Susquehanna University - Pennsylvania High School Speech League

THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH
LEAGUE
Susquehanna University
514 University Avenue
Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164
Tel: (570) 372-4300
Fax: (570) 372-2757
2016 KEYSTONE HOUSE
1. Committee on Education and Workplace
a. “A Bill to Outlaw Teacher Incentive Pay” by Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
b. “A Bill to Increase Science Education Funding for Student Based Research” by Greater
Latrobe High School
c. “A Resolution to Pool Funds for Education” by Lakeview Christian Academy
d. “A Bill to Put America to Work” by McDowell High School
e. “A Resolution for Racial Blindness in College Admissions” by Mechanicsburg Area Senior
High School
2. Committee on Security
a. “A Bill to Ban the Sale of High Capacity Firearm Magazines” by Notre Dame GreenPond
High School
b. “A Resolution to Approve the Building of a Fence Between the United States and Mexico”
by Rockwood Area School District
c. “A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Reduce Institutionalized Nationalism” by
Upper Saint Clair
d. “A Resolution to Amend the Requirements for Presidency” by Keystone Oaks High School
e. “A Bill to Ban Individuals on the No-Fly List from Purchasing Firearms” by Towanda Jr/Sr
High School
F
"Resolution to Research Guns" by La Salle College High School (edited by AR on 3/24/16)
3. Committee on Human Affairs
a. “A Bill to Expand the Umbrella of Legal Sex Work” by Bellwood-Antis School District
b. “A Resolution to Require Gender Neutral Bathroom” by E.L. Meyers High School
c. “An Act to Increase the Full Social Security Retirement Age from 67 to 68 and to Increase
the Early Social Security Collection Age from 62 to 64” by Pine-Richland High School
d. “A Bill to Drug Test Federal Welfare Recipients” by Somerset Area School District
e. “A Bill to Mandate the Establishment of a Gender Neutral Restroom in all Public Places”
by Slippery Rock Area High School
f. “A Resolution to Solve the Income Inequality Issue to Better the Lives of America’s
Working Poor” by Central Catholic High School
4. Commerce Committee
a. “A Bill to Increase the Federal Minimum Wage” by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High
School
b. “A Resolution to Raise the Gas Tax in Order to Fund Our Nation’s Infrastructure” by
Pennsbury High School
c. “A Resolution to More Clearly Define What a Religion is to Prevent the Abuse of Tax
Exemption and Evasion of Criminal Charges by Fabricated Religious Organizations” by
Southern Lehigh High School
d. “A Bill to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising on Television” by Trinity High School
e. “A Resolution to Increase Education in Lower Income Communities” by North Allegheny
High School
Committee on Education and Workplace
A Bill to Outlaw Teacher Incentive Pay
by
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH LEAGUE
STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2. SECTION 1. The United States shall ban all forms of teacher incentive pay in public
schools.
3. SECTION 2. Incentive pay is defined as: A monetary gift provided to an employee
based on performance, which is thought of as one way to entice the employee to continue
delivering positive results.
4. SECTION 3. Enforcement of this bill will shall start August 1, 2016.
5.
SECTION 4. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
A Bill to Increase Science Education Funding for
Student Based Research
1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PHSSL CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED
THAT:
2. SECTION 1. All public school districts in the state of Pennsylvania will be
required to partition 1% of total funding for student research.
3. SECTION 2. Student research will be defined as any research project taken up
by a student or group of students with the intent of furthering scientific
knowledge.
4. SECTION 3. The United States Department of Education will oversee
appropriation of funding in collaboration with the National Science Foundation.
5. SECTION 4. This bill will go into effect at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school
year.
6. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and
void. Introduced for Congressional Debate by Greater Latrobe High School.
