THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH LEAGUE

Susquehanna University

514 University Avenue Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164

Tel: (570) 372-4300 Fax: (570) 372-2757

2016 Student Congress House Bills

COMMONWEALTH HOUSE

1. Committee on Education a. “A Resolution to Reform Homework Policies in Our Schools” by Belle Vernon Area High

School b. “A Resolution to Change the Start of the School Day” by Wallenpaupack High School c. “A Resolution Regarding High School Start Times” by Vincentian Academy d. “A Resolution to End Standardized Testing” by Shikellamy High School e. “A Resolution to Promote Gender Equality” by Keystone Oaks High School

2. Committee on Government Reform a. “A Bill to Mandate a Balanced Federal Budget” by Bensalem High School b. “Redistricting Congress and Legislature” by Harriton High School c. “A Constitutional Amendment to Enact Term Limits for Legislative Positions in Congress”

by Norwin High School d. “A Bill to Require Post-Secondary National Service in Order to Promote Civic Values and

the Greater Good” by Hempfield Area High School e. “An Amendment to End Citizens United” by Holy Ghost Prep f. “A Bill to Record Police Officers to Minimize Violence” by Dallastown Area High School

3. Foreign Affairs Committee a. “A Resolution to Eliminate Funding of Anti-American Government” by Peters Township

High School b. “A Resolution to Place Sanctions on Turkey to Promote Kurdish Independence” by St.

Joseph’s Preparatory School c. “A Resolve to End Puerto Rico’s Colonial Status” by Iroquois JR/SR High School d. “A Resolution to Increase the Number of Refugees in the United States” by Mercer Area

Middle-High School 4. Judiciary Committee

a. “A Bill to Redefine Manslaughter, including LGBTQ Victims” by McKeesport Area High School

b. “A Bill to Amend the Post-Conviction Relief Act” by Bethel Park High School c. “A Resolution to Eliminate Lifetime Tenure in the Supreme Court” by Oakland Catholic

High School d. “A Resolution to Impose Strict Term Limits Upon Supreme Court Justices” by Deer Lakes

High School e. “A Bill to Implement More Rehabilitation Opportunities to Convicted Felons” by Sayre

Area High School f. “A Bill to Federalize the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (R.I.C.O.)”

by Shady Side Academy

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 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

STATE HOUSE

1. Committee Education Affairs a. “A Resolution to Create a Presidential Youth Council” by Hampton High School b. “A Bill to Require Post-Secondary National Service in Order to Promote Civic Values and

the Greater Good” by Hempfield Area High School c. “A Resolution to Decrease Homework for High School Students” by West Allegheny High

School d. “A Bill to Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Dormitories” by Fox Chapel Area High

School e. “Afterschool Havens” by Delone Catholic High School

2. Committee on Government Affiars a. “A Bill to Construct an Artificial Island in the Spratly Islands to Strengthen US Influence in

the Region” by Unionville High School b. “A Bill to Cease Federal Funding for Charter Schools” by William Tennent High School c. “A Resolution to Deport Visa Overstays” by Quigley Catholic High School d. “Amending the XXII Amendment” by Gwynedd Mercy Academy e. “A Bill to Increase Immigration to the US In order to Promote Economic Growth” by

Abington Heights 3. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

a. “A Resolution Revive the Apollo Moon Program” by Fairview High School b. “A Resolution to Require Cell Phones and Hand Held Devices Distributed in America to

Automatically Switch to ‘Hands Free’ Operation when it Detects that a Vehicle is in Motion” by Greensburg Salem High School

c. “A Resolution to Allow Voters to Cast Ballots Online” by Moon Area High School d. “A Bill to Increase Funding for NASA” by The Kiski School e. “A Bill for the Colonization of Space” by Danville Area High School

4. Agricultural Committee a. “A Bill to Impose a Carbon Tax to Confront Climate Change” by Bishop Shanahan High

School

b. “A Resolution to Offer Incetives such as Tax Breaks to Businesses that Provide Food in Areas that The United States Department of Agriculture Classifies as ‘Food Deserts’” by Sewickley Academy

c. “A Resolution to Safely Reintroduce the Wolf Population in Pennsylvania” by Knoch High School

d. “A Bill to Increase Research and Development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that Fight Deforestation” by William Allen High School

THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH LEAGUE

Susquehanna University

514 University Avenue Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164

Tel: (570) 372-4300 Fax: (570) 372-2757

2016 COMMONWEALTH HOUSE

1. Committee on Education

a. “A Resolution to Reform Homework Policies in Our Schools” by Belle Vernon Area High

School

b. “A Resolution to Change the Start of the School Day” by Wallenpaupack High School

c. “A Resolution Regarding High School Start Times” by Vincentian Academy

d. “A Resolution to End Standardized Testing” by Shikellamy High School

e. “A Resolution to Promote Gender Equality” by Keystone Oaks High School

2. Committee on Government Reform

a. “A Bill to Mandate a Balanced Federal Budget” by Bensalem High School

b. “Redistricting Congress and Legislature” by Harriton High School

c. “A Constitutional Amendment to Enact Term Limits for Legislative Positions in Congress”

by Norwin High School

d. “A Bill to Require Post-Secondary National Service in Order to Promote Civic Values and

the Greater Good” by Hempfield Area High School

e. “An Amendment to End Citizens United” by Holy Ghost Prep

f. “A Bill to Record Police Officers to Minimize Violence” by Dallastown Area High School

3. Foreign Affairs Committee

a. “A Resolution to Eliminate Funding of Anti-American Government” by Peters Township

High School

b. “A Resolution to Place Sanctions on Turkey to Promote Kurdish Independence” by St.

