BCFL CONGRESS CHAMPIONSHIP

3/12/08

Loyola Blakefield High School

 

 

 

Packet of Bills and Resolutions

 

501.  A Resolution to Give The United States a Conscripted Military

 

502.  An Act to Legalize Medical Marijuana

 

503.  Resolution to Require that all Vehicles sold in the United States have a Mileage

         Standard of a Minimum of 35 MPG.

 

504.  Resolution To Fund Self Advocacy Programs to Aid the Homeless

 

505.  A Resolution to Improve Ties with Iran

506.  A Bill Concerning Illegal Immigration

 

507.  A Bill to Make Lawful the Ownership and Use of Automatic Weapons for All Law-

         Abiding Adults

 

*508.  A Bill to Mandate the HPV Vaccine

 

*509.  A Resolution to Enforce a Mandatory National Primary Schedule

 

*510.  A Resolution To Condemn President Bush For His Intentional Violation of

           International Torture Agreements

 

*511.  A Bill to Push up Daisies with Dollar Signs

 

 

* Any student may give an authorship speech on these bills, since they are borrowed from non-BCFL schools.  These bills should only be debated after authored legislation is exhausted.

 

 

 

 

501.  A Resolution to Give The United States a Conscripted Military

 

 

  1. Whereas:  The United States is currently facing major troop shortages in the armed

 

  1.                  forces.

 

  1. Whereas: The United States currently employs a stop-loss program which keeps

 

  1.                 soldiers in the military for longer than they had enlisted for.

 

  1. Whereas: The military builds physical and emotional strength, and boosts national

 

  1.                 pride.

 

  1. Therefore Be it Resolved: (a) The United States shall require that all citizens of

 

  1.                 age 18 shall be conscripted into the military to serve actively for one year, and

 

  1.                 then in the reserve force for fifteen years. (b) All who wish to have a college

 

  1.                education may put off their conscription for up to ten years. (c) The United

 

  1.                States shall end the current “stop-loss” policy.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jonathan Holtzman

Loch Raven High School

 

502.  An Act to Legalize Medical Marijuana

 

1 Whereas: Medical Marijuana provides extreme relief for patients, has been used for thousands

2               of years historically around the world, and is actually more minor than many currently legal

3               drugs, like morphine, be it enacted that Medical Marijuana be legalized in the District of

4               Columbia and all 50 United States along with its respective territories.

5 Section 1: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall allow medical marijuana sale

6               licenses to be purchased by certain stores meeting sales requirements and allow controlled

7               Medical Marijuana purchases.

8 Subsection A: Store requirements include store containing some type of safe area to store the

9               Medical Marijuana (location must be under lock and key) and the possession of an open

10             computer system that shows all Medical Marijuana sales records and prescription information

11             of patients.

12 Subsection B: All Medical marijuana purchases require a prescription from licensed medical

13             professionals allowed to prescribe Medical Marijuana and an accurate record of personal

14             information which the government could access at will and would be entered by the store, at

15             the time of sale, into the computer system. After the person purchases the Medical Marijuana

16             once and sets up this personal account, the only necessary purchase requirement for that

17             person will be a valid prescription.

18 Subsection C: This medical professional’s license shall be given to Medical Doctors

19             completing a specified Medical Marijuana education course and doctors giving prescriptions

20             must keep records of all Medical marijuana prescriptions filed; this information subject to

21             examination at any time by government.

20 Section 2: Initial funds of $1,000,000 shall be given to FDA, but funding shall continue

21             through a tax of $1.00 placed on Medical Marijuana on top of any other sale price.

22 Section 3: This law shall go into effect after 120 days of passing.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Rohan Goswami

Loch Raven High

 

503.  Resolution to Require that all Vehicles sold in the United States have a Mileage

Standard of a Minimum of 35 MPG.