A Resolution to Pool Funds for Education
1
Whereas, currently, the property tax directly affects a school’s funding;
2
Whereas, the amount of school funding relates to the quality of a student’s education;
3
Whereas, if the money from the property tax is pooled from all districts and divided by
4
the number of students, then each school will be equally funded per student enrolled;
5
Whereas, when schools are equally financed, then each student will have the same
6
opportunity for their education;
7
Therefore, let it be resolved by the Student Congress here assembled that the money
8
from property taxes be pooled and divided by the number of students enrolled to ensure
9
an equal chance at a full education.
Respectfully submitted,
Lakeview Christian Academy
A Bill to Put America to Work
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
SECTION 1.
program.
3
4
SECTION 2.
This new jobs programs will be referred to as 'AmWorks' and will aim to
put 17 million unemployed Americans back to work.
5
6
The United States shall allocate 500 billion dollars towards a new jobs
SECTION 3.
The Department of Labor along with The Department of Transportation
7
will oversee the distribution of the budget
8
A. In order to stimulate jobs, companies that hire employees in result of
this program will 8 receive federal subsidies proportional to the
9
amount of workers they hire.
10
B. Half of the budget will exclusively be for the creation of infrastructure
11
and Infrastructure jobs.
12
C. This budget will be evenly distributed over the course of the next 10
13
years.
14
15
SECTION 4.
This bill will be implemented June 1, 2016.
16
SECTION 5.
All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted, McDowell High School.
A Resolution for Racial Blindness in College Admissions
In The
Pennsylvania High School Speech League
by
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School
1.
2.
3.
Whereas, currently applied college admissions affirmative action policies
harm lower income families and social mobility, and
Whereas, affirmative action is routinely taken advantage of by affluent diverse
4.
families while equally diverse lower income families are stuck in an endless cycle of destitution, and
5.
Whereas, modern practices of affirmative action in colleges benefit only one part of
6.
7.
the society, and
Whereas, a system disregarding race and incorporating wealth into admissions policies could
8.
create a diverse population in colleges and make accessible an untapped, yet talented group of individuals
9.
that have been inhibited by poverty, therefore,
10. BE IT RESOLVED by the Pennsylvania High, School Speech League Student Congress assembled
11. that a system using wealth based affirmative action and racial blindness should be enacted by colleges so a
12. larger section of the populace could benefit, creating a more diverse and talented educated class.
Committee on Security
A Bill to Ban the Sale of High Capacity Firearm Magazines
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
SECTION 1. The sale, manufacturing and transporting of High Capacity Firearm
3
Magazines in the United States will be illegal.
4
All Law Enforcement and Military Personnel will be exempt
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SECTION 2. A High Capacity Firearm Magazine will be defined as “any magazine for
any firearm that contains more than 10 round of ammunition”.
SECTION 3. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
will oversee the implementation and enforcement of this bill.
SECTION 4. This bill shall be implemented exactly 30 days after the passing of the
legislation.
SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Cameron Sauers of Notre Dame GreenPond High School
A Resolution to Approve the Building of a Fence Between the
United States and Mexico
1.
Whereas,
2.
3.
There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants from Mexico
living in the United States; and
Whereas,
Protecting the border between America and Mexico with a
4.
reinforced fence would lower the amount of illegal trespassing;
5.
and
6.
Whereas,
7.
8.
Building the 1,951 mile-long fence would create hundreds of jobs
that would be permanent for Americans; and
Whereas,
This project will follow the design identified by the 2006 Secure
9.
Fence Act, but with technological updates where needed; now,
10.
therefore, be it
11.
Resolved,
That the Congress here assembled will approve the building of a
12.
fence that will separate the border of the United States and Mexico
13.
to lower the amount of illegal immigrants from Mexico and
14.
provide jobs for American citizens.
Introduced by Rockwood Area School District
A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Reduce
Institutionalized Nationalism
1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2
RESOLVED,
By two-thirds of the Congress here assembled, that the following article
3
is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States,
4
which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution
5
when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states
6
within seven years from the date of its submission by the Congress:
ARTICLE --
7
8
SECTION 1:
Clause 5 of Section 1 of Article 2 will be amended to read as follows: “No
9
person except a citizen of the United States shall be eligible to the office
10
of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall
11
not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been ten Years a
12
resident within the United States.”