Joseph’s Preparatory School

c. “A Resolve to End Puerto Rico’s Colonial Status” by Iroquois JR/SR High School

d. “A Resolution to Increase the Number of Refugees in the United States” by Mercer Area

Middle-High School

4. Judiciary Committee

a. “A Bill to Redefine Manslaughter, including LGBTQ Victims” by McKeesport Area High

School

b. “A Bill to Amend the Post-Conviction Relief Act” by Bethel Park High School

c. “A Resolution to Eliminate Lifetime Tenure in the Supreme Court” by Oakland Catholic

High School

d. “A Resolution to Impose Strict Term Limits Upon Supreme Court Justices” by Deer Lakes

High School

e. “A Bill to Implement More Rehabilitation Opportunities to Convicted Felons” by Sayre

Area High School

f. “A Bill to Federalize the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (R.I.C.O.)”

by Shady Side Academy

A Resolution to Reform Homework Policies in Our Schools

Whereas: There is no law covering the assignment of homework in our state’s schools, 1

and; 2

Whereas: Homework can be a valuable teaching tool when used correctly, and; 3

Whereas: An over-abundance of redundant homework is currently assigned, and; 4

Whereas: This over-abundance is cumbersome to some students and defeats the 5

educational value of the positive aspects of homework, and; 6

Whereas: Students often lose interest and enthusiasm in a subject when repetitive 7

homework is assigned, and; 8

Whereas: The excessive homework negates the initial purpose of the work, 9

Therefore, be it resolved by this PHSSL Student Congress here assembled that: 10

Section 1) A task force be developed to determine the appropriate guidelines for 11

homework distribution 12

Section 2) Teachers will be made aware of the findings of this task force via information 13

bulletins passed down through their local intermediate units 14

Section 3) This resolution will take effect at the end of the first full school year after its 15

passage. 16

Respectfully submitted by Belle Vernon Area High School

1 A RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY

2 WHEREAS, a shift in circadian rhythms at the beginning of adolescence causes

3 adolescents to fall asleep later

4 WHEREAS, sleep cycles typically begin around 11 p.m. for teenagers and continue

5 through 8 a.m

6 WHEREAS, only about 15% of schools start after 8:30 a.m. therefore,

7 BE IT RESOLVED, that the school day start time be changed to 9:00 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Wallenpaupack High School

A RESOLUTION REGARDING HIGH SCHOOL START TIMES

(1) WHEREAS high schools across the country have start times that are too early.

(2) WHEREAS students’ academic performances are negatively affected because of this.

(3) WHEREAS statistics show that 3.8% public high schools have start times of at least 9:00

(4) A.M.

(5) WHEREAS the average United States teenager is only receiving between 6.5 and 7.5

(6) hours of sleep.

(7) WHEREAS teenagers need between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep to perform to the best of

(8) their abilities.

(9) WHEREAS researchers have seen an increase in attendance, grades, and standardized

(10) test scores as well as a decrease in tardiness, substance abuse, and

(11) depression symptoms in students when school start times were pushed

(12) back.

(13) THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Student Congress here assembled

(14) passes this resolution pushing high school start times back to 9:00 A.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Vincentian Academy

A Resolution to End Standardized Testing 1 WHEREAS, High Stakes Testing cause incredible amounts of stress on the 2 millions of students who take standardized tests. 3 WHEREAS, The US international rankings have shown almost no change or 4 decline since the No Child Left Behind Act implemented increased 5 standardized testing. 6 WHEREAS, Standardized Testing benefits the corporations who create the 7 test, while hurting the schools with limited resources. 8 WHEREAS, Millions of Parents have already used philosophical and religious 9 exemptions to get their children out of taking required tests. 10 WHEREAS, the pressure placed on educators have lead to cheating scandals 11 in several schools around the US. 12. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE 13 ASSEMBLIED: The United States should no longer require mandatory 14 standardized tests public schools. Faithfully Submitted by Loyd Diaz Shikellamy High School

A RESOLUTION TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY In The

Pennsylvania High School Speech League By

Keystone Oaks High School

1. WHEREAS: Gender inequality is a prevalent issue, and

2. WHEREAS: Women are faced with gender inequity in workplaces and

3. elsewhere. Women only make 79% of what men make, and

4. WHEREAS: Establishing equal pay for women will incentivize them to increase

5. their competitiveness in the job market.

6. WHEREAS: Women are segregated into “pink-collar” jobs that affect their wage

7. earning power

8. WHEREAS: A woman will actually lose more money than a man throughout a

9. lifetime because of debt.

10. WHEREAS: in 2012, the World Economic Forum ranked the United States 22nd

11. in terms of gender equality out of 135 countries.

12. WHEREAS: The US needs to take the lead on promoting gender equality, such

13. as laws that allow women to have the same salaries as men and studies on how

14. to get more women into male-dominated careers such as engineering and

15. politics.

16. WHEREAS: Women should be treated with the same respect as men.

17. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL

18. SPEECH LEAGUE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT the US

19. create and follow through with plans to lower gender inequality and promote the

20. rights of women.

A BILL TO MANDATE A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET

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

SECTION 1. The United States shall adopt annually a balanced federal budget. 2

SECTION 2. The federal budget shall not be balanced by transfer from trust funds such 3

as Social Security or by the issuance of bonds or notes. 4

SECTION 3. This will be overseen by the Office of Management and Budget. 5

SECTION 4. This bill shall take effect January 1, 2017. 6

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.7

Respectfully submitted,

Bensalem High School

PHSSL Congress Bill

Submitted by: Harriton High School

Redistricting Congress and the Legislature

1. Whereas: Congressional districts are determined by an act of the General Assembly

2. with no input by the public in any way.

3. Whereas: This arrangement has resulted in partisan gerrymandering where one party

4. controls both branches of the General Assembly and the governorship as was the case

5. when the current congressional districts were created after the 2010 census.

6. Whereas: While, this plan complied with the U.S. Supreme Court’s “one person, one

7. vote rule, it ignored traditional redistricting criteria, including preservation of local

8. government boundaries.

9. Whereas: One small municipality was divided into four congressional districts, essen-

10. tially depriving it of real representation, and when this plan was appealed to the US

11. Supreme Court, it allowed the districts to stand, over strong opposition by the minority

12. in the 5-4 decision.

13. Whereas: Legislative districts are drawn by a bipartisan commission that has been so

14. dysfunctional the last 2 times that the legislative commission was unable to agree on the

15. selection of a non-partisan chair and one had to be appointed by the PA Supreme Court.

16. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by this PHSSL Student Congress here assembled:

17. That The Pennsylvania Constitution will be amended to require an independent

18. commission comprised of individuals not currently employed by local, state, or federal

19. government, to redistrict both legislative and congressional districts.

20. That the agreed to standards are (in rank order): adhere to all Constitutional and Voting

21. Rights Act requirements; promote competitiveness and partisan fairness, respect politi-

22. subdivisions and communities of interest; encourage geographical compactness and

23. respect for natural geographical features and barriers.

A Constitutional Amendment to Enact Term Limits for Legislative Positions in Congress

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. All Senators in the US Senate shall be subject to a limit of three terms in office and 2

Representatives in the US House of Representatives shall be subject to a term limit of 3

nine terms in office (or a total of 18years). 4

SECTION 2. A term shall be defined as six years in office for a Senator and two years in office for a 5

Representative. 6

A. If a Senator or Representative serves one half or more of his or her term and has to 7

resign for any reason, the time he or she has served will be counted as a full term 8

when determining reelection eligibility. 9

B. Any congressman who has fulfilled his or her total terms in office in one House of 10

Congress is not to be eligible for election to the other. 11

C. If a congressman serves in one House of congress and then is elected to serve in the 12

other House, the number of years served in the first House shall be transferred to 13

the next House and counted toward term limits (18 years) according to the 14

definition above. 15

SECTION 3. The United States Supreme Court shall be in charge of maintaining compliance with this 16

amendment. 17

SECTION 4. This amendment will take effect on the first day of the year after ratification. 18

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void 19

Respectfully submitted by Norwin High School20

A Bill to Require Post-Secondary National Service in order to Promote Civic Values and the Greater Good

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. The United States government shall require all U.S. Citizens to complete a 2

period of eighteen (18) months of Mandatory National Service upon 3

completion of high school, or have reached the age of eighteen and 4

dropped out of school. 5

SECTION 2. “Mandatory National Service” will include service in the United States 6

Armed Forces or AmeriCorps. 7

SECTION 3. The Federal Department of Education will administer this program. 8

SECTION 4. Implementation will occur immediately upon passage. 9

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.10

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Hempfield Area High School.

AN AMENDMENT TO END CITIZENS UNITED

1. Be it enacted by the Pennslyvania High School Speech League Student Congress

that

2. Section 1. Citizens United has allowed very few people to control elections.

3. Section 2. The Federal Election Commission shall oversee the

implementation of this amendment

A. By two-thirds of the Congress here assembled, that the following

article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the

United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as

part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-

fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its

submission by the Congress:

B. If ratified, this will go to the Supreme Court where the

constitutionality of Citizens United will be decided on.

5. Section 3. The date shall be within seven years as seen in section 3A.

6. Section 4. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null

and void.

Respectfully submitted,

Holy Ghost Prep

A Bill to Record Police Officers to Minimize Violence

In The

Pennsylvania High School Speech League

By

Dallastown Area High School

1. Be it enacted by the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Student Congress

assembled that

2. Section 1. All law-enforcement officers in the United States shall be required to wear and

turn on body cameras when on duty.

3. Section 2. The terms of this bill are as follows:

a. Camera resolution must be at least 12 MP.

b. “On Duty” refers to times when an officer is scheduled to work or is known to be

working.

c. The cameras will be funded by allocating military funding for the purchase of the

cameras and storing data produced by the cameras.

4. Section 3. The United States Department of Defense will be responsible for enforcing the

bill through the inspection of each police station.

5. Section 4. This legislation shall take effect with the 2017 fiscal year.

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

A Resolution to Eliminate Funding of Anti-American Governments

1. WHEREAS over 48 billion dollars are sent in aid every year to the governments of

2. Sudan, Venezuela, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Colombia, Russia, Nigeria, and Yemen,

3. although they do not concur with American values.

4. WHEREAS Defense Department and State Department spending adds an extremely large

5. amount of money to the national debt.

6. WHEREAS millions of dollars of military equipment and other forms of aid are hijacked

7. every year by foreign militias and terrorist organizations.

8. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the aforementioned nations will no longer

9. receive monetary or military aid from the United States.

Respectfully submitted,

Ben Zeisloft

Peters Township High School

A RESOLUTION TO PLACE SANCTIONS ON TURKEY TO PROMOTE KURDISH

INDEPENDENCE

In The

Pennsylvania High School Speech League

by St. Joseph’s Preparatory School

1 Whereas, Turkey has committed numerous human rights abuses against its Kurdish

2 population and other groups and continues to do so; and

3 Whereas, Turkey’s actions in the Middle East have been counterproductive to American

4 and Coalition goals; and

5 Tensions between Turkey and Kurdistan have been on the rise, creating a possible

6 impediment to continued effective Kurdish resistance to ISIS; now, therefore

7 BE IT RESOLVED That the Congress here assembled place sanctions on Turkey until it grants

8 autonomous governing powers to its Kurdish region.

A Resolve to End Puerto Rico’s Colonial Status

1. Whereas: Puerto Rico is confined by the laws of commonwealth and will

2. be allowed to experiment with more economic models and

3. improve growth if given independence

4. Whereas: Puerto Rico’s economic problems are closely linked in colonial

5. status

6. Whereas: As an independent state, Puerto Rican businesses would be

7. allowed to declare bankruptcy and seek help from nations other

8. than the US

9. Whereas: As an independent state Puerto Rico could be recognized by

10. other nations and thus could open more trade

11. Whereas: As a state, citizens of Puerto Rico would be given citizen’s

12. benefits such as voting, health care, and tax returns

13. Whereas: The US could benefit from taxes collected from the citizens and

14. businesses of Puerto Rico

15. Therefore: Let It Be Decided that this congress resolves to end the colonial

16. status of the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico.

Respectfully Submitted:

Iroquois JR/SR High School

A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES

In The Pennsylvania High School Speech League

By Mercer Area Middle-High School

1. WHEREAS: Nine million refugees have fled from Syria since March 2011.

2. WHEREAS: More than 260 thousand refugees have tried to illegally cross into

3. different nations.