 

 

  1. Whereas it is imperative that the United States reduce its dependence upon  fossil
  2.                fuels within the next five years.
  3. Whereas the largest amount of consumption of gasoline and oil is attributed to
  4.                transportation vehicles such as automobiles, trucks and SUV’s.
  5. Whereas presently the overall average gas mileage is 25 MPG.
  6. Whereas there is technology available to dramatically increase the mileage
  7.                capacity of all vehicles.
  8. Whereas European countries are already enacting higher mileage standards as of
  9.                2010.
  10. Let it Be Resolved by this Student Congress that the Federal Government mandate
  11.                that all  road vehicles sold within the United States have a minimum
  12.                mileage standard of 35 MPG.  This law to take effect on January 1, 2012.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Katie Miller

Hereford High School

504.  Resolution To Fund Self Advocacy Programs to Aid the Homeless

 

1. WHEREAS:  Approximately 3.5 million U.S. citizens have been homeless for a significant

 

2 .                      period of time, and

 

3. WHEREAS:  Adults between the ages of 31 and 50 make up 51% of the homeless, and

 

4. WHEREAS:   Homeless shelters are rapidly overcrowding, with 52% of families being

 

5.                       turned down by homeless shelters, and

 

6. WHEREAS:   The amount of affordable housing is decreasing, thus forcing more families

 

7.                        out of homes because their jobs do not provide them with ample income to

 

8.                        purchase housing, and

 

8. WHEREAS:   The U.S. government spent $5110.5 billion dollars in the fiscal year 2008 and

 

9.                       $445.2 billion of that on welfare, and

 

10.. WHEREAS:  The number of people on welfare would be reduced  from the creation of the

 

11.                         proposed program and it would only require a small portion of the 445.2

 

12.                         billion dollars, thus leaving the vast majority of the funding , and

 

13. WHEREAS:  SHARE (Seattle Housing and Resource Effort) is an extremely successful

 

14.                       advocacy organization run by and for the homeless in Seattle, Washington, and

 

15. WHEREAS:  The model for the SHARE program promotes employment and independence, and

 

16. WHEREAS:  The government would not have to spend as much money on programs run by

 

17.                        the federal  bureaucracy  to aid the homeless, rather it will save money by

 

18.                       providing the homeless with grants to run their own programs, and

 

19. WHEREAS:  These grants will allow the homeless to accept responsibility by working

 

20.                        toward helping one another obtain employment.

 

21. THEREFORE: Let it be resolved by this Student Congress that the government fund self-run

 

22.                      programs  to aid the homeless in obtaining  employment by creating grants using

 

23.                     a portion of the funds budgeted for welfare in order to decrease the number of

 

24.                      homeless and improve the United States economy.

 

Submitted by:

Olivia Everhart, Hereford High School

 

505.  A Resolution to Improve Ties with Iran

 

1.  Whereas: Iran, and more specifically its attempts to develop a nuclear program, have

2.                  attracted much international attention, and

3.  Whereas: This attention has led to confrontations between Iran and various Western nations 4.                 that reflect mutual misunderstandings, and are neither constructive nor conducive to 5.                  the long term stability of the Middle East, and

6.  Whereas: Economic sanctions and isolation, particularly when directed at Iran have proved

7.                  ineffective as a means of behavior modification.

8.  Be it hereby resolved by this BCFL Congress, that the U.S. engage Iran in constructive

9.                 diplomacy, culminating in an agreement, contingent upon Iranian cooperation, under 10.             which the U.S. will assist Iran in developing a  nuclear program to assist in its

11.              development, and role in the stabilization of the Middle East.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Loyola Blakefield

506.  A Bill Concerning Illegal Immigration

1.  Whereas  On average, the costs that illegal households impose on federal coffers are less than

2.                  half that of other households, but their tax payments are only one-fourth that of

3.                  households.

4.  Whereas The United States has at this time approximately twelve million (12,000,000) 

5.                  Illegal aliens residing within its borders at this time.

6.  Whereas There immigrants do not directly contribute to the American economy.

7.  Whereas if illegal immigrants become permanent members of society they would be forced

8.                  to pay taxes. 

9.  Whereas Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $26.3 billion in costs on the

10.                federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, creating a net fiscal

11.                deficit of almost $10.4 billion, or $2,700 per illegal household.

