Student Congress Topics for TDL #5 at Smithfield High School on February 15th, 2014
As voted on by the representatives at the January TDL
Legislation is due by Tuesday February 11th at 11:59pm
Please make sure you post your legislation in the comments for this post. Several students posted their legislation in the wrong place last month. Please review the post "Instructions on Posting Congress Legislation"
Domestic
- NSA Regulations
- Paying College Athletes
International
- Black Market Organs
- Whaling in International Waters
Virginia
- Standardized Testing
- Prayer in Schools
Economic
- Unemployment Benefits
- Online Sales Tax
30 comments:
A Bill to Extend Unemployment Insurance
ARTICLE I: Extend Unemployment Insurance until the end of 2014
ARTICLE II: Unemployment Insurance: A source of income for workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
ARTICLE III: The Department of Labor is responsible for carrying out this legislation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Connor Reid First Colonial High School
ARTICLE IV: This bill will go into effect on March 1st, 2014
ARTICLE V: All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
A BILL TO ALLOW VOLUNTARY PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES IN SCHOOL
ARTICLE I: This bill will allow the opportunity for people and students of various religions to have the opportunity throughout the day to fulfill the duties of their religion through prayer or other similar forms of tradition.
ARTICLE II: The first amendment to the United States Constitution assures the citizens of these United States the freedom of Religion. Thusly, these citizens should be free to express and carry out their religions as they see fit. Religion is defined as and organi\zed system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.
ARTICLE III: This bill shall be overseen by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of State.
ARTICLE IV: This bill shall go into effect within six months of passage.
ARTICLE V: All laws in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully Submitted
Jordan Young
First Colonial High School
A Resolution to Pay College Athletes
WHEREAS, College athletes are not getting paid for their on the field performances; and
WHEREAS, College are making millions off of athletes who aren’t getting any part of the money; and
WHEREAS, The earning for each college are not proportional enough to pay some living expenses; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled proportionally pay college athletes; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That coaches are also proportionally paid.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kayla Whyte
First Colonial High School
A RESOLUTION TO CONDEMN AND SEEK INTERNATIONAL PROSECUTION OF ALL COMMERCIAL WHALING
WHEREAS, Anti-whaling nations and conservation groups are currently very concerned that the Japanese are to widen their species profile to include Humpbacks and Fin Whales in their "scientific" whaling program.
WHEREAS, The whaling nations of the world including Norway, Iceland and Japan are currently working hard for a resumption of commercial whaling which, if passed, would likely deplete the number of cetacean species
WHEREAS, In 2010; 3,345 Minke and 2,456 Fin whales were killed worldwide
WHEREAS, Fin Whales are currently listed on the IUCN red list as endangered and threatened.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT, The United States will condemn and seek the prosecution of those who commit any type of commercial whaling
Respectfully Submitted,
Brianne Habit
First Colonial High School
A BILL TO REFORM STANDARDIZED TESTING IN VIRGINIA
ARTICLE I: The Virginia Department of Education will reform the Standards of Learning to raise learning objectives set by the test.
ARTICLE II: By raising learning objectives, students will be required to learn a higher level curriculum.
ARTICLE III: This legislation shall be overseen by the Virginia Department of Education.
ARTICLE IV: This legislation shall be enacted by August 1, 2014.
ARTICLE V: All articles in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Nova Callahan
First Colonial High School
A Resolution to Prohibit the Commercial Harvest of Whales
WHEREAS, The commercial harvest of whales in international waters is a growing problem that currently has modest regulation; and
WHEREAS, Whales are an essential part of our ecosystem and they are being overharvested; and
WHEREAS, The whales are being harvested to such an extent so that they will be driven to extinction; and
WHEREAS, Current regulations are miniscule and are being taken advantage of and not enforced; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation
in the International Whaling Commission for tighter regulations against the commercial harvest of whales; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That more strict regulations be put in place against harvest for scientific purposes, as well.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Senator Lucas Anderton of First Colonial High School.
