CFL State Qualifier Legislation
A - A Resolution to Reduce the Cost of Higher Education
B - A Bill to Support Kurdistan
C - A Bill to Increase Minimum Wage
D - A Resolution to Regulate Pharmaceutical Drug Prices
E - A Bill to Create an Indian Free Trade Agreement
F - A Bill to Eliminate Mandatory Sentencing
G - A Bill to Abolish Gerrymandering
H - A Bill to Establish a Carbon Tax
I - A Resolution to Provide Aid to Countries Affected by the Zika Virus
J - A Constitutional Amendment to Overturn the Supreme Court Decision Regarding
“Citizens United”
K - A Resolution to Ban Heritable Human Genetic Modification
L - A Bill to Cease Sending Military Funding to Israel
A - A Resolution to Reduce the Cost of Higher Education
WHEREAS, Increasing tuition fees have significantly decreased the availability of
higher education for American students; and
WHEREAS, Total student loan debt has exceeded one trillion(1,000,000,000,000)
dollars, significantly impairing the capability of American citizens to attain
advancement in socioeconomic status; and
WHEREAS, The lack of government regulation of the tuition fees of public universities
permits public colleges and universities to have the unchecked ability to further
impose higher tuition fees on the American people; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Congress here assembled make the following recommendation
for a cap to be placed on tuition fees at public universities and colleges; and be
it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That a system of grants and low interest loans be made
available to American citizens for the purpose of alleviating the burden of
their student loan debt.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Leland High School
B - A Bill to Support Kurdistan
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
SECTION 1. One billion(1,000,000,000) dollars will be allocated to the procurement
and distribution of military aid to Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq for the sole
purpose of combating the Islamic State terrorist group.
A. Five thousand(5,000) special forces troops will be sent to the Kurdistan region in Iraq in order to ensure the effective distribution of the military aid, as well as to train Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the effective usage of the equipment given as military aid.
SECTION 2. “Military aid” shall be defined as ordnance, military equipment, military
vehicles, and firearms.
SECTION 3. The United States Department of Defense shall oversee the
implementation of this legislation.
SECTION 4. This legislation will go into effect immediately upon passage.
SECTION 5. All rules in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Leland High School
C - A Bill to Increase Minimum Wage
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. Minimum wage shall be raised to $15 per hour in all states across America, regardless of possible tips acquired on the job.
Section 2. Minimum wage shall be defined as the lowest possible hourly income an employer can legally pay each of their workers.
Section 3. The U.S. Department of Labor shall oversee the implementation and enforcement of this bill.
SECTION 4. This legislation shall take effect at the start of Fiscal Year 2017.
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Bellarmine College Preparatory.
D - A Resolution to Regulate Pharmaceutical Drug Prices
WHEREAS, drug prices in other advanced companies are often 50% cheaper than what Americans pay; and
WHEREAS, brand name pharmaceutical prices rose solely in America by 8 times the inflation rate in 2013; and
WHEREAS, America is virtually the only developed country in the world without some form of regulatory system concerning the sale of pharmaceutical drugs; and
WHEREAS, many Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for prescribed, potentially lifesaving medication; and
WHEREAS, in light of the recent events concerning the 5000% increase of the cost of the drug Daraprim, the public is becoming more aware of the issue; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the U.S. Federal Government shall implement a tethered regulatory system that prohibits the sale of pharmaceutical drugs not within 10% of the average prices paid by other citizens around the world.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Bellarmine College Preparatory.
E - A Bill to Create an Indian Free Trade Agreement
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. The United States will enter negotiations with India on the topic of ending trade tariffs on several economic areas and creating a free trade agreement
Section 2. The key economic areas in question are as follows: agricultural goods, electrical machinery, medical devices, precious stones, pharmaceutical products, textiles, organic chemicals, and mineral fuel
Section 3. The enforcement will be done by the Department of Commerce, the US International Trade Commission, and the US Trade Representative
SECTION 4. This legislation will take effect on May 1st, 2016.
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Bellarmine College Preparatory.
F - A Bill to Eliminate Mandatory Sentencing
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. All Mandatory Minimum Sentencing laws shall be abolished throughout the United States.
Section 2. Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws shall be defined as any law that sets a minimum sentence length for a crime, be it a misdemeanor or felony.
Section 3. The U.S. Department of Justice shall oversee the implementation and enforcement of this bill.