4. WHEREAS: Individuals, regardless of ethnicities, deserve basic rights to safety.

5. WHEREAS: The United States offers basic securities to those living in its

6. borders.

7. WHEREAS: The United States contributed to the current crisis in Syria.

8. WHEREAS: The United States has a thorough method of vetting immigrants.

9. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL

10. SPEECH LEAGUE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT the

11. United States offers asylum to more Syrian refugees.

A Bill to Redefine Manslaughter, including LGBTQ Victims

1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT

2 SECTION 1. "Heat of passion" and "sudden quarrel" defenses for manslaughter shall be

3 prohibited in a court of law if including the discovery of a victim's gender

4 or sexuality.

5 SECTION 2. Gender includes a person's gender identity, gender-related appearance, and

6 behavior, regardless if that appearance or behavior is associated with the

7 victim's gender assigned at birth.

8 SECTION 3. The Office for Victims of Crime shall oversee the passage and

9 implementation of this bill.

10 SECTION 4. This law shall be effective immediately.

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

Introduced for Congressional Debate by McKeesport Area High School

A Bill to Amend the Post-Conviction Relief Act

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. Section 9545(a) of Title 42 is amended to read as follows: 2

(a) Original jurisdiction. - 3

(1) Original jurisdiction over a petitioner’s first petition 4

challenging a conviction under this subchapter shall be in the court 5

of common pleas or the Philadelphia Municipal Court. 6

(2) If a petitioner has previously filed a petition under this 7

subchapter relating to the criminal conviction he seeks to 8

challenge, and the petitioner was denied relief with respect to that 9

petition, or voluntarily dismissed the petition, the petitioner must 10

obtain leave from the Superior Court to file a second or subsequent 11

petition under this subchapter relating to that conviction. 12

(3) The Superior Court shall only grant leave to file a second or 13

subsequent petition if the petitioner makes a prima facie showing 14

that he has satisfied subsection (b) of this section. 15

(4) The Superior Court shall not be required to issue a 16

memorandum or opinion explaining its decision to grant or deny 17

leave to file a second or subsequent petition under this subchapter. 18

(5) No court shall have authority to entertain a request for any form 19

of relief in anticipation of the filing of a petition under this 20

subchapter. 21

SECTION 2. Effective date: The amended version of section 9545(a) shall apply to all 22

petitions filed on or after May 1, 2016. 23

Respectfully Submitted,

Bethel Park High School

A Resolution to Eliminate Lifetime Tenure in the

Supreme Court

WHEREAS, the current policy of lifetime tenure in the federal Supreme Court undermines the 1

nonpartisan nature of the Supreme Court and 2

WHEREAS, Supreme Court justices since 1970 have served an average of 26 years, while for the first 3

200 years of our country’s history, they served for an average of 15 years; and 4

WHEREAS, the policy of lifetime tenure no longer achieves the ideals of our founding fathers; and 5

WHEREAS, lifetime tenure on the Supreme Court places pressure on Presidents to choose justices 6

who will support their views for potential decades into the future; and 7

WHEREAS, many countries follow the precedent set by the United States Constitution, but no other 8

country has adopted the policy of lifetime tenure for federal Supreme Court justices; and 9

WHEREAS, Rhode Island is the only state to have adopted the policy of lifetime tenure for its justices; 10

therefore be it 11

RESOLVED, by the Student Congress here assembled that lifetime tenure in the 12

Supreme Court be eliminated. 13

Introduced by Oakland Catholic High School

A RESOLUTION TO IMPOSE STRICT TERM LIMITS

UPON SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

1. Whereas many supreme court justices have stayed in

2. power well over 30 years and have heavily influenced national

3. judicial opinion,

4. Whereas there are currently no restrictions upon the office of supreme

5. court justice, which is considered by some to be a life position,

6. Whereas if we do not wish to propagate a judicial system ruled without

7. repercussions, it should be our duty to implement boundaries

8. on their lengths of power,

9. Whereas the judicial branch is the only one of the United States’ three

10. branches that is not held up to term limits or strict limitation on their

11. tenure.

12. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS ASSEMBLED

13. HERE THAT: The United States impose a term limit of 20 years upon

14. each current and future justice of the Supreme Court.

Respectfully submitted,

Deer Lakes High School

A Bill to Implement More Rehabilitation Opportunities to Convicted Felons

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT 1

Section 1: Convicted felons shall be given the alternative of a longer rehabilitation period as 2

opposed to being immediately incarcerated. 3

Section 2: Whereas rehabilitation is defined to restore a former capacity (Merriam Webster). 4

Section 3: Whereas incarceration is defined as to put one in prison (Merriam Webster) 5

Section 4: Legislation will allow convicted felons to serve their prison time in a government 6

approved rehabilitation center as opposed to serving their sentence in prison. 7

a. The ultimatum of rehabilitation in lieu of prison time will only be offered to those with a 8

first time offense. 9

b. The court will decide how long and what rehabilitation center the felon will attend. The 10

type of rehabilitation center will be in regards to the felony committed. 11

Section 5: Rehabilitation will be funded by the government. 12

a. The amount of felons placed into rehabilitation will long term affect the prison costs. 13

b. Ultimately funding for rehabilitation would come from the budget set aside for those 14

whom would automatically be incarcerated but have now chosen rehabilitation. 15

Section 6: The type of felon will determine the ability for the federal court to allow the option of 16

a rehabilitation sentence. Charges of murder, assault, and treason of any form will be excluded of 17

this sentence. 18

Section 7: This piece of legislation will be overseen by the Department of Justice. 19

a. This piece of legislation will only be a concern of federal prisons. 20

b. The court will have 60 days to determine the sentence of the convicted felon. 21

c. If the convicted felon is granted the permission to attend a rehabilitation period, they 22

would also have the option to choose prison time. 23

All laws in conflict of this legislation are hereby declared null and void. 24

Introduced for congressional debate by Sayre Area High School. 25

A BILL TO FEDERALIZE THE RACKETEERING INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT

ORGANIZATIONS ACT (R.I.C.O.)

