allred

Please suggest primary candidates for the upcoming Senate elections here.