A BILL TO AMEND THE PURCHASE OF FIREARMS IN THE UNITED STATES TO BALANCE SAFETY WITH CIVIL LIBERTIES

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1 A BILL TO AMEND THE PURCHASE OF FIREARMS IN THE UNITED STATES TO BALANCE SAFETY WITH CIVIL LIBERTIES BE IT ENACTED BY THE PHSSL STATE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: SECTION 1. The process of purchasing a firearm in the United States shall include without exception (1) a thorough background check and (2) a waiting period of no less than five days. A. No civilian of the United States who has acquired a criminal record involving violent crime(s) that has not been expunged or removed may lawfully own or possess an assault weapon. B. Private transfers of firearms may only occur between such owners and transferees who meet the qualifications found under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). C. The legality of specific types of firearms shall be decided based upon the discretion of individual States governments, but no State or municipality shall possess the authority to ban firearms entirely SECTION 2. A. Ammunition clips for firearms shall be limited to a maximum of seven (7) rounds for handguns and twenty (20) rounds for assault weapons. Extended ammunition clips are hereby prohibited in the United States. B. The list of specific persons ineligible to possess firearms under U.S.C. 922(g) will remain unaltered. SECTION 3. This bill will be enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) under the US Department of Justice in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). SECTION 4. This law shall take effect immediately upon passage. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void. Respectfully Submitted, Abington Heights High School

2 A"Bill"to"Clean"up"Future"Legislation" 1. WHEREAS,* Currently*many*pieces*of*legislation*are*not*fully*read*because*of*length;* 2. WHEREAS,* Many*pieces*of*legislation*are*brought*to*a*vote*without*allowing** 3. * * adequate*time*for*full*reading*and*complete*research*and*debate*of*a*bill* 4. WHEREAS,* Earmarks*and*unrelated*pieces*of*legislation*are*added*to*legislation* 5. RESOLVED,* All*legislation*shall*be*limited*to*100*pages*and*all*amendments* 6. * * attached*to*the*legislation*be*kept*within*the*100*page*limit;* 7. * * also*all*amendments*must*directly*relate*to*the*topic*of*the*legislation;* 8. * * and*a*mandatory*96*hour*waiting*period*shall*follow*the* 9. * * proposal*of*any*legislation,*to*allow*time*for*reading,*research,*and* 10. * * debate.* Respectfully*submitted* Bellwood*Antis*

3 Bill Allowing Immediate Family Members to See Relatives Medical Records 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 2. SECTION 1: When an immediate family member is hospitalized 3. and unable to speak for himself, and when the surviving 4. immediate family member is the primary caregiver but has not been 5. given authorization for Medical Power of Attorney but the immediate 6. family member has made other decisions regarding his loved one while 7. in the hospital, that primary caregiver shall be given authorization to 8. see said patient s medical record and history to make decisions. 9. SECTION 2: Primary caregiver and immediate family member shall 10. be defined as mother, father, husband, wife, daughter (blood or 11. adopted), or son (blood or adopted). 12. SECTION 3: Medical conditions allowing this Right include: stroke, 13. heart attack, coma, surgery on the brain, heart surgery, or any other 14. debilitating illness that can weaken a person putting his life in 15. jeopardy and require hospitalization. 16. SECTION 4: Access to Medical Records and Medical History may 17. be either in hard copy form or permission to view/read. 18. SECTION 5: This legislation shall take effect 30 days after passage. Respectfully submitted

