A Bill to Implement an Oil Embargo for Countries Hosting ISIS
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
The terrorist organization known as ISIS has seized territory in Iraq and
3
Syria and has profited from the oil industry located there, therefore, an
4
embargo on oil exports shall be enacted on Iraq and Syria to further
5
weaken ISIS’s finances and decrease military operations.
6
Section 2.
An oil embargo shall be defined as a prohibition of the trade of petroleum
7
from one country to another. Military operations shall be defined as the
8
coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a
9
developing situation.
10
Section 3.
A.
11
The United States Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control shall
be responsible for overseeing this legislation.
12
B.
13
This bill shall be up for renewal every five years or upon ISIS’s
defeat or withdrawal in the region, whichever comes first.
14
Section 4.
This law will take effect within six months of passage.
15
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Christopher Hamilton, Apopka High School
A Resolution to Reduce Sanctions on Russia
1
Whereas,
2
3
agreement; and
Whereas,
4
5
Sanctions imposed by the United States on the Russian Federation have
failed to meet their goals of deterring Russian aggression; and
Whereas,
6
7
Ukraine and Russia are on a pathway to peace under the recent Minsk II
Sanctions have had an unintended negative impact on the economies of
our allies in the European Union; and
Whereas,
Sanctions only serve to hurt the Russian people, which bolsters the
8
legitimacy of Vladimir Putin’s regime and his anti-Western agenda;
9
therefore, be it
10
Resolved,
By the Congress here assembled that all sanctions currently imposed on
11
the Russian Federation shall hereby be relaxed to roughly half of their
12
current capacity.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Matthew Kruse, Boca Raton Community High School
A Bill to Abolish Puppy Mills
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1:
The business practice of Puppy Mills is hereby abolished.
3
Section 2:
Puppy mills shall be defined as an establishment that breeds puppies for
4
sale, typically on an intensive basis and in conditions regarded as
5
inhumane. Inhumane shall be defined as the harsh and abusive treatment
6
of animals.
7
Section 3:
8
The U.S. Department of Agriculture shall oversee the provisions of this
bill.
9
Section 4:
This bill shall be implemented immediately upon passage.
10
Section 5:
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Trevor Lopez, Charles W Flanagan High School
A Bill to Stabilize Libya
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
The United States federal government will increase funding by 300
3
million dollars (300,000,000) to the African Contingency Operations
4
Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program in order to stabilize Libya and
5
provide safety for its citizens through United Nations and African Union
6
peacekeepers.
7
Section 2.
ACOTA is a branch of the State Department that provides extensive
8
training for African peacekeepers and equipment for African multinational
9
peace operations’ trainers and peacekeepers. Peacekeepers shall be defined
10
as groups of soldiers, officers, or civilians that provide security, political,
11
and peace building support to help countries make the transition from
12
conflict to peace.
13
Section 3.
The ACOTA program office will work in conjunction with the United
14
Nations and African Union to see clear implementation of the legislation
15
and deployment of the peacekeepers to Libya.
16
Section 4.
This law will take effect within six months of passage.
17
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Luke Tillitski, Dreyfoos School of the Arts
A Resolution to Reinstate NASA's Space Based Solar Power Program
1
Whereas,
NASA's Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) program has been long defunct
2
due to technical limitations of the time, and China's and India's space
3
agencies has reinstated their SBSP research programs; and
4
Whereas,
5
6
the technology now exists which would allow for a SBSP array to be
created and formed, allowing for higher efficiency than on Earth; and
Whereas,
these arrays will decrease need for oil and fossil-based resources, which
7
would help negate climate change as well as pollution near large cities
8
which still use coal as a primary source for power; and
9
Whereas,
costs ensued by creation of these arrays will be mitigated by preventing
10
the need to create technology to remove pollutants from the atmosphere
11
should coal continue to be used as a primary source of power; and
12
Whereas,
jobs lost in the coal industry will be made up and exceeded by the number
13
of jobs created by the need for construction of infrastructure, manufacture
14
of arrays, and upkeep of the land-based systems; therefore, be it
15
16
17
Resolved,
That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation to
reinstate NASA's SBSP program; and, be it
Further resolved,
that emphasis is placed on the creation of cheaper, stronger, and
18
more efficient solar panels and materials for the array itself, as well
19
as cheaper and more effective boosters in order to ensure solar
20
arrays are even more feasible and beneficial to integrate.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Jares Doverspike, Gulf Breeze High School
The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2016
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 (S. 1659) is enacted,
3
requiring that states with 10 or more voting rights violations during the
4
last 25 years seek pre-clearance from a federal court for any law that
5
changes the current system of voting to include any form of prerequisite to
6
voting.
7
Section 2.
8
9
identification cards, literacy tests, or poll taxes.
Section 3.
