The Fair Tax Act of 2017

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED

SECTION 1: Existing US federal income, corporate income, employment/self-employment, estate, and gift taxes are hereby repealed. Subtitles A and B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are repealed.

SECTION 2: There is hereby imposed a tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services.

A) The rate of tax is 23 percent of the gross payments for the taxable property or service in 2019.

B) For years after 2019, the rate of tax is the combined sum of

i) the general revenue rate of 14.91 percent

ii) the old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate, and

iii) the hospital insurance rate.

SECTION 3: The term “taxable property and services” means any purchased property (including l households or any term or rents with respect to such property), but does not include intangible property, property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, or state government functions.

A) “Intangible property” includes copyrights, trademarks, patents, goodwill, financial instruments, securities, commercial paper, debts, notes and bonds, and other property deemed intangible at common law.

SECTION 4: The States are responsible for administering, collecting, and remitting the imposed tax to the United States Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury may administer the tax imposed by this legislation in a State if such a State has regularly failed to remit to the United States the taxes collected.

SECTION 5: Full implementation of this legislation shall occur on January 1st, 2019.

SECTION 6: All laws in conflict are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted by Ankeny High School

The Sanctity of Marriage Restoration Act of 2017

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED

SECTION 1: The US federal government shall henceforth only recognize the legal legitimacy of marriages officiated by a minister ordained in the Christian church uniting one male and one female.

SECTION 2: Any marriages considered legally legitimate at the time of passage of this legislation which do not meet the criteria outlined in Section 1 shall be annulled 90 days following passage of this legislation.

SECTION 3: The Internal Revenue Service shall see to implementation of this legislation.

SECTION 4: Enactment of this legislation shall begin upon passage.

SECTION 5: All laws in conflict are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted by Ankeny High School

A Bill to Build a Big, Beautiful Wall

SECTION 1. Funding allocated to the following programs in fiscal year 2018 shall be decreased by 50% from the amount allocated in fiscal year 2017 at the start of fiscal year 2018, and shall cease completely at the start of fiscal year 2019.

A. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

B. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

SECTION 2. Funding formerly allocated to the programs listed in Section 1A shall be redirected to the Department of Homeland Security Infrastructure Sectors for the primary purpose of funding construction of a wall along the US South-Western border.

SECTION 3. Following completion of the wall, funds appropriated in this legislation shall continue to be allocated to the Department of Homeland Security for the purpose of infrastructure.

SECTION 4. This legislation shall take effect upon passage.

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted by Ankeny High School

A Resolution to Confront Iran

WHEREAS, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven itself to be imperialist and repressive, and

WHEREAS, under current US policy the Iranian regime possesses the capability to acquire nuclear weapons in the near future, and,

WHEREAS, previous US strategy has failed to adequately address and contain the Iranian threat, and

WHEREAS, a more comprehensive and far-sighted strategy is necessary to protect the interests of the US and its allies and to maintain stability in the region, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Congress here assembled that in addition to diligently enforcing the existing nuclear agreement until its completion, the US shall develop and present revised terms for a subsequent accord which corrects the flaw of the current by removing sunset provisions which give Iran a pathway to nuclear weapons, and by expanding US access to Iranian military sites for effective verification, and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the following shall henceforth serve as an outline for US policy towards Iran:

Economic Policy: The US will implement economic policy with the intent of severely weakening the finances of the Iranian regime and restricting its military and weapons production capabilities. The US will develop and implement robust economic sanctions targeting the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other dominant forces in the Iranian economy.

Geopolitical Strategy: The US will target and dismantle the Iranian regime’s terrorist networks and influence operations, including its presence in Europe and the United States, by working closely with European allies and with allied Sunni governments in the region. The US will work to dismantle Iranian power in the middle east on a country-by-country basis by providing support for anti-Iranian proxy and dissident forces in the region.

Ideological Offensive: The US will act to support and strengthen Iranian pro-democracy forces, and target the Iranian regime’s corruption and human rights abuses. US policies should seek wherever possible to encourage Iranian regional allies to distance themselves from the Iranian government and progress towards domestic democratization. U.S. policy must have an ideological thrust which clearly affirms the superiority of U.S. and Western values of individual dignity and freedom, and political democracy over the repressive features of the Iranian regime.

Respectfully submitted by Ankeny High School

A Bill to Dispose of Nuclear Waste

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. Funding shall be allocated for construction and operation of the Yucca Mountain Repository.

SECTION 2. Funding shall be allocated from the Nuclear Waste Fund. The Nuclear Waste Fund fee of $0.001 per kilowatt-hour on electricity from nuclear power shall be re-implemented.

SECTION 3. The US Department of the Energy shall be charged with the implementation of this legislation.

SECTION 4. This shall take effect in FY 2019.

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Dowling Catholic High School.

A Bill to repeal the United States Embargo on Cuba

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1: The United States Congress shall repeal the Cuban Embargo.

SECTION 2:

A. The United States shall allow U.S. businesses to invest in Cuba.

B. The United States shall allow U.S. citizens to purchase goods from Cuba, and to sell their products to citizens in Cuba.

C. The United States shall repeal all travel restrictions for U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba.

D. The United States shall revoke any other economic sanctions not specifically mentioned in this bill.

E. The United States shall allow Cuban Citizens to obtain travel visas to visit the United States.

SECTION 3: The United States Department of Transportation and the United States Departments of Treasury and Homeland Security shall oversee the dissolution of sanctions against the Cuban government. Any government official denying a U.S. Citizen travel or investment to Cuba shall be subject from a 5-10 year prison sentence and monetary repayment.