12.  Whereas it is too easy for immigrants to get here illegally but hard to for them to get “green

13.                cards”.

14.  Whereas our policy regarding border control allows for criminals to get into the United

15.                States and harm innocent American citizens.

16.  Whereas the largest costs are Medicaid ($2.5 billion); treatment for the uninsured ($2.2

17.                billion); food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school

18.                lunches ($1.9 billion); the federal prison and court systems ($1.6 billion); and

19.                federal aid to schools ($1.4 billion). are due to illegal immigrants who do not pay

20.                taxes but yet receive these benefits

21.  Whereas The vast majority of illegals hold jobs. Thus the fiscal deficit they create for the

22.                federal government is not the result of an unwillingness to work.

23.  Whereas the tax money that would be gained from this bill would amount to 29 billion

24.                dollars that could help people in need.

25.  Be it resolved all illegal aliens at the time of this passing within the United States be

26.                allowed to apply for a Permanent Resident Card (commonly referred to as a “green

27.                card”) within five years of the passing of this legislation.

28.  Be it further resolved That all illegal aliens with criminal records for murder, rape, assault,

29.                theft, and other felonies be deported and barred from re-entry into the United States.

30.  Be it further resolved that all companies be barred from employing illegal aliens within

31.                three years of the passing of this legislation.

33.  Be if further resolved that illegal immigrants be barred from getting Medicaid, and food

33.                stamp programs

34.  Be it further resolved That all aliens found to be illegally residing within America after the

35.                five-year deadline be deported and barred re-entry for the rest of their lives. 

36.  Be it further resolved that the United States strengthen its border control policies in relation

37.                to Mexico

38.  Be if further resolved that the United States give Permanent Resident Cards to any citizen

39.                from Mexico who has not committed a felony.

 

Respectfully submitted

Loyola Blakefield High School

507.  A Bill to Make Lawful the Ownership and Use of Automatic Weapons
for All Law-Abiding Adults



1: WHEREAS     the constitution of the United States of America is the highest law of the

 

2:                          land, and

3: WHEREAS  the Second Amendment to the constitution of the United States of          

 

4:                        America states "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of

 

5:                        a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be

 

6.                        infringed.", and

7.  WHEREAS the prohibition of automatic weapons is unconstitutional as they count as

 

8:                        arms, and

9: WHEREAS the people of the United States have a right to autonomously protect      

 

10:                      themselves, and

11: WHEREAS 6,800 violent crimes were committed with assault weapons in 2006

12: WHEREAS 56% of all crimes occurred during daylight hours in 2005,and

13: WHEREAS there is a chance that any american citizen could therefore come into

 

14:                      contact with an assault weapon wielding criminal during a time period in

 

15:                      which they would be able to defend themselves, and

16: WHEREAS there are approximately 2,000,000 defensive gun uses each year, and

17: WHEREAS the Firearm Fingerprinting program, Centralized Registration System,

 

17:                      and the National Registration System all function well as means of gun

 

18.                      tracking to ensure that firearms sold in registered centers are not used for

 

19.                      criminal activities

20. THEREFORE Let it be resolved that all those above the age of eighteen with no  

 

21:                      significant impairment, criminal record, or known criminal associates be

 

22.                      afforded the  right as guaranteed in the constitution to purchase, carry, and

 

23.                      conceal automatic weapons, and that registered licensed gun shops be

 

24.                      authorized to sell all automatic weapons to those that fit the given criteria

 

25.                      with the given control measures observed

25:  FURTHERMORE let it be resolved that there will be a new arm of the Federal          

 

26:                      Bureau of Investigations created that will work to regulate and record the

 

27.                                            spread of all sold automatic weapons so as to prevent criminal action

 

Respectfully submitted,

Gareth Imparato

Baltimore City College

 

508.  A Bill to Mandate the HPV Vaccine

 

 

1.  BE IT ENACTED by this Student Congress here assembled that:

 

2.  Section 1:   Receipt of a Food and Drug Administration approved vaccine for the

 

3.                     human papillomavirus (HPV) shall be a prerequisite for enrollment in any public

 

4.                     middle, junior high, or high school in the United States for students of any gender.