A BILL TO PROTECT AMERICA’S HOMEFRONT
ARTICLE I: The National Security Agency shall withhold data collected for 10 years
ARTICLE II: Date is defined as individual facts, statistics, or items of information
ARTICLE III: This shall be overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice in congruence with the National Security Agency
ARTICLE IV: This bill shall go into effect July 1, 2014
ARTICLE V: All articles in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Sean M. Lewis, II
First Colonial High School
A RESOLUTION TO FINANCIALLY COMPENSATE ORGAN DONORS
WHEREAS impoverished people are currently selling organs through the black market to help their families and
WHEREAS law abiding citizens are facing ethical dilemmas on whether or not to turn to the black market to obtain lifesaving organ donations and
WHEREAS financial compensations for organ donations would encourage economic growth
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the United States will legalize financial compensation to organ donors
Respectfully submitted,
Brittany M. Russell
First Colonial High School
A BILL TO ENFORCE AND CREATE EXSISTING AND NONEXSISTING ONLINE SALES TAX
ARTICLE 1: The taxation of products purchased through the internet are hereby enforced nationwide.
ARTICLE 2:
i. Any and all occurring taxes required for the purchase of goods online will herby be enforced in each state, while any states without said tax will be required to create one.
ii. All tax percentage rates will reflect that of each state’s current sales tax rate.
ARTICLE 3:
i. This legislation will be overseen by the United States Department of the Treasury.
ii. Funding for this bill will be sourced directly from the Department of Treasury’s fiscal budget.
ARTICLE 4: This bill will be enacted on March 1, 2014
ARTICLE 5: All laws in conflict with this piece of legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael Peck
First Colonial High School
A Resolution to Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits
WHEREAS, The federal unemployment benefits expired on December 23, 2013 and has not been renewed; and
WHEREAS, the federal unemployment benefits are helpful in supporting the U.S. economy; and
WHEREAS, ; and we need to take action to help support our citizens ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits.
A resolution to protect the religious liberties of public school students in Virginia
WHEREAS, The first amendment to the Constitution prevents Congress from passing laws to prohibit the free exercise of religion; and,
WHEREAS, Prayer, being a component of some religions and belief systems, is a form of expression of one’s faith; and,
WHEREAS, Denying an individual or a group the right to prayer effectively prohibits the free exercise of religion, which, by nature, is unconstitutional; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By this Congress that prayer in the public school systems not be limited or impeded, and that students reserve to right to partake in prayer or opt out thereof.
A BILL TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF AMERICANS
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT
Article 1. The United States government will require the NSA dismiss obsolete information collected after 90 days.
Article 2. Upon passage of this bill, all surveillance data received and reviewed that does not contain a threat, or is benign will be
Article 3. The National Security Agency will oversee this regulation of surveillance data.
Article 4. This bill with go into effect by June 1st 2014
Article 5. All articles in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted
Jennelle John-Lewis
First Colonial High School
A Resolution to Decrease Unemployment Benefit
BE IT RESOLVED,
WHEREAS the federal government does not have enough money to fund unemployment benefits, and
WHEREAS unemployment insurance taxes deter job creation, and
WHEREAS unemployment benefits decrease the incentive to find employment.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Student Congress here assembled that unemployment benefits will be decreased by 50% over the next fiscal year.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sabrina McAllister
Smithfield High School
A Bill to Allow Prayer in Virginia Public Schools
Article I: Students will be allowed time for prayer on school grounds at the beginning and end of each school day.
Article II: Student prayer time will include the expression of religious beliefs in a manner that is affiliated with their own religion.
Article III: This bill will be overseen by the Virginia Department of Education.
Article IV: This bill will be enacted on September 1st, 2014.
Article V: All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Jamie Graham
Smithfield High School
A Bill to Enhance Current NSA Regulations in the United States
Article I: The United States will amplify current NSA regulations by hiring more employees to aid in the maintenance of current surveillance programs.