13
SECTION 2:
Clause 8 of Section 9 of Article 1 of the Constitution is no longer in effect.
14
SECTION 3:
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
15
legislation.
16
17
18
19
Upper Saint Clair’s (District 3)
A Resolution to Amend the Requirements for Presidency
1
2
3
Whereas: The Constitution gives three eligibility requirements to be president:
one must be 35 years of age, a resident "within the United States" for 14 years,
and a "natural born Citizen," a term not defined in the Constitution.
4
5
Whereas: The President is considered the country's chief executive, and the
commander of the armed services.
6
Whereas: There is no requirement of a high school or college diploma.
7
8
Whereas: 26 Presidents have served in the United States armed services or preconstitutional state militias.
9
10
Therefore: The three requirements stated in the Constitution shall remain
enacted. As well the 22 amendment.
11
Therefore, a college degree should be added as a requirement.
12
13
14
Therefore: The President must have served honorably in any branch of the US
armed services for a full enlistment or received honorable discharge as a
requirement.
Respectfully Submitted
Keystone Oaks High School
A Bill To Ban Individuals On The No-Fly List From Purchasing Firearms
1. Be it enacted by Student Congress here assembled that
2. Section 1: Individuals on the No-fly List should be banned from
3. purchasing firearms.
4. Section 2: The No-fly List is created and maintained by the
5. Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). Names of individuals who are
6. denied permission to fly in and out of the United States appear on
7. this list. These individuals are not banned from purchasing
8. firearms. This bill would prevent such purchases.
9. Section 3: The TSC would notify gun stores and sellers of the
10. current no-fly listing complete with names,
11. aliases, appropriate personal information, and photographs.
12. Section 4: If an individual on the No-Fly List attempts to
13. Purchase firearms, the TSC will be notified and action will be
14. taken against the individual.
15. Section 5: Failure to comply with these regulations will result in
16. temporary suspension of the seller’s license until reviewed by the
17. TSC.
18. Section 6: This law becomes effective within 60 days of passage.
19. Section 7: All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby
20. declared null and void.
Respectfully submitted by Towanda Jr/Sr High School
Resolution to Research Guns
1
WHEREAS: There is a woeful lack of research regarding gun ownership, gun
2
safety, and gun violence in the United States; and
3
WHEREAS: More research is needed to have a productive debate on any
4
potential needs for gun legislation on both the Federal and/or State level; and
5
WHEREAS: Information does not trample anyone’s rights; therefore be it
6
RESOLVED: That this Congress here assembled create a bipartisan Gun
7
Research Committee to fund, collect, and share quantitative research on gun
8
ownership, gun safety, and gun violence in the United States; and
9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this committee have the authority to
10
dispense research grants totaling no more than $200,000,000 per year.
Respectfully Submitted by La Salle College High School
Committee on Human Affairs
A Bill to Expand the Umbrella of Legal Sex Work
1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
2 Section 1. The United States shall legalize all profit motivated sexual acts taking
3
place between one or more consenting adults.
4 Section 2. Street prostitution, indoor prostitution including but not exclusively brothel
5
work, massage-parlor related prostitution, and/or bar and casino
6
prostitution, and escorting will be legalized and placed on an equivalent
7
basis as exotic dancing, lap dancing, and nude peepshows.
8 Section 3. The former occupations will receive the same rights in terms of filing
9
sexual assault cases, receiving restraining orders, and lawsuit abilities as
10
the latter occupations.
11 Section 4. Nude cam modeling and sexual chat rooms will be formally
12
recognized on an equivalent basis as adult film performing and phone sex
13
operations.
14 Section 5. The former occupations will receive the same rights in terms of
15
16
copyright laws and related infringement lawsuits as the latter
occupations.
17 Section 6. All legislation in conflict with this bill shall hereby be declared null and
18
void.