 

5.  Section 2: This vaccine can include Merck’s Gardasil or any similar vaccine approved in the

 

6.                     future.

 

7.  Section 3: All private insurance companies as well as government-sponsored welfare

 

8.                     programs are required to completely cover the cost of this vaccine.

 

9.  Section 4: Any individual refusing to receive the vaccine shall be denied admission to a

 

10.                   public school until they are properly vaccinated. Any private insurer refusing to

 

11.                   cover the vaccine will be fined one thousand dollars ($1000 USD) per offense.

 

12.  Section 5: All other existing laws in conflict with this legislation shall be declared null and

 

13.                   void.

 

14.  Section 6: This bill shall be jointly enforced by the Department of Education and the

 

15.                   Department of Health and Human Services.

 

16.  Section 7: This bill shall take effect August 1, 2009.

 

509.  A Resolution to Enforce a Mandatory National Primary Schedule

 

 

1  WHEREAS, State constitutions have generally been given the provision to set their primary

 

2.                        date; and

 

3  WHEREAS, These constitutions can be continually revised to place each states’ primary

 

4.                        ahead of another; and

 

5  WHEREAS, This upward shift of primary dates increases the length of the election process;

 

6.                        and

 

7  WHEREAS, this increase in length inherently advantages those with enough money to

 

8.                        continue a longer campaign; and

 

9  WHEREAS, That advantage is undemocratic in principle by allowing the elites in society a

 

10.                      greater chance of becoming the president; and

 

11  WHEREAS, Enforcing a nationally regulated schedule for primary and caucus dates will

 

12.                      help reduce the variability of the current system and the advantages it offers

 

13.                      some; and

 

14  WHEREAS, This will help increase the legitimacy of campaigns by allowing issues, and not

 

15.                      money to determine an electors’ potential success; now, therefore,

 

16  BE IT RESOLVED by the Student Congress here assembled that the congress institute a

 

17.                      nationally regulated schedule for primary and caucus dates to be evaluated

 

18.                      above state constitutional provisions and laws; and, be it

 

19  FURTHER RESOLVED, That nominees shall be restricted from formally campaigning for

 

20.                      presidency eight months before the date of the first primary.

 

510.  A Resolution To Condemn President Bush For His Intentional Violation of

International Torture Agreements

 

1  Whereas: President Bush has promoted and supported torture techniques such as

 

2                   waterboarding and sleep deprivation.

 

3   Whereas: President Bush is in direct violation of the Geneva convention, The UN

 

4                    Torture Convention, and Human Rights.

 

5   Whereas: The United States has lost its moral authority in the war on terror because of

 

6                     President Bush’s support of torture.

 

7  Whereas: Installations such as Guantanamo Bay serve as a catalyst for President Bush’s

 

8                   abuse of the international agreements.

 

9   Therefore be it resolved by this Student Congress here assembled that:

 

10                  President Bush be condemned for his support of torture and his violation of

 

11                  international agreements concerning torture.

 

511.  A Bill to Push up Daisies with Dollar Signs

 

 

1. BE IT ENACTED by the Student Congress here assembled that:

 

2. Article 1:   A tax shall be put on the sale of burial plots.

 

3. Article 2: For every burial plot sold there will be a tax collected, that is 15% of the

 

4.                  original sale. The money that is gained from the tax will be put toward

 

5.                  financing the Social Security system. This bill will apply to any business that

 

6.                  sells burial plots. A burial plot will be defined as a grave, mausoleum, urn

 

7.                  or any other type of plot that is on the market.

 

8. Article 3: This bill shall take effect on January 1, 2009

 

9. Article 4. Any company that is found guilty of not paying the tax will be shut down

 

10.               permanently. This bill will be enforced by the Department of State.

 

11. Article 5. All laws in conflict with this bill will be declared null and void.