10
11
14
The Department of Justice is granted authority to oversee the
implementation of this legislation
Section 4.
12
13
Prerequisites to voting shall include but are not limited to voter
Implementation of this legislation shall be accomplished no later
than November 1, 2016.
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null
and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Rep. Varun Aggarwal, Lake Highland
A Resolution to Authorize the Use of Military Force Against ISIL
1
Whereas,
2
3
atrocities in the territory it has illegally seized in Iraq and Syria; and;
Whereas,
4
5
ISIL intends to conduct terrorist attacks against the United States and its
allies; and;
Whereas,
6
7
the terrorist organization ISIL has committed barbaric human rights
the current Authorization to Use Military Force against Al Qaeda from
2001 is insufficient and outdated for the current crisis; now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
by the Congress here assembled that the President is authorized to use the
8
Armed Forces of the United States as the President determines to be
9
necessary and appropriate against ISIL or associated persons or forces;
10
and, be it
11
Further resolved,
that this does not authorize the use of the United States
12
Armed Forces in enduring offensive ground combat operations;
13
and, be it
14
Finally resolved,
that this Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF) shall
15
expire three years after passage unless renewed by a future
16
congress.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Darreyl Williams, Lake Highland
A Bill To Increase Funding For The Research and Development of
Nuclear Energy Resources
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
3
4
The United States government will increase the $853 million dollars spent
on nuclear energy to the amount of $5 billion.
Section 2.
Nuclear energy resources will be defined as research into nuclear fusion,
5
thorium reactors, improvement on current nuclear reactors, and recycling,
6
management, storage of nuclear waste products.
7
Section 3.
The Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall
8
be responsible for overseeing the enforcement of this legislation.
9
A.
10
Funding for this bill will come from the Department of Defense's
budget.
11
Section 4.
This bill will be implemented in the Fiscal Year of 2017.
12
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Rep. Nickolas Clarke, Legacy High School
A Bill to Abolish the Use of Animals for Military Warfare
1
Be It Enacted by the Congress Here Assembled That:
2
Section 1.
3
4
military activity.
Section 2.
5
6
The United States Armed Forces will no longer use any type of animal for
The United States Armed Forces consists of the Army, Marine Corps,
Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Section 3.
7
The Secretary of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of
Homeland Security shall oversee the implementation of this legislation.
8
Section 4.
This legislation will take effect on May 1, 2016
9
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Luchiano Perez, McArthur High School
A Resolution to End Generational Poverty through Welfare and
Medical Aide Entitlement Reforms
1
Whereas,
citizens and illegal immigrants continue to abuse the welfare system; and
2
Whereas,
many lower class Americans use fraudulent reasons or excuses to get more
3
4
money from the government; and
Whereas,
5
6
this debt by 1 billion dollars per year is ludicrous; and
Whereas,
7
8
Whereas,
Whereas,
15
non documented citizens illegally in the US receive welfare and medical
care in several state or counties; and
Whereas,
13
14
another example of the system being abused is when the Americans feign
to be injured or disabled but are actually fine; and
11
12
eligible and noneligible Americans, for example, have multiple children
for the sake of increased benefits; and
9
10
the U.S already has a National debt of 19 trillion dollars, and increasing
the US needs to look at the UK as a model for its failed system of
providing government aide to its citizens; therefore, be it
Resolved,
that the United States federal and state governments place stricter
regulations on the welfare and medical aide programs and systems.
Submitted for Congressional Debate by Luke Jones, Niceville High School
A Bill to Adopt the 2016 Paris Agreement
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section I.
United States will take steps to reduce carbon emissions in order to meet
3
their global and moral responsibility. Alternative energy sources will be
4
adopted to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius.
5
Section II.
Carbon emissions shall be defined as the release of greenhouse gases and/
6
or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of
7
time. Alternative energy sources shall be defined as any biofuels,
8
hydrogen, solar, geothermal, or nuclear energy, which meet energy
9
demands at least as well as finite fossil fuels.
10
Section III.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall be responsible
11
for the oversight and implementation of this bill.
12
A.
13
Three billion dollars shall be allotted to the implementation
of this bill, and after a year this amount may be adjusted.
14
Section IV.
This law will take effect within six months of passage.
15
Section V.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null
16
and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Representative Henry Horgan, Oxbridge Academy
A Bill to Prohibit the Direct-to-Consumer Advertisement of Prescription Drugs
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
3
4
prohibited.
Section 2.
5
6
The direct-to-consumer advertisement of prescription drugs shall be
Direct-to-consumer advertising shall be defined as the practice of
marketing pharmaceuticals directly towards patients.
Section 3.
7
The Federal Trade Commission shall be responsible for enforcing the
provisions of this bill.
8
Section 4.
This law will take effect immediately upon passage.