4 Berlin Brothers Valley

5 A BILL TO GRANT HAWAIIAN INDEPENDENCE 1 Section 1: The state of Hawaii be granted right of sovereignty as an 2 independent and self-governing nation. 3. Section 2: The United States will recognize the descendants of King David 4 Kalakaua and Queen Lilliuokalani as the rightful rulers of the 5 nation of Hawaii. 6 Section 3: Treaties referring to the mutual prosperity and national security of 7 the United States of America and the sovereign nation of Hawaii 8 will be signed. 9 Section 4: All United States military bases currently located in Hawaii will 10 be granted a 99 year lease which may be renewed upon the 11 consent of both nations. 12 Section 5; Upon passage of this bill there will be a two-year transitional 13 period in which the United States of America will cede all 14 authority over the Hawaiian Islands and the Hawaiian citizens 15 will establish their government and ruling authorities. 16 Section 6: This bill will have the effect of law within one year of passage. Respectfully submitted Bethel Park High School

6 A Resolution to Raise Wage the Federal Minimum Wage to a Livable Level Whereas, Currently in the United States this minimum wage is not set high enough for most people to make a living, Whereas, this low standard harms the entire economy, Whereas, the current minimum wage is out dated, Whereas, the people of the United States deserve a livable wage, Be it Therefore Resolved that the Federal minimum wage is raised to $10.00 an hour, Be it further resolved that every five years the minimum wage be reassessed to ensure it meets the needs of the present time, Be it further resolved that, all bills or resolutions in conflict with this resolution are declared bull and void upon the passage of this resolution. Respectfully Submitted, Bishop Shanahan High School

7 !! A!Resolution!Advocating!Medical!Marijuana!! 1. Whereas, the medical efficacy of the active ingredients of marijuana are widely acknowledged; and, 2. Whereas, the availability of effective marijuana substitutes for the treatment of a variety of medical 3. conditions has not been proven; and, 4. Whereas, a large number of states having already legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes; and, 5. Whereas, the ability of state and local governments to regulate and control distribution of marijuana for 6. medical use has been established in those states; 7. Be It Resolved by this Student Congress here assembled that the use of marijuana for medical purposes be 8. promptly approved by the appropriate governing bodies of states and municipalities. Respectfully Submitted, Cathedral Prep School

8 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE BMI OF UNDERWEIGHT MODELS 1. WHEREAS, there are no laws to prevent models with lower than an BMI from modeling in the United States. 3. WHEREAS, models are dying from eating disorders such as anorexia 4. nervosa. 5. WHEREAS, models are under pressure to become so thin, that it becomes 6. unhealthy, resulting in underweight BMIs (lower than 18.5). 7. WHEREAS, underweight models are portraying an unrealistic, unhealthy 8. image and lifestyle to impressionable young children, teens and adults. 9. WHEREAS, the modeling and fashion industry are glamorizing and 10. promoting an unhealthy, deadly lifestyle. 11. WHEREAS, underweight models are causing everyday people s self-worth, 12. confidence, and self-image to be damaged. 13. WHEREAS, there is currently only one country, Israel, using passed 14. legislation to ban the use of underweight models. 15. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS STUDENT CONGRESS 16. HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: A law be implemented requiring all models 17. to reach, and maintain, a minimum of an 18.5 BMI. Respectfully submitted, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School

9 A Resolution to Establish Native American Spiritualism as the National Religion of the United States: 1. WHEREAS the United States is one of the few nations in the 2. world that does not have an official or national religion, 3. WHEREAS the Christian Religion has influenced the American 4. continent for 200 years, compared to the Native American beliefs 5. that have influenced it for over 4,000 years, 6. WHEREAS it would be adequate compensation for almost 2 7. Centuries of American expansionism and Manifest Destiny, which 8. have nearly annihilated Native American culture and religion, 9. WHEREAS the United States should embrace the cultures of its 10. Indigenous people and use it as a symbol of American culture as a 11. whole, rather than ignore it as the government has done countless 12. times in the past, 13. WHEREAS the Native American spiritual beliefs are deeply 14. rooted in nature, and the protection of the environment and of 15. endangered species would become of paramount national interest, 16. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS 17. Assembled here that the traditional spiritual beliefs of the Native 18. Americans be recognized as the official state religion. Respectfully Submitted: Deer Lakes High School