Article II: The National Security Agency protects our nation’s security system and produces foreign intelligence information.
Article III: This bill will be overseen by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Article IV: This legislation will be enacted on August 1, 2014.
Article V: All laws in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Ashley Deese,
Smithfield High School
A Resolution to Pay College Athletes
BE IT RESOLVED,
WHEREAS, college football and basketball programs bring in millions of dollars in revenue for their institution, and
WHEREAS, college athletes receive no annual income from their university or college in which they compete for, and
WHERAS, paying college athletes may act as an incentive to keep student-athletes in school longer or until they earn their degree,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED that college athletes in the sports of football and basketball be paid between $3,000 and $5,000 per season.
Respectfully submitted,
James Wilson
Smithfield High School
A Bill to Legalize Organ Trading in the United States
Article I: The United States Government will allow organ selling within its borders and with other nations who allow the selling of organs for donation purposes only.
Article II: Selling for donation purposes includes selling to hospitals who will then transplant the organ into a waiting patient or selling directly to the overseers of the transplant waiting list.
Article III: The selling of organs will be regulated and monitored by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Article IV: This bill will be enacted on January 1, 2014.
Article V: All laws in contradiction with this bill are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully Submitted,
Duane Dzubilo
Smithfield High School
Bill #0010
A Bill to Implement an Online Sales Tax
1 Be it enacted by this Congress here assembled that:
2 Section 1: All online Sales Taxes shall be used for the public school systems of the state the
3 buyer is from.
4 Section 2: Online sales taxes will be proportional to the regular states’ tax of the state that 5
5 the buyer is buying from.
6 Section 3: There will be a Department of Online Taxation that will oversee all of the
7 necessary and proper aspects of the department.
8 Section 4: This Bill shall go into effect no later than January 1st, 2016, and any violations of
9 any aspect of the Bill are subject to prosecution.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brad Hancock
Warwick High School
Bill #0012
To Pay College Level Athletes
1. Be it enacted by this congress here assembled that:
2. Section 1: All NCAA Division 1 Athletes be given an allowance of $125.00 a week to
3. provide for themselves during the school year, coming out to $2,000.00 per semester.
4. Section 2: This legislation will be funded by each college to their athletic programs, with
5. the NCAA also funding the colleges to help with the payout.
6. Section 3: Failure to comply with legislation by the program or school will be penalized
7. by the NCAA, resulting in necessary and proper action to reprimand the school or
8. program.
9. Section 4: Any monetary penalties acquired by punishment will be reallocated back to
10. the athletes that were affected.
11. Section 5: This law will go into effect no later than June 21st, 2015.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bradford Hancock
Warwick High School
Resolution #0008
A Resolution to cease Whaling on International Waters
1 Whereas whaling is a continuing, interesting struggle throughout the world.
2 Whereas some countries, such as Japan, are guilty of a grossly excessive amount of whaling off of
3 Japanese waters into international waters.
4 Whereas the vary slow growth of whale populations shows that the population is still too
5 unimpressive
6 to begin commercial whaling again.
7 Whereas other countries not yet on the International Whaling Commission should join in the struggle
8 to continue reviving the populations.
9 Whereas the United States, being the leader of the world, must take action to start an anti-whaling
10 revolution, so that the whale population can repopulate until whaling may take place again.
11 Therefore, Be it resolved by the Student Congress here assembled that the United States cease all
12 whaling on international and domestic waters.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dominique Tucker
Warwick High School
Whereas, whale meat can contain toxic waste harmful to people.
Whereas, whaling is causing certain species of whales to become extinct.
Whereas,whaling is causing conflicts between different whalers.
Whereas, the whaling market is shallow.
Therefore, be it resolved by this student congress hereby assembled today, that worldwide efforts be put forth in order to abolish whaling.
A RESOLUTION AGAINIST PAYING COLLEGE ATHLETES
Whereas, most college athletes receive financial benefits.