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

SECTION 1. The civil law side of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt 2

Organizations Act be federalized and a new agency be created to finding 3

civil racket offenses 4

SECTION 2. Any white collar crime, no matter the location within the United States, 5

that falls under R.I.C.O. can be prosecuted as a federal crime. 6

A. White collar crime can be defined as any civil crime stated by the 7

federal R.I.C.O. statute 8

SECTION 3. The Department of Defense will create a new agency that will 9

communicate with the Racketeering Department of the Department of 10

Justice. 11

SECTION 4. This bill should be in effect by January 2016. 12

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.13

Respectfully submitted,

Rep. Anya Satyawadi

Shady Side Academy

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

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

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 2016­2017 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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. The United States shall allocate 500 billion dollars towards a new jobs 2

program. 3

SECTION 2. This new jobs programs will be referred to as 'AmWorks' and will aim to 4

put 17 million unemployed Americans back to work. 5

SECTION 3. The Department of Labor along with The Department of Transportation 6

will oversee the distribution of the budget 7

A. In order to stimulate jobs, companies that hire employees in result of 8

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

SECTION 4. This bill will be implemented June 1, 2016. 15

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.16

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. Whereas, currently applied college admissions affirmative action policies

2. harm lower income families and social mobility, and

3. 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. the society, and

7. 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.

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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 SECTION 2. A High Capacity Firearm Magazine will be defined as “any magazine for

6 any firearm that contains more than 10 round of ammunition”.

7 SECTION 3. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

8 will oversee the implementation and enforcement of this bill.

9 SECTION 4. This bill shall be implemented exactly 30 days after the passing of the

10 legislation.

11 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, There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants from Mexico

2. living in the United States; and

3. Whereas, Protecting the border between America and Mexico with a

4. reinforced fence would lower the amount of illegal trespassing;

5. and

6. Whereas, Building the 1,951 mile-long fence would create hundreds of jobs

7. that would be permanent for Americans; and

8. 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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

RESOLVED, By two-thirds of the Congress here assembled, that the following article 2

is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 3

which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution 4

when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states 5

within seven years from the date of its submission by the Congress: 6

ARTICLE -- 7

SECTION 1: Clause 5 of Section 1 of Article 2 will be amended to read as follows: “No 8

person except a citizen of the United States shall be eligible to the office 9

of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall 10

not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been ten Years a 11

resident within the United States.” 12

SECTION 2: Clause 8 of Section 9 of Article 1 of the Constitution is no longer in effect. 13

SECTION 3: The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate 14

legislation. 15

16

17

18

Upper Saint Clair’s (District 3)19

A Resolution to Amend the Requirements for Presidency

1 Whereas: The Constitution gives three eligibility requirements to be president: 2 one must be 35 years of age, a resident "within the United States" for 14 years, 3 and a "natural born Citizen," a term not defined in the Constitution.

4 Whereas: The President is considered the country's chief executive, and the 5 commander of the armed services.

6 Whereas: There is no requirement of a high school or college diploma.

7 Whereas: 26 Presidents have served in the United States armed services or pre-8 constitutional state militias.

9 Therefore: The three requirements stated in the Constitution shall remain 10 enacted. As well the 22 amendment.

11 Therefore, a college degree should be added as a requirement.

12 Therefore: The President must have served honorably in any branch of the US 13 armed services for a full enlistment or received honorable discharge as a 14 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

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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 copyright laws and related infringement lawsuits as the latter

16 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

WHEREAS, the trans* community is increasing; and 1

WHEREAS, there is increasing violence against trans* people; and 2

WHEREAS, trans* individuals need area where they can feel safe ; now, therefore, 3

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Student 4

Congress here assembled, that gender neutral bathrooms shall be required in public 5

establishments with public bathrooms . 6

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, The current requirement for gender specific restrooms

2. does not accommodate transgender individuals; and

3. 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

Whereas: income in equality is at an all-time high in America; and 1

Whereas: the top one-tenth of the one percent controls ninety percent of all wealth in 2

America; and 3

Whereas: said persons use tax loopholes and offshore accounts to hide from their fellow 4

Americans; and 5

Whereas: the US government only currently works to buttress them in the bailouts of big 6

banks and corporations; and 7

Whereas: millions of hardworking Americans are unable to afford basic necessities. 8

Therefore, be it resolved by this PHSSL State Student Congress here assembled that: all 9

recognized exploited tax loopholes be amended and offshore accounts be 10

prohibited. 11

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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

WHEREAS: The United States has regularly underinvested in its infrastructure, and 1

WHEREAS: The gas tax has not been raised since 1993, and 2

WHEREAS: The Highway Trust Fund is running low on revenue and no short term 3

Or long term solutions have been found; 4

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That this Congress here assembled raise the gas tax 5

and use the generated revenue to fund the Highway Trust Fund until a 6

more permanent solution can be found. 7

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 WHEREAS, It is particularly facile to establish a religion; and 1

WHEREAS, The tax-exempt status of religious organizations can be abused; and 2

WHEREAS, Some religions already take advantage of this status and make substantial 3

amounts of money that should be going to the government; and 4

WHEREAS, The establishment of such religions allows these religions to justify the 5

committing of crimes; therefore be it 6

RESOLVED: That the Student Congress here assembled clarify and limit the definition 7

of what a religion is; and, be it 8

FURTHER RESOLVED, That institutions that follow religions that do not fit these 9

guidelines be taxed accordingly. 10

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 e-

8. 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.

THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH LEAGUE

Susquehanna University

514 University Avenue Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164

Tel: (570) 372-4300 Fax: (570) 372-2757

2016 STATE HOUSE

1. Committee Education Affairs

a. “A Resolution to Create a Presidential Youth Council” by Hampton High School

b. “A Bill to Require Post-Secondary National Service in Order to Promote Civic Values and

the Greater Good” by Hempfield Area High School

c. “A Resolution to Decrease Homework for High School Students” by West Allegheny High

School

d. “A Bill to Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Dormitories” by Fox Chapel Area High

School

e. “Afterschool Havens” by Delone Catholic High School

2. Committee on Government Affiars

a. “A Bill to Construct an Artificial Island in the Spratly Islands to Strengthen US Influence in

the Region” by Unionville High School

b. “A Bill to Cease Federal Funding for Charter Schools” by William Tennent High School

c. “A Resolution to Deport Visa Overstays” by Quigley Catholic High School

d. “Amending the XXII Amendment” by Gwynedd Mercy Academy

e. “A Bill to Increase Immigration to the US In order to Promote Economic Growth” by

Abington Heights

3. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

a. “A Resolution Revive the Apollo Moon Program” by Fairview High School

b. “A Resolution to Require Cell Phones and Hand Held Devices Distributed in America to

Automatically Switch to ‘Hands Free’ Operation when it Detects that a Vehicle is in

Motion” by Greensburg Salem High School

c. “A Resolution to Allow Voters to Cast Ballots Online” by Moon Area High School

d. “A Bill to Increase Funding for NASA” by The Kiski School

e. “A Bill for the Colonization of Space” by Danville Area High School

4. Agricultural Committee

a. “A Bill to Impose a Carbon Tax to Confront Climate Change” by Bishop Shanahan High

School

b. “A Resolution to Offer Incetives such as Tax Breaks to Businesses that Provide Food in

Areas that The United States Department of Agriculture Classifies as ‘Food Deserts’” by

Sewickley Academy

c. “A Resolution to Safely Reintroduce the Wolf Population in Pennsylvania” by Knoch High

School

d. “A Bill to Increase Research and Development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that Fight

Deforestation” by William Allen High School

A Resolution to Create a Presidential Youth Council

by Hampton High School

1. WHEREAS: Current legislature and executive branch members have limited understanding of

2. young Americans’ perspectives.

3. WHEREAS: Young people aged 16-24 currently do not possess significant means of voicing

4. their opinions to members of the U.S. government.

5. WHEREAS: Active participation in the lawmaking process will inspire new and creative ways

6. of approaching critical issues in the U.S. government.

7. WHEREAS: A 24-member bipartisan youth council would encourage young Americans to

8. become involved in the advancement of the democratic process.

9. WHEREAS: Many organizations already have youth councils in place to encourage political

10. activism and advocacy.

11. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED

12. that a bipartisan Presidential Youth Council will be organized in the U.S. to encourage young

13. people to become involved, informed, and engaged stakeholders in the governing process.

A Bill to Require Post-Secondary National Service in order to Promote Civic Values and the Greater Good

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. The United States government shall require all U.S. Citizens to complete a 2

period of eighteen (18) months of Mandatory National Service upon 3

completion of high school, or have reached the age of eighteen and 4

dropped out of school. 5

SECTION 2. “Mandatory National Service” will include service in the United States 6

Armed Forces or AmeriCorps. 7

SECTION 3. The Federal Department of Education will administer this program. 8

SECTION 4. Implementation will occur immediately upon passage. 9

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.10

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Hempfield Area High School.

A RESOLUTION TO DECREASE HOMEWORK FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

1 Whereas: Students in high school receive too much homework

2 Whereas: Spending hours at night finishing homework gets in the way of clubs and

3 activities

4 Whereas: according to the US news report students are typically assigned 17.5 hours of

5 homework each week

6 Whereas: Having so much homework causes students to stress and feel anxiety

7 Whereas: According to Professor Harris Cooper of Duke, students should only receive

8 approximately 2 hours of homework a night

9 Therefore, be it resolved by the PHSSLState Student Congress here assembled that: High

10 Schools should decrease the amount of homework that a student receives

Respectfully submitted,

West Allegheny High School

A Bill to Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Dormitories

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. Every dormitory at each institution of higher education in the Commonwealth

using a fossil-fuel burning heater or heating appliance must have an approved, operational

carbon monoxide alarm installed within a 15-foot radius of the fossil fuel-burning heater and in

every housing unit located on the same story as the fossil-fuel burning heater.

SECTION 2. Dormitory shall be defined as a building containing one or more housing units

owned or leased by an institution of higher education that is used as a residence by the students

of the institution of higher education. Fossil fuel shall be defined as coal, kerosene, oil, wood,

fuel gases and other petroleum or hydrocarbon products which emit carbon monoxide as a

byproduct of combustion. Housing unit shall be defined as a room or suite that is occupied,

leased for occupation or intended or designed to be occupied as a residence by the students of

an institution of higher education.

SECTION 3. The Department of Education will be responsible for overseeing, implementing,

and enforcing this Bill.

A. Institution of higher education shall include any university, college, technical

college, or community college.

B. Carbon monoxide alarm shall be defined as an alarm listed as complying with the

approved American National Standard for Safety for Single and Multiple Station

Carbon Monoxide Alarms or a carbon monoxide detector listed as complying with

the approved American National Standard for Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors

and Sensors.

C. The institution of higher education is responsible for the purchase and installation

of the carbon monoxide alarm.

D. The institution of higher education is responsible for providing the maintenance,

repair or replacement of the carbon monoxide alarm.

E. Failure to install or maintain in operating condition any approved carbon monoxide

alarm required by this act is a summary offense punishable by a fine of up to $500

per alarm.

SECTION 4. This Bill will be implemented on January 1st, 2017.

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

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Fox Chapel Area High School

Afterschool Havens

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

2. Section 1: The Pennsylvania State Department of Education will set up free afterschool

programs where older, higher-achieving students are able to tutor younger student’s

afterschool from 3-5.

3. Section 2: All schools must remain open until 5pm to accommodate afterschool tutoring.

4. Section 3: Student Tutors who are successful at tutoring and mentoring younger students will

receive $1000 scholarships to state universities for every year they tutor.

5. Section 4: Free transportation will be provided for students staying afterhours

6. Section 5: Additional staff will be hired to monitor the afterschool programs, thus providing

more jobs

7. Section 6: Transportation, scholarships, overhead program expenses and additional staff salaries

will be funded by a 50% increase in truancy fines.