10 A Resolution to Resume Diplomatic Ties with Cuba 1 WHEREAS, the United States and Cuba are only ninety miles apart from one another and 2. WHEREAS, the reasons for the diplomatic and trade embargoes on Cuba was to discourage 3. communism in the Western Hemisphere and 4. WHEREAS, the USSR has fallen, and no longer supports the Castro regime in Cuba and 5. WHEREAS, the threat of communism has been seriously diminished as a result and 6. WHEREAS, the resumption of diplomatic ties with Cuba would probably do more to promote 7. good will and reciprocal understanding between our two nations and 8. WHEREAS, resuming diplomatic ties would give us a stronger voice in Cuba 9. WHEREAS, Cuba has indicated it is willing to resume diplomatic ties, therefore, be it 10. RESOLVED, that the United States shall enter into negotiations to resume diplomatic ties with 11. Cuba, and that such negotiations should begin by December 31, Respectfully submitted, Delone Catholic High School!

11 A BILL TO CONSTRUCT A NAVAL BASE IN KENYA TO COUNTER SOMALI TERRORISM In The Pennsylvania High School Speech League by E.L. Meyers High School 1. Be it enacted by the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Student Congress 2. assembled that 3. Section 1. The United States begin the construction of a naval base on the coast of 4. Kenya to prevent the Al-Shabaab militant group from spreading Al Qaeda influence 5. into the region. 6. Section 2. 1 billion dollars will be allocated to fund this legislation to ensure that the 7. naval base is built and equipped to operate on a large scale to control counter 8. terrorism and keep close watch on the waterways of the Indian Ocean. 9. A. Additionally, another 20 million dollars will be allocated annually to 10. fund the upkeep and maintenance of the naval base. 11. B. If at any time the base is found to be ineffective, it will be defunded 12. within the next fiscal year after it is determined. 13. Section 3. The U.S. Department of Defense will oversee the enforcement of this bill. 14. A. Funding for the naval base will stem directly from the shutting down 15. of all unnecessary European military bases. 16. Section 4. This bill will take effect immediately upon passage. 17. Section 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

12 1! A"Resolution"to"Provide"Free"College3Level"Education"in"the" United"States" "! WHEREAS,"! Poverty!in!the!United!States!is!at!all2time!highs;!and" 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! WHEREAS,! WHEREAS,! WHEREAS,"" Poverty!in!the!United!States!is!directly!related!to!people!not!having!goo! paying!jobs!due!to!the!lack!of!an!advanced!education;!and! The!United!States!has!the!highest!poverty!ratings!in!the!world;!and!!Many!factors,!such!as!poor!family!structure!and!economic!inequality,! that!contribute!to!poverty!stem!from!the!lack!of!a!college!education! 7! 8! THEREFORE,"BE"IT"RESOLVED"THAT,"!All!College2level!education!shall!be!free!of!charge! to!those!wishing!to!receive!a!degree. Introduced*for*Congressional*Debate*by*,* Elk*Lake*High*School*

13 A Resolution to Empower Doctors to Refuse Drug-seeking Patients 1. Whereas, Many doctors feel pressured to prescribe drugs to patients even if they do not 2. show physical signs of pain, 3. Whereas, In 2010 alone, 5,500 people received prescription painkillers when they had no 4. medical need for them, 5. Whereas, in many hospitals, a physician s pay is dependent on patient satisfaction, 6. Therefore, let it be resolved by the PHSSL State Student Congress here assembled that 7. Doctors be more empowered to refuse drug-seeking patients. Respectfully Submitted, Fairview High School