Whereas, paying college athletes is unfair to other students.
Whereas, it would affect gender equality in college sports.
Respectfully submitted,
Summer Stuart
Great Bridge High School
A resolution to impose a prohibition against augmenting unemployment benefits
Whereas, statistics indicated that raising unemployment benefits is detrimental; and,
Whereas, the nation does not have adequate funds to increase unemployment benefits, and;
Whereas, the populace does not need increased benefits; therefore,
Be it resolved by the Student Congress here assembled that the United States will prohibit increased unemployment benefits.
Respectfully submitted,
Alex Kozoyed
Great Bridge High School
A Resolution to Initiate Paying U.S. College Athletes
1. WHEREAS, College athletes are not getting paid for their hard work and
2. dedication to their sport; and
3. WHEREAS, Most athletes have extremely tight schedules between practices,
4. games, school, homework, and studying; and
5. WHEREAS, Athletes’ tight schedules keep them from being able to provide
6. time needed for jobs, social clubs, and other possible activities; now,
7. therefore, be it
8. RESOLVED, By the Student Congress here assembled that: College athletes,
9. depending upon the sport they are a member of, should receive between
10. $1,000-$5,000 during the athletic seasons.
Respectfully submitted,
Senator River Boulay
From Gloucester High School
Whereas: Thousands of people die on the waiting list for an organ transplant causing many to turn towards illegal black market organs; and
Whereas: this is evidenced by the fact that 10,000 black market organs are sold per year; and
Whereas: many organ sellers are not given their promised money and are faced with serious health issues.
Therefore, be it resolved by this Student Congress here assembled that:
The United States look into legalizing the sale of organs
Nathan Schultz-Gloucester High School
A resolution to urge further action on NSA regulation.
1. WHEREAS: The NSA is not regulated enough to secure the freedom of people.
2. WHEREAS: The NSA is becoming too intrusive in the people privacy which is messing with their freedoms and going against what America was founded abound.
3. WHEREAS: The NSA is invading the people’s privacy which is limiting our own freedoms and the NSA does not gain enough results to make breaking our freedoms worth it.
4. RESOLVED by the student congress here assembled that: NSA regulation should be increased.
A Resolution to Abolish S.O.L. Testing in Virginia
WHEREAS, Standardized testing is inaccurate and unfair measure of
WHEREAS, other countries have succeeded without standardized testing; and
WHEREAS, standardized testing displaces creativity; and
WHEREAS, standardized testing is expensive; and
WHEREAS, open-ended questions are graded by unqualified workers; and now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Congress here assembled that standardized testing in the form of the S.O.L. is abolished in Virginia’s public schools.
Introduced by Divya Karuturi
Grassfield High School
A resolution to end the use of standardized tests in the Virginia educational system
Whereas, the tests are an unreliable measure of student performance; and
Whereas, "teaching to the test" is replacing higher level thinking in classrooms; and
Whereas, these tests are costly; now, therefore,
Be it resolved by Student Congress here assembled that the Virginia educational system abolish its use of standardized testing.
Respectfully submitted,
Zach McRae
Great Bridge High School
Whereas, some colleges would have trouble paying it's players for the sports they play.
Whereas, only major sports would be recognized and such an act would be unfair to the less popular sports.
Whereas, paying college athletes could possibly result in a lack of academic commitment.
Therefore, be it resolved by this student congress hereby assembled today, that the payment of college athletes shall be avoided at all cost.
RE-POSTED by TDL President:
A RESOLUTION TO BAN COMMERCIAL WHALING IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS
WHEREAS, whaling is no longer a necessary practice; and,
WHEREAS, there are no humane ways to kill whales; and,
WHEREAS, some species of whale are now extinct as a direct result of whaling; and,
WHEREAS, the whaling industry is no longer making profits as large as it used to;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the student congress here assembled, the United States will assist in a global effort to abolish the commercial harvesting of whales.
Bailey Cake
Landstown High School
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