SECTION 4. This legislation shall take effect at the start of Fiscal Year 2017.
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Bellarmine College Preparatory.
G - A Bill to Abolish Gerrymandering
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9 / BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
SECTION 1. The authority to redistrict congressional districts will be taken away from state legislatures. A bipartisan or independent redistricting committee will determine the borders of all new congressional districts.
SECTION 2. A state legislature is a legislative body of any of the 50 states. A redistricting committee is defined as an organization given legal authority to redraw congressional districts after every Census.
SECTION 3. This bill shall be implemented by the Federal Election Commission.
SECTION 4. This bill will go into effect on January 1, 2020.
SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Cupertino High School.
H - A Bill to Establish a Carbon Tax
1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2 SECTION 1. A carbon tax will be phased in from $15 per ton the first
3 year to $25 per ton the second year and increasing
4 thereafter at 3.5% plus inflation, capped at a maximum
5 of $80. The tax will be revenue neutral.
6 SECTION 2. This carbon tax will be focused solely on the consumption of fossil
7 fuels. Sequestered CO2 will be exempted from this bill, and there
8 will be a 30- year phase-in period for public transportation and farm
9 diesel.
10 SECTION 3. The Environmental Protection Agency will oversee the
11 implementation of this bill.
12 SECTION 4. This bill will take effect on January 1st 2018.
13 SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and
void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Cupertino High School.
I - A Resolution to Provide Aid to Countries Affected by the Zika Virus WHEREAS: Over 20 countries in Central and South America have recorded cases of the Zika virus and it continues to spread at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS: The Zika virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and safety measures are inadequate; and
WHEREAS: No known vaccine is known for the Zika virus; and
WHEREAS: The Zika virus affects pregnant women and their children, often leading to microcephaly; and
WHEREAS: The World Health Organization says abortion is a viable solution, but abortion facilities in these countries are substandard. Now therefore be it
RESOLVED by the Student Congress assembled here that: The United States allocate $10 million in aid for individuals affected by the Zika virus. Aid is defined as development of a vaccine, setting up safer abortion clinics, and any other method to prevent the spread of this virus; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: This money shall be solely used for Zika virus aid.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Palo Alto High School
J - A Constitutional Amendment to Overturn the Supreme Court Decision Regarding “Citizens United”
1. WHEREAS, corporations are not natural persons, yet private corporations exert substantial control over elections due to the Citizens United ruling legalizing the ability of private corporations to finance public elections, and
2. WHEREAS, corporate campaign financing leads to corruption, unfairness in the electoral process, and forces candidates to pander more toward private interests, and
3. WHEREAS, the election of an official should be dependent on the people alone; now, therefore be it
4. RESOLVED, That upon approval of twothirds of the chamber of this Congress here assembled, the following Constitutional Amendment be sent to the State Legislatures for approval:
a. SECTION 1. The Supreme Court Ruling regarding campaign financing, known as
Citizens United, is hereby overturned.
b. SECTION 2. Corporate contributions towards campaigns shall no longer be deemed “Free Speech,” and shall be ruled as illegal. Public financing shall still be permitted through fundraising and other such apparatuses.
c. SECTION 3. Nothing in this article shall be misconstrued as to obstruct freedom of the press.
d. SECTION 4. Congress shall remain within its Constitutional boundaries with this amendment by strictly adhering to the provisions of Article 5 of the Constitution.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Archbishop Mitty High School
K - A Resolution to Ban Heritable Human Genetic Modification
WHEREAS, genetic engineering has evolved significantly over the past decade; and
WHEREAS, a Chinese group have claimed to have created the first genetically-modified human embryo; and
WHEREAS, human germ line editing could lead to detrimental health effects for both the mother and child; and
WHEREAS, designer babies could irrevocably alter the nature of the human species and society; and
WHEREAS, no rules in the United States currently prohibit private clinics from altering embryos; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Congress here assembled that the research and sale of heritable human genetic modifications be banned
Introduced by Archbishop Mitty High School
L - A Bill to Cease Sending Military Funding to Israel
1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2. SECTION 1. A. The United States Government shall cease sending all military funding to Israel
3. SECTION 2. Military Funding includes any monetary assistance to be used for military purposes, weapons, and weapon materials.
4. SECTION 3. The Department of State shall see the implementation of this legislation
5. SECTION 4. If passed, this bill shall go into effect in January 1st 2017
6. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Archbishop Mitty High School