SECTION 4: Dissolution of Economic and Travel sanctions shall begin with the implementation of this bill. Dissolution shall be completed by January 2nd, 2018

SECTION 5: All laws in conflict with the legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Submitted By Dowling Catholic High School

National Service Act of 2017

Section 1. All adults upon turning the age of 18 must complete one full year of national service to the US government.

Section 2.

A. Any adult that has reached the age 18 but is still in secondary school will not have to partake in service until secondary school is completed.

B. Incoming adults may register for certain jobs in certain areas and will be given that job if there is a need or opening

C. Adults with a registered physical disability will be exempt from performing national service.

D. Adults with severe mental illness will be exempt from performing national service.

E. Military national service will last 2 years and have double benefits.

F. States may requisition for service workers and national guardsmen from the Federal Government.

G. The US Department of Labor will determine benefits for these workers.

Section 3. The US Department of Labor will oversee the implementation of this legislation and the US Department of Defense will oversee the training and use of and military national service men and women.

Section 4. This legislation shall take effect on January 1st, 2019.

Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Submitted by Dowling Catholic High School

A​ ​Bill​ ​to​ ​Require​ ​Mandatory​ ​Organ​ ​Donation After​ ​Death

Section 1: After a death of a person if there has been a certain internal organ requested by a local hospital they will be required to donate that requested organ to the hospital who requested it.

Section 2: a. A local hospital is defined as a hospital within 100 miles of the persons morgue. b. Death is defined as either; (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem, is dead. c. This bill would only apply to those over the age of 21.

Section 3: a. The Department of Health and Human Services will carry the implementation of this bill out. b. This bill will also be funded 5,000,000 dollars for the cost of organ collection in the years 2018 to 2022.

Section 4: This bill will go into effect on January 1st, 2018.

Section 5: All other laws in conflict with this piece of legislation will be declared null and void.

A Bill to Shut down Animal Mills in the U.S.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
SECTION 1. Animal mills are very detrimental to animals and extremely widespread, therefore they should be outlawed.
SECTION 2. Animal mill: an establishment that breeds animals for sale typically on an intensive basis and in conditions regarded as inhumane.
SECTION 3. The USDA will promulgate and enforce specific guidelines regarding
closure and establish penalties up to $25,000 for violations.
SECTION 4. This bill shall go into effect upon passage.
SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted by Ames High School

A Bill to Increase Education in Prisons

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
SECTION 1. Inmates are released from prisons without the skills necessary to support themselves and avoid being re-incarcerated. A program should provide long-term prison inmates with resources to receive postsecondary education and earn a college degree.
SECTION 2. a. “Long-term” is defined as a stay of 2 years or longer.
b. “Degree” is defined as an associate degree.
c. The state where the prison is located must provide degree
opportunities through its public community colleges.
d. The budget of the Department of Education will be increased by
$20 million to fund this program.
SECTION 3. The Department of Education will oversee the implementation of this bill.
SECTION 4. This bill will go into effect in August of 2018.
SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Submitted by Ames H.S.

A Resolution to Promote the Agricultural Cultivation of Insects

WHEREAS, current agricultural practices require excessive amounts of land, water, food sources

WHEREAS, current agricultural practices also produce a significant portion of the earth’s greenhouse gases

WHEREAS, insects are being underutilized for their vast potential use in agriculture and for human consumption

RESOLVED, that the Congress here assembled and the U.S. Department of Agriculture shall promote through education and financial incentives the agricultural cultivation of insects

Respectfully submitted by Ames H.S.

A Bill to Ban Conversion Therapy in all 50 States

BE IT ENACTED BY THIS CONGRESS

SECTION 1: Conversion therapy of any sort will hereby be illegal in all fifty states for all persons.

SECTION 2: Conversion therapy is defined as a psychological or spiritual treatment to change a person’s sexuality to heterosexual. It includes any efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to discourage sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.

SECTION 3: The Department of Health and Human Services will oversee implementation of this bill.

SECTION 4: This law will be effective upon passage.

SECTION 5: All laws in conflict will be declared null and void.

Submitted by Ames High School

A Resolution to Defund the D.A.R.E. Program

WHEREAS, the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is ineffective and funding by the federal government should stop; and

WHEREAS, the national funding of the D.A.R.E. program well be cut, because it dose not do what it was intended to do concerning the use of drugs; and

WHEREAS, this program in some causes increased the use of drugs, plus the money going in the program can go somewhere else; and

WHEREAS, in order see the use of controlled substances in elementary, middle and high school this program must be cut; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for solution to cut funding for the D.A.R.E. program ; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That funding will be cut next time funds are administered and then divide equally to under funded government areas.

Introduced for Congressional Debate by East high school.

A Bill to Guarantee Biodiversity

1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

2. SECTION 1. The United States will fund 1.5 million from the Endangered Species Act

3. (ESA) to the Fish and Wildlife services to inform and research to protect main

4. pollinators

5. SECTION 2. Main pollinators are insects known to help greatly with pollination such

6. as Bee, wasps, butterflies, etc.

7. SECTION 3. The Fish and Wildlife services will oversee this bill.

i. This agency will provide education to people willing to help and will fund research to save declining populations.

8. SECTION 4. This will take effect upon the day funds are administered.

9. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and

10. void

11. Respectfully Submitted By: DM East High School