19 Section 7. This law will take effect June 1, 2016
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Bellwood-Antis School District
A Resolution to Require Gender Neutral Bathrooms
In The
Pennsylvania High School Speech League
By
E.L. Meyers High School
1
WHEREAS, the trans* community is increasing; and
2
WHEREAS, there is increasing violence against trans* people; and
3
WHEREAS, trans* individuals need area where they can feel safe ; now, therefore,
4
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Student
5
Congress here assembled, that gender neutral bathrooms shall be required in public
6
establishments with public bathrooms .
An Act to Increase the Full Social Security Retirement Age from 67 to 68 and to increase
the early Social Security Collection Age from 62 to 64
Be it Enacted by this Student Congress
1. Preamble: Whereas over 61.9 million people receive Social Security benefits totaling about
2. $863 billion, which accounts for 20% of all government spending, and since the Social
3. Security fund is predicted to be depleted by the year 2033 if the program continues unchanged,
4. and since the current plan to modify Social Security will increase the average age of
5. retirement to 67 without raising the minimum retirement age at all.
6.
7. SECTION 1: The minimum retirement age at which one can begin to receive Social Security
8.
benefits shall be gradually increased to 64 by the year 2030.
9.
10. SECTION 2: The increase will occur in increments of 1 month and 19 days per year so that
11.
the age is raised uniformly.
12.
13. SECTION 3: The full retirement age, which under current law will rise to 67 by 2022,
14.
will be raised to 68 by 2030.
15.
16. SECTION 4: This increase will occur in increments of 1 month and 16 days per year from
17.
2022 to 2030.
18.
19. SECTION 5: This bill shall go into effect 91 days after passage.
Submitted by Pine-Richland High School
A Bill to Drug Test Federal Welfare Recipients
1.
Section One: All federal welfare recipients will be subject to random drug testing.
2.
Section Two: A randomly selected twenty-five percent of federal welfare recipients,
3.
excluding social security recipients, shall be drug tested at random dates.
4.
Section Three: If the welfare recipient fails his or her drug test, a follow up blood test will
5.
be immediately administered to confirm the original results.
6.
Section Four: Anyone failing the drug test will be responsible for paying the costs of the
7.
drug testing. In addition, welfare benefits will be immediately revoked for anyone failing
8.
the drug tests.
9.
Section Five: The welfare benefits may continue if the welfare recipient who has failed
10.
a drug test agrees to participate in and complete a federally certified drug
11.
rehabilitation program. Otherwise the welfare benefits will be renewed after one year of
12.
probation in which drug tests will continue to be administered at random dates.
13.
Section Six: This act shall go into effect six months after passage.
Respectfully Submitted,
Somerset Area School District
A Bill to Mandate the Establishment of a Gender Neutral Restroom in all Public
Places.
1.
WHEREAS,
2.
3.
The current requirement for gender specific restrooms
does not accommodate transgender individuals; and
WHEREAS,
Many transgender individuals are being harassed and/or
4.
bullied for using restrooms designated for the gender
5.
with which they identify; and
6.
WHEREAS,
It is essential to the health and well-being of all
7.
people to be able to live in accordance with their
8.
internal gender identity in all aspects of life;
9.
THEREFORE,
be it resolved by this Student Congress here assembled that
10.
the existence of a gender neutral restroom in all public
11.
places be required effective January 1, 2017.
Introduced by Slippery Rock Area High School
A RESOLUTION TO SOLVE THE INCOME INEQUALITY ISSUE TO
BETTER THE LIVES OF AMERICA’S WORKING POOR
In The
Pennsylvania High School Speech League
by
Central Catholic High School
1
Whereas:
income in equality is at an all-time high in America; and
2
Whereas:
the top one-tenth of the one percent controls ninety percent of all wealth in
America; and
3
4
Whereas:
Americans; and
5
6
said persons use tax loopholes and offshore accounts to hide from their fellow
Whereas:
the US government only currently works to buttress them in the bailouts of big
banks and corporations; and
7
8
Whereas:
millions of hardworking Americans are unable to afford basic necessities.