14 A BILL TO TERMINATE THE UPMC-HIGHMARK DISPUTE BE IT ENACTED BY THIS CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: SECTION 1: Any hospital-owned physician practice that is part of an integrated delivery network is hereby prohibited from limiting or restricting a consumer s access to health care solely on the basis of the consumer s health insurance carrier. SECTION 2: An integrated delivery network shall be defined as a network of entities, including (1) At least one hospital, physician practice, or other purveyor of health care services, and (2) At least one health insurance carrier offering health care benefits and coverage to individuals in this Commonwealth, all of which are under common ownership or operation. SECTION 3: The Insurance Department of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will enforce this act by imposing a civil penalty of up to $40,000 per day upon any physician practice in violation of the above provisions. SECTION 4: This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage. SECTION 5: All other legislation in conflict with this act is hereby declared null and void Respectfully submitted by Fox Chapel

15 A Bill to Legalize Marijuana Be It Enacted 1. Section 1: The prohibition of Cannabis Sativa, or Marijuana, will be henceforth be 2. ended, and the plant will now be available for medicinal use and 3. recreational use for those over the age of Section 2: Recreational drug use is the use of a drug with the intention of 5. or enhancing a recreational experience, similar to most alcohol 6. consumption. 7. Section 3: The Drug Enforcement Administration will be in charge of the regulation 8. of recreational marijuana, while the Federal Drug Administration will 9. handle its distribution and growth for medicinal purposes. 10. Section 4: This bill will be implemented on April 20th, Section 5: Any laws in conflict with this bill will hereby be declared null and void. Respectfully submitted, Gettysburg Area High School

16 A Bill to Permit Flexibility in Public School Calendars 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PHSSL CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 2 SECTION 1: The Pennsylvania School Code be amended so that the only requirement public 3 school districts must meet in order to complete a school term is a number of 4 instructional hours. 5 SECTION 2. The following terms are defined as: 6 A. School term - a time period in which students complete one grade level; 7 referred to as a school year 8 B. Instructional hours - the number of hours in which students must be instructed 9 or learning; this number of hours will be determined during revision of the school 10 code. 11 SECTION 3. Several Pennsylvania agencies will be involved in the enforcement of this bill. 12 A. The Pennsylvania House Legislature s Education Committees will oversee 13 the revision of the Pennsylvania School Code. 14 B. The Pennsylvania Department of Education will monitor the implementation of 15 and adherence to the Pennsylvania School Code. 16 SECTION 4. This bill will go into effect for the school one year. 17 SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void. Respectfully Submitted Greater Latrobe High School.

17 A Resolution to Mandate Year-Round Schooling in Public Schools WHEREAS, The United States ranked 36 th in the 2012 International Student Assessment, and WHEREAS, success and prosperity at an individual and national level is largely predicted by one s education, and WHEREAS, summer breaks play a large role in both obesity and loss of academic knowledge, and WHEREAS, a year-round school year would remove this disadvantage and put American students in a more competitive position globally, therefore be it RESOLVED, By the Student Congress here assembled, that all public school in the United States of America have a yearlong schedule consisting of every nine (9) weeks of schooling being broken up by four (4) weeks of break. Introduced by Greensburg Salem High School

18 !! A Bill to Require Helmets for All Motorcycle Operators and Occupants BE IT ENACTED BY THIS CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: The Exceptions clause subsection (d) be repealed from 3525 Protective equipment for motorcycle riders of Title 75 Vehicles in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, thus requiring all motorcycle operators and occupants to wear a protective helmet, regardless of age and years licensed. BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THIS CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: A fine for not wearing a helmet as an operator or occupant on a motorcycle be imposed by creating a new subsection (d): (d) Penalty. -- Any violation of subsection (a) is punishable by a fine, including all penalties, assessments and court costs imposed on the convicted person, not to exceed $250. Respectfully Submitted by Gwynedd Mercy Academy

2019 STUDENT CONGRESS HOUSE BILLS

THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH LEAGUE BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY 400 E. 2 ND STREET BLOOMSBURG, PA 17815 TEL: (570) 389-4646 FAX: (570) 389-4459 2019 STUDENT CONGRESS HOUSE BILLS COMMONWEALTH HOUSE 1.