8. Section 7: This bill will be enacted for the 2011-2012 school year.

Respectfully Submitted by,

Delone Catholic High School

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Committee on Government Affairs

Unionville High School

A Bill to Construct an Artificial Island in the Spratly Islands to Strengthen US Influence in

the Region

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

1. SECTION 1. The United States shall hereby construct an artificial island, to be used as a

2. military base, in the Spratly Islands.

3. SECTION 2. An artificial island shall be defined an island that has been constructed by

4. people rather than natural means. It shall be created by expanding existing islets,

5. constructing on existing reefs, or amalgamating several natural islets into a bigger island.

6. A military base shall be defined as a facility directly owned and operated

7. by, or for, the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and/or

8. personnel, and facilitates training and operations.

9. SECTION 3. This bill shall be enforced by the Department of Defense.

10. SECTION A. The funding for this bill shall come from the Department of

11. Defense’s budget for the fiscal year of this bill’s implementation.

12. SECTION 4. This bill shall be effective 3 month after passage.

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Unionville High School

A BILL TO CEASE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS

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

SECTION 1. The United States shall close the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter 2

Schools Program. 3

SECTION 2. The federal budget shall not appropriate any sum of money whatsoever to 4

expand or otherwise financially support public charter schools in any 5

jurisdiction with an existing public school system. 6

SECTION 3. This will be overseen by the US Department of Education. 7

SECTION 4. This bill shall take effect January 1, 2017. 8

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

Respectfully submitted,

William Tennent High School

A RESOLUTION TO DEPORT VISA OVERSTAYS

1 WHEREAS: In 2015 nearly 500,000 individuals came into the United States on

2 temporary visas, and

3 WHEREAS: Over 6 million individuals have entered the United States on legal,

4 temporary visas but have overstayed their visas, and

5 WHEREAS: many Americans believe these visa overstays pose a threat to the

6 security of the United States, therefore

7 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED that the United States

8 government deport all persons who have overstayed visas

Respectfully Submitted

Quigley Catholic High School

Amending the XXII Amendment

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BE IT ENACTED BY THIS CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED:

Section 1 of the Amendment XXII of the United States Constitution is amended

to read as follows:

“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times,

and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for

more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President

shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”

Respectfully Submitted by Gwynedd Mercy Academy

A Bill to Increase Immigration to the US in order to Promote Economic Growth

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: SECTION 1. The number of available lawful permanent resident cards for immigration will be

increased by 10% of current US demographics. Foreign business owners and

entrepreneurs that receive U.S. investment may move and grow their business in

the U.S.

SECTION 2. A. U.S. investment is defined as money or capital from a U.S. centered

corporation to promote the foreigner’s business.

B. A U.S. centered corporation is defined as a corporation whose headquarters

and more than 50% of its workforce reside in the U.S.

C. US demographics will be defined as population data collected by private

corporations and the US Census Bureau.

SECTION 3. The Department of Homeland Security will oversee implementation, auditing

employers believed to be hiring illegal aliens.

A. Businesses found in violation will be ordered to cease and desist, and are

subject to a fine not less than $15,000 and not more than $50,000 per

infraction of current illegal alien employment laws.

B. Magnitude of compensation will go by a case by case basis and will be

decided by the courts.

SECTION 4. This bill will begin implementation over the course of its inaction to the end of fiscal year 2017.

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void. Presented by Senator Patel from Abington Heights

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Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

A Resolution Revive the Apollo Moon Program

1. Whereas, The last Apollo moon mission, Apollo 17, left Earth in 1972,

2. Whereas, Ceasing to go to the moon would waste the resources that the United States

3. Spent to get there,

4. Whereas, China, an economic competitor, is currently sending rovers to explore the

5. Possibility of “moon mining”

6. Whereas, the geological community could still learn much from the our celestial

7. Neighbor,

8. Whereas, the Apollo missions incentivized technological development and stimulated the

9. Economy,

10. Resolved, That the Congress here assembled allocate resources to NASA for the purpose

11. Of conducting further explorations of the Moon by 2025.

Respectfully Submitted,

J.P. Jarecki

Fairview High School

PHSSL District One

Resolution to require cell phones and hand held devices distributed in

America to automatically switch to ”hands free” operation when it detects

that a vehicle is in motion

1 WHEREAS, distracted driving accounts for 9 deaths each day in car

2 accidents

3 WHEREAS, manually texting while driving is a significant distraction while

4 driving

5 WHEREAS, the number of Americans texting and driving has risen in the

6 past ten years

7 WHEREAS, there are already federal bans prohibiting the use of cell

8 devices for federal and commercial drivers

9 WHEREAS, a “hands free” voice-activated program would deter drivers

10 from touching their phone during vehicle operation

11 WHEREAS, the technology exists for a handheld device to determine that

12 it is in an operated vehicle

13 RESOLVED, That the congress here assembled propose legislation

requiring that manufacturers of American-owned cell phones and hand held

devices shall make it standard that the device goes into a “hands free” mode or

blue tooth mode whenever it detects it is in a moving vehicle.

Greensburg Salem High School

A Resolution to allow voters to cast ballots online

WHEREAS, Voter turnout in presidential elections hovers around 50%; and 1

WHEREAS, Describe the scope of the problem cited in the first whereas clause (this 2

clause needs to flow logically from the first) and the inherent need for a 3

solution Voter turnout in non-presidential elections is routinely around 4

40%, numbers far too low to get an accurate assessment of public 5

opinion; and 6

WHEREAS, It allows candidates to win office with numbers as low as 20% of 7

registered voters supporting them; and 8

WHEREAS, Allowing online voting can significantly increase voter turnout; now, 9

therefore, be it 10

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation 11

to institute online ballots alongside traditional voting methods.12

Introduced for Congressional Debate by _Moon Area High School___.

A Bill to increase funding for NASA

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

2. Section 1: The NASA budget will increase by $15 billion each year for 5 years.

3. Section 2: After 5 years, the NASA budget will remain above $80

4. billion for ten years.