9
Therefore,
be it resolved by this PHSSL State Student Congress here assembled that: all
10
recognized exploited tax loopholes be amended and offshore accounts be
11
prohibited.
Commerce Committee
A Bill to Increase the Federal Minimum Wage
1. Be it enacted by the Pennsylvania High School Speech League student congress here
2. assembled today that:
3. SECTION 1. The United States Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 should be amended,
4. increasing the federal minimum wage to $9.50 an hour.
5. SECTION 2. If a business increases its minimum wage to an amount higher than $9.50 per
6. hour, they will be exempt from payroll tax.
7. SECTION 3. This increase will be monitored by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S.
8. Department of Labor.
9. SECTION 4. This bill will go into effect June 1, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
A Resolution to Raise the Gas Tax in Order to Fund Our Nation’s Infrastructure
1
WHEREAS: The United States has regularly underinvested in its infrastructure, and
2
WHEREAS: The gas tax has not been raised since 1993, and
3
WHEREAS: The Highway Trust Fund is running low on revenue and no short term
4
5
Or long term solutions have been found;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That this Congress here assembled raise the gas tax
6
and use the generated revenue to fund the Highway Trust Fund until a
7
more permanent solution can be found.
Respectfully submitted,
Pennsbury High School
A Resolution to More Clearly Define What a Religion is to
Prevent the Abuse of Tax Exemption and Evasion of Criminal
Charges by Fabricated Religious Organizations
1
WHEREAS,
It is particularly facile to establish a religion; and
2
WHEREAS,
The tax-exempt status of religious organizations can be abused; and
3
WHEREAS,
Some religions already take advantage of this status and make substantial
amounts of money that should be going to the government; and
4
5
WHEREAS,
committing of crimes; therefore be it
6
7
8
9
10
The establishment of such religions allows these religions to justify the
RESOLVED:
That the Student Congress here assembled clarify and limit the definition
of what a religion is; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That institutions that follow religions that do not fit these
guidelines be taxed accordingly.
Introduced for Congressional Debate
Southern Lehigh HS
A Bill to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising on Television
1. BE IT ENACTED by the PHSSL State Student Congress here assembled that:
2. SECTION 1. E-cigarettes contain dangerous nicotine.
3. SECTION 2. Many states do not have an age requirement to purchase
4.
E-cigarettes.
5. SECTION 3. As of January 1, 2015, only 15 states have a state-wide
6.
regulation of the use of e-cigarettes.
7. SECTION 4. Studies are showing a yearly doubling of the use of e8.
cigarettes to tweens and teens.
9. SECTION 5. E-cigarette television advertising (including product
10.
placement in programs) imply safeness as well as “cool to smoke”
11.
factors.
12.SECTION 6. E-cigarette television advertising and program product
13.
placement be banned beginning June 1, 2016.
14. SECTION 7. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby
15.
declared null and void.
Introduced for Congressional Debate by Trinity High School
District #4
A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE EDUCATION IN LOWER
INCOME COMMUNITIES
In The
Pennsylvania High School Speech League
By
North Allegheny High School
1.
WHEREAS: In the United States, there 1.3 million students dropping out of high
2.
school in the United States and
3.
WHEREAS: In the United States, low-income students fail to graduate at five
4.
times the rate of middle-income families and
5.
WHEREAS: Students who come from low-income families are 7 times more likely
6.
to drop out of school than students who come from families with higher incomes.
7.
WHEREAS: For the minimum-wage earner with a family of four, a full-time
8.
paycheck falls almost $9,000 below the poverty line and in many of those
9.
families, children need to work to help provide for the family, and
10.
WHEREAS: Work hours keep students from being able to focus on their
11.
school work
12.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL
13.
SPEECH LEAGUE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT the
14.
national minimum wage be increased so that families can better support
15.
themselves, and children can focus on their educations, not earning money.