Docket A - Amazon S3€¦ · Web viewSubsequently, the bill will be enforced by the World Trade...

James River High School Gordon Robertson Speech and Debate Tournament 2018

Docket A


A Resolution to streamline and privatize aspects of the Department of Veterans Affairs to greater benefit and increase the efficiency in helping the

U.S. Veterans.

WHEREAS, Mismanagement and corruption has plagued the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

WHEREAS, Medical materials are being bought for exponentially higher prices than what can be

payed for, for the same product; and

WHEREAS, Over 1,200 medical records were found to be lost, and over 500,000 medical

instruments, costing over 1,000,000$ were found unused in warehouses, all due to bureaucratic

negligence; and

WHEREAS, The VA is horribly understaffed due to unfair programs to fire aids

WHEREAS, Veterans have little room for choosing better healthcare options, and are forced

to utilize the mismanaged VA, with little to no ability to explore private healthcare options; and

WHEREAS, Some of the largest veterans benefit charities have raised over 500,000,000$

and has directly helped over 300,000$ veterans; and, let it be

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled recommend that the Department of

Veterans’ Affairs should be downsized, and merged with the Department of Defense; and, let it

be

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a charitable, free-market solution is preferable to a bureaucratic

veterans’ affairs department, and that privatization shouldl be implemented wherever possible.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Johnny Stanley. Atlee High School


A BILL TO REDUCE TARIFFS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. An act to decrease tariffs on industrial goods from 2% to 1.5%.

SECTION 2. This bill seeks to decrease tariffs as the current high tariff rate and protectionist climate in the United States is hurting the economy. Higher tariffs reduces gross domestic product, therefore reducing wages, and driving up taxes which impacts the middle and lower classes heavily. It also reduces the efficiency and productivity of domestic markets by eliminating competition, and limits options for consumers, which keeps prices high. It also has a negative foreign impact and limits the development of emerging countries.

SECTION 3. This bill will be ratified in the United States Congress and then authorized by the President. Subsequently, the bill will be enforced by the World Trade Organization.

SECTION 4. The provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Zoe BroderickJames River High School


A Bill to Limit the Effects of the Opioid Epidemic by Removing Incentives for Opioid Use and Sale

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: SECTION 1. DECRIMINALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA(a) Decriminalize medical marijuana to not limit pain-relief options to highly addictive opioids.SECTION 2. CLASSIFY DRUG ADDICTION AS A MENTAL ILLNESS(a) Classify drug addiction as a mental illness, rather than a criminal offense.(b) Abolish jail time as a punsihment for drug use, and replace it with mandatory referrals to rehabilitation centers.SECTION 3. END GOVERNMENT RUN REHABILITATION CENTERS(a) Recognize that using tax-payer money to treat those who have made bad life decisions is not a responsibility of the government.(b) Recognize that government run health organizations are prone to mismanagement, and are not well equipped to help drug addicts.(c) Recognize that charitable, free-market solutions will be more efficient in helping those in need, and will be better equipped to treat drug addicts.SECTION 4. BAN GOVERNMENT-RUN NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS(a) Ban state and county level needle exchange programs, as they use tax-payer money to fund the bad habits of others. SECTION 5. END THE BLACK MARKET INCENTIVES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATIONS(a) Recognize that the criminalization of drugs gives incentives for drug cartels to become active in the United StatesSECTION 6. DEFINITIONS OF IMPORTANT TERMS(a) Define Medical Marijuana as “marijuana as recommended by a doctor in the treatment of a medical condition.”(b) Define Drug Addiction as “the habitual taking of addictive or currently illegal drugs.”(c) Define Drug Rehabilitation Centers as “organizations for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for dependency on psychoactive substances”(d) Define Needle Exchange Programs as “a social service that allows injecting drug user to obtain hypodermic needles and associated paraphernalia at little or no cost.”(e) Define Drug Cartels as “any criminal organization with the intention of supplying drug trafficking operations.” Section 5. refers to Mexican Drug Cartels specifically.SECTION 7. ENACTMENT(a) This act shall be enacted 90 days after passage SECTION 8. CONFLICTING LEGISLATION(a) All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully Submitted,Representative Johnny StanleyAtlee High School


A Resolution to Establish Protection toSanctuary Cities

WHEREAS, Sanctuary Cities taking Countries more than the past years ago, taking Countries,

Cities, and States by storm.

WHEREAS, This is a wrong term used for places that doesn’t prosecute or hold trials for

immigrants in cities, countries or even states; and

WHEREAS, With the new creation of Trump’s administration the federal government has

worked on making the fall of many sanctuary cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia even

San Francisco, causing the many people who live there become in danger; and

WHEREAS, Thus all the many Sanctuary Cities have been the main priority target for Trump’s

administration, which most likely puts about everyone who lives in them in danger; now,

therefore, be it

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

solution establishing protection to Sanctuary Cities all over the globe to protect all who live; and,

be it.

Respectfully submitted,Senator Maylissa MendozaJohn Randolph Tucker High School


A Resolution to Limit Public Funding for Sports Stadiums

WHEREAS, the government taxes the people for new stadiums to be built.

WHEREAS, the people’s money is being taken for no good reason and prophet rarely happens.

WHEREAS, the people will have to pay more and this money could be going