9
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Sen. Megan Morich, Pine View School
A Bill to End United States Possession of Territories
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
All inhabited territories of the United States shall have a referendum to
3
determine if they wish to continue association with the United States. All
4
territories which wish to stay will be granted statehood: all others will be
5
granted independence.
6
Section 2.
7
8
“Inhabited territories” include Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, and Northern Marianas.
Section 3.
9
The Federal Election Commission will work in conjunction with the
territories local governments to conduct the referendum.
10
Section 4.
This law will take effect within six months of passage.
11
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Ally Partee, Sarasota High School
The Insurance Protection Act of 2016
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
3
4
Insurance companies may not engage in credit default swaps (CDS) if they
provide private insurance to individuals or pension funds.
Section 2.
A credit default swap shall be defined as a financial swap agreement that
5
the seller of the credit default swap will compensate the buyer in the event
6
of a loan default or other credit event.
7
Section 3.
The SEC will be tasked with the implementation and enforcement of this
8
bill.
9
A.
10
Any companies found in violation of this bill will lose their license
to insure for 5 years.
11
B.
12
Each board member of any company found in violation of this bill
will be fined $10 million.
13
Section 4.
This law will go into effect on January 1, 2018.
14
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by John Hunschofsky, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
A Bill to Make Standardized Testing Optional
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
With a parent or legal guardian’s permission, a student in the United States
3
will be allowed to bypass one or more state standardized tests that school
4
year with no penalty.
5
Section 2.
a)
Parent or legal guardian’s permission shall be defined as a
6
signature from an official form made by the respective school
7
district stating that their child will be bypassing one or more state
8
standardized tests.
9
b)
State standardized tests shall be defined as any end of the year test
10
taken by every student in the respective state, for the upgrade of
11
the next grade level.
12
c)
13
School year shall be defined as any single school year of learning
(ex. 2015-16).
14
Section 3.
The Department of Education shall oversee this legislation.
15
Section 4.
This bill shall be put into effect on August 1, 2016.
16
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Submitted for Congressional Debate by Rep. Zachary Jacobson, Wellington High School
A Bill to Make Community College Tuition Free
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
3
4
The United States federal government will eliminate tuition costs for
students in good standing at two-year community colleges.
Section 2.
A.
Students in good standing refer to individuals who attend at least
5
half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and make steady progress toward
6
completing their program.
7
B.
Community college that qualify must offer transfer programs or
8
occupational training certificate programs with high graduation
9
rates.
10
Section 3.
The Department of Education will oversee the implementation of this
11
legislation.
12
A.
13
Funds will be provided through the normal fiscal year 2016
budgeting process.
14
B.
15
If necessary, the price for community college may be capped at a
later date upon implementation of this legislation.
16
Section 4.
This law shall go into effect in the fiscal year 2016.
17
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Sen. Isabel Wood, Western High School
A Bill to Regulate Uber, Lyft and Similar Transportation Services to Promote Safety
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
Section 1.
3
4
Uber, Lyft and similar transportation services will be required to meet the
same standards as taxi, bus and livery drivers.
Section 2.
Regulations will include but is not limited to:
5
A.
Screening of drivers (criminal record and driving record).
6
B.
Sex offender checks.
7
C.
Fingerprinting.
8
Section 3.
Uber, Lyft and similar transportation services will be required to disclose
9
their formulas for surge pricing policies in order to promote standardized
10
rates.
11
Section 4.
This legislation will go into effect on August 1, 2016.
12
Section 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Sen. Henry Le, Western High School
A Resolution to Form a Sunni Arab Coalition to Defeat ISIS
1
Whereas,
2
3
States and its allies; and
Whereas,
4
5
the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria poses a major threat to the United
current airstrikes have not been effective in accomplishing a complete
destruction of the terrorist group; and
Whereas,
Shiite extremists including Ayatollah Khomeini’s regime in Iran and
6
Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria have exacerbated the situation by
7
encouraging sectarian violence; and
8
Whereas,
9
10
ISIS but also long-term regional stability; and
Whereas,
11
12
such a coalition has already been formed but needs additional support and
collaboration, both on the air and in the ground; and
Whereas,
13
14
a coalition of moderate Sunni Arabs can ensure not just the destruction of
further delay in defeating ISIS could have repercussions around the world;
now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
by the Congress here assembled that the President of the United States be
15
urged to provide lethal aid, command and control, intelligence, and air
16
support to a multilateral coalition comprised primarily of moderate Sunni
17
Arabs that shall provide a ground force to defeat ISIS, accompanied by US
18
advisors and special operations forces where necessary; and be it
19
Further resolved,
that the United States shall not coordinate with Ayatollah
20
Khomeini’s regime in Iran or Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in
21
any of their campaigns against ISIS.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Sen. Andrei Santos, Western High School