Columbia University Invitational Docket 2017
Chamber One
Reserve Docket Chamber II, followed by Chamber III
A Bill to Enact a National Standard on Renewable Energy to Fight Climate Change
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. The United States will adopt a National Renewable Portfolio Standard that will require 30% of our nation's electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
Section 2. A Renewable Portfolio Standard shall be defined as a regulatory mandate to increase production of energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass and other alternatives to fossil fuels so that 30% of the nation’s entire electricity production comes from clean energy sources.
Section 3. The Department of Energy shall oversee the implementation of this bill.
SECTION 4. This bill shall go into effect on January 1, 2018.
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Shane McHugh from Holy Ghost Prep.
The Job Creation and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2017
SECTION 1 The United States Department of Commerce shall establish the Infrastructure Finance Bureau (IFB).
a. This bureau shall oversee and direct the improvement and creation of infrastructure projects throughout the United States.
b. Improvement and creation shall be defined as the repairing of public infrastructure projects that are already built and the creation of new public infrastructure projects.
c. Infrastructure shall be defined as roads, bridges, railways, airports, and power lines.
d. The bureau shall also be given the task of loaning federal funds to states and localities for the construction of projects at those levels of government.
e. The director of the bureau must be appointed by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.
SECTION 2 The bureau shall be appropriated $120 Billion for the funding of federal projects and the loans for state and local projects.
SECTION 3 The Office of Management and Budget, the United States Department of Commerce, and the United States Department of Labor shall oversee the implementation of this law.
SECTION 4 This bill shall be implemented by January 1st, 2018.
SECTION 5 All laws in conflict with this piece of legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Submitted for Congressional debate by Joseph Murgida, Xavier High School
A Resolution to Fund the Creation of New Nuclear Reactor Plants
WHEREAS, The United States needs to reduce its reliance on coal-based energy; and
WHEREAS, There are 572 operating coal plants in the US that produce 33% of US energy and are a major cause of carbon emissions in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Coal plants are responsible for shortening over 24,000 lives per year, as well as burning 1.4 million tons of coal each year; and
WHEREAS, Nuclear power has 20 operating reactors and produces 20% of the US energy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for $12 billion dollars be diverted from the Department of Energy to be used to fund the building of 5 new nuclear reactors.
Submitted for Congressional Debate by Tyler Wengreen from Sky View High School.
A Bill to Increase Assistance to India to
Improve bilateral Relations
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. The Visa Waiver Program shall be expanded to include the Republic of India upon compliance with the Visa Waiver Program requirements.
A. Foreign assistance to India will be increased by 500 million dollars annually for four years in infrastructure aid.
Section 2. The Visa Waiver Program shall be defined as the program to allow citizens of participating nations to travel to the United States without a visa for 90 days or less, whose requirements are defined by the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security. Infrastructure aid shall be defined as aid used to build and maintain Internet access, public transportation, ports, and roads.
Section 3. Department of Homeland security in consultation with the Department of State shall over see Section 1.
A. The United States Agency for International Development will oversee Section 1B.
SECTION 4. This legislation shall be enacted beginning in FY2018.
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Rep. Max Plottel
Newton South HS
Chamber Two
Reserve Docket Chamber III, followed by Chamber I
A Bill to Reform the Redistricting Process to Reduce Partisanship
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. Every state is mandated to establish an independent, balanced congressional redistricting committee.
1. The committee will draft new redistricting plans and then vote on their proposal and need a 2/3 majority to pass.
2. Any legal challenge to their plans will be heard in the federal district court whose jurisdiction covers the area in which the committees are planning for.
3. Every version of the redistricting plans voted on must be made available to the public.
Each state must also establish selection committees.
Section 2. “Balanced redistricting committees” must be comprised of 11 members who have not:
1. Served in elected office for any party or, acted as a lobbyist, larger donor, and/or political party operative or, donated more than 5,000 dollars to any party/candidate over the last five years.
“Selection Committees” will be comprised of 36 individuals required to meet the same criteria as members of the redistricting committees.
Section 3. The federal district courts in each jurisdiction will oversee the implementation of this legislation.
1. If states are found not to be complying with guidelines set out in this bill they will lose federal funding gradually.
SECTION 4. This bill will be implemented starting January 1st, 2018
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Rep. David Goldstein Roslyn High School
A Resolution to Terminate Funding for the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program
WHEREAS, The F-35 is the largest single expense in the Department of Defense budget, and figures to be so for the foreseeable future; and
WHEREAS, Due to inherent design issues, the F-35 is likely to be inferior to the most modern Russian and Chinese jets during its lifetime; and
WHEREAS, The performance envelope of the F-35 demonstrates a modest progression over legacy platforms at enormous cost; and
WHEREAS, The pursuit of the F-35 program has come at the expense of replacing the legacy interceptors (AIM-9/120 families) with modern SRAAM (short range air-to-air missile) and air breathing BVRAAM (beyond visual range air-to-air missile); and
WHEREAS, The history of tri-service programs has shown these programs to produce over budget weapons platforms compromised to needs of all end users; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Congress here assembled shall seek to end funding for procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter by the Department of Defense.
Introduced for Congressional debate by Robert Pedersen, Xavier High Schoo
A Bill to Require Universal Background Checks for Firearm Purchases
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. A universal background check National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) will be required for all firearm purchases taking place within the United States as well as all US Territories.
Section 2. Gun purchases are defined as “any exchange where ownership of a firearm is transferred from one individual or group to another individual or group.”
Section 3. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will oversee the implementation of this piece of legislation.
A. All citizens who are found to have made a purchase in a place other than a federally approved dealer or without a universal background check at the site of purchase will face fines up to $10,000 USD and prison sentence of up to 2 years for the first offence.
B. A citizen who has repeatedly dodged such a background check will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
C. All firearms owners who have previously purchased a firearm without a universal background check using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System must do so by January 1, 2019.
D. Any firearms owners who do not submit to the background check outlined in Section 3 Sub Point C will be prosecuted based on the guidelines outlined in Section 3 Sub Points A and B.
SECTION 4. This bill will take effect 12 months after the time of its passage.
Section 5. All provisions in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Unionville High School
A Resolution to Promote Foreign Languages in Elementary Schools
1. WHEREAS, currently it is not mandatory for elementary schools to have foreign
2. languages in their curriculum.
3. WHEREAS, studies have shown that languages are best learned at an early age; and
4. WHEREAS, other competing foreign countries teach their students at least one other
5. language from an early age; and
6. WHEREAS, knowing multiple languages is beneficial in today’s job market; now,
7. therefore,
8. BE IT RESOLVED, by the Student Congress here assembled that in
9. beginning the 2017-2018 school year, all elementary schools should incorporate at least
10. one foreign language into their curriculum for grades K-5, every semester.
Submitted for debate by Achievement First Brooklyn H.S.
Chamber 3
Reserve Docket Chamber I, followed by Chamber II)
A Bill to Ban the Sale of Shark Fins
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27 / BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
SECTION 1. No person shall possess, trade, distribute, ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, purchase, import, or export shark fins or products containing shark fins within the United States.
SECTION 2. This shall include both commercial and personal uses of such products inside the United States.
SECTION 3. The Department of the Interior shall administer this act. Violations of this act shall result in a penalty of no more than $100,000 and up to five years imprisonment.
SECTION 4. This shall take effect on January 1, 2017.
SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Carson Sickler from Sky View High School.
A Bill to pass the family and medical insurance leave act
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (H.R. 1439) of the 114th Congress is hereby reintroduced and passed.
Section 2. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act’s provisions include providing workers up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take time off for their serious health condition (including pregnancy and childbirth) or for the serious health condition of a child, parent, spouse, or domestic partner, is funded by a payroll tax of .2%, and creates a new office of Paid Family and Medical Leave in the Social Security Administration.
Section 3. The Social Security Administration shall oversee the enforcement of this legislation.
SECTION 4. This legislation shall be implemented immediately upon passage.
Section 5. All titles in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Binder
Unionville High School
A Bill to Reform the Housing Market
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. The government will take active measures to prevent a future housing market collapse. Issuance of security portfolios with both subprime and prime mortgages is prohibited. All housing loans must have fixed interest rates at or below ten percent.
Section 2. This law will abide by the following definition:
A. Security portfolios shall be defined as a grouping of financial mortgages sold as a bundle.
B. A subprime mortgage shall be defined as a mortgage given to individuals with a credit rating of below 600
C. A prime mortgage shall be defined as a conventional mortgage given to those with a higher credit rating than 600
Section 3. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will oversee implementation of this legislation with an additional $1 billion in funding
A. Failure to comply will result in the lender or seller having 1 year of jail time and a $250,000 fine. The lender’s institution shall be placed on probation
B. Loans and sales made prior to the passage of this legislation shall not be affected.
SECTION 4. This legislation shall take effect at the beginning of the 2018 fiscal year.
Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted,
Rep. Aman Jha
Needham High School
A Bill to Promote Cyber Security Interrelations Between Internet Businesses and the U.S. Government
1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2. Section 1. A. Businesses which operate through the internet will be obliged to maintain best quality
3. protection of their online acquisitions in order to prevent information leakage in the event
4. of a cyberattack. Such security protocols made by businesses must include the safeguards
5. of encryption software, passwords, and firewalls at the bare minimum.
6. B. The Federal government will impart to all businesses knowledge of cybersecurity
7. threats if and when they are determined to be potential targets of cyber attacks. Such
8. knowledge will stem from intelligence regarding issues of national security.
9. C. All the entities operating under the aforementioned protection must disclose any
10. discovered security breaches if or when they occur.
11. D. Those entities determined to mandatorily qualify under the protection and entitlement
12. stated above must be located in the private sector and have an online presence.
13. Section 2. Failure to comply with the statutes outlined in section 1 will result in a fine of up to 20
14. percent of the infringing entity’s yearly earnings.
15. Section 3. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for the enforcement of this
16. legislation.
17. Section 4. This bill will go into effect on January 1, 2018.
18. Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully Submitted by Rob Vail from Loyola Blakefield