5. Section 3: A five year evaluation cycle has the ability to change the budget with a

6. a minimum budget of $80 billion.

7. Section 4: This money will come from the military budget which though this bills effects,

8. will be reduced by $15 billion annually

9. Section 5: The five year growth period will begin at the start of the 2017 fiscal year.

10. Section 6: All laws in conflict with this bill are hereby null and void.

Submitted by The Kiski School

Bill for the Colonization of Space Submitted by: Danville Area High School 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: Section 1: The U.S. will administer a fund of five trillion dollars to the National Aeronautics and Space Association. (NASA) 

A. This fund will come partially from loans from other countries. B. Other funds will come from the ILC tourism program. (further explained in Section 4) 

Section 2: NASA will be charged with the hiring and training of skilled scientists and engineers. A. These workers will research and develop advanced methods of space travel and human 

survivability in space. Section 3: NASA will be charged with establishing a colony on the Moon. This colony will be called the Interstellar Lunar Colony. (ILC) 

A. The ILC will be capable to house and sustain humans for the action of research and observation of the Moon and space. 

B. The ILC will be armed with high­powered missiles armed with nuclear warheads to strengthen U.S. National Security and to protect the ILC from both natural and international crises.  

C. The ILC will have security composed of groups of the U.S. armed forces. D. The ILC will provide a staging ground for further exploration of space. 

Section 4: The ILC will have a separate tourism program. A. This program will be a source of revenue for the ILC and NASA. B. This program will allow private citizens to take a three month long excursion to the ILC, 

where the tourists will be able to tour the ILC under supervision of the ILC security. Section 5: This bill will go into effect immediately following the passage of this bill. Section 6: Any U.S. law or regulation in conflict with this bill is hereby declared null and void. Section 7: Any international law or regulation in conflict with this bill will no longer be viewed as legitimate by the U.S. 

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Agricultural Committee

A BILL TO IMPOSE A CARBON TAX TO

CONFRONT CLIMATE CHANGE

Introduced for Congressional Debate by Bishop Shanahan High School. 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

2. SECTION 1. A carbon tax of 15.56 2015 dollars per metric ton will be imposed on all

powerplants.

3. SECTION 2. A carbon tax is defined as a tax levied by the federal government on entities based on the

amount of carbon dioxide each entity produces. Powerplant is defined by 42 U.S.C. § 8302 (a)(7).

4. SECTION 3. The United States Department of the Treasury and the Environmental Protection

Agency will jointly administer the implementation of this bill.

A. The United States Department of the Treasury will collect the carbon tax.

B. The Environmental Protection Agency will implement a system of tracking the amount of carbon

dioxide powerplants produce.

C. Any other tasks are under the supervision of both the United States Department of the Treasury and

the Environmental Protection Agency.

5. SECTION 4. This bill will be implemented on January 1st, 2017.

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

A Resolution To Offer Incentives Such As Tax Breaks To Businesses That

Provide Food In Areas That The United States Department Of Agriculture

Classifies As “Food Deserts”

1 WHEREAS: The United States Department of Agriculture classifies food

2 deserts as “urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to

3 fresh, healthy, and affordable food”. Instead of supermarkets and grocery

4 stores, these communities may have no food access or are served only by

5 fast food restaurants and convenience stores.

6 WHEREAS: The lack of access to healthy food by 23.5 million Americans in

7 these deserts perpetuates American diets based largely on processed, fast,

8 chemical laden, and unhealthy food that ultimately contribute to higher

9 levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases, such as diabetes and heart

10 disease that are both a detriment to the quality of an individual’s life and

11 cause them to accumulate hefty medical bills. This causes increasingly

12 poor, obese, and overweight Americans to find themselves in a seemingly

13 never-ending cycle of harmful food and health problems and medical costs.

14 WHEREAS: Obesity is the second leading preventable cause of death in the

15 United States.

16 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE

17 ASSEMBLED THAT in order to prevent the life-threatening disease of

18 obesity that disproportionately affects low-income Americans, to offer

19 incentives such as tax breaks to establishments that offer fresh, healthy,

20 and affordable grocery options.

Respectfully submitted,

Sewickley Academy

A Resolution to Safely Reintroduce the Wolf Population in Pennsylvania

by

Knoch High School

1. WHEREAS: The deer population has experienced exponential growth, with an estimated 30

2. million deer in the U.S. today and a breeding rate that has the potential to double every

3. two years.

4. WHEREAS: Deer have devastated agricultural yields, landscapes, and nurseries, totaling

5. nearly $248 million in damage in 2010 alone.

6. WHEREAS: Excess deer have led to a rise of deer ticks, a common spreader of lyme disease.

7. WHEREAS: White tailed deer in Pennsylvania have no natural predator to curb rising growth.

8. WHEREAS: The last wolf pack in Pennsylvania was killed by hunters in White Deer Valley

9. in 1879, and wolves only remained in the north of Wisconsin and Michigan.

10. WHEREAS: Several states have installed plans to reintroduce and manage the rebuilding of

11. the wolf population.

12. WHEREAS: There are multiple ranges in Pennsylvania that would be suitable to reintroduce

13. gray wolves.

14. WHEREAS: To control the population of deer, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is going

15. to extremes, such as the controversial deer cull Mt. Lebanon, PA.

16. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED:

17. That wolves will safely be reintroduced into Pennsylvania to curb overpopulation of

18. white-tailed deer.

A Bill to increase research and development of unmanned aerial vehicles that fight deforestation

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. $2.5 billion will be allocated to fund the research and development of

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that are used for the process of reforestation.

SECTION 2. A. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are defined as an aircraft without a

human pilot aboard and are controlled by an external source.

B. UAVs will be used only for the use of planting seeds in areas of

deforestation.

SECTION 3. The Department of Agriculture Forest Service will oversee the implementation of

this legislation.

SECTION 4. This bill shall go into effect immediately following passage.

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

Respectfully submitted,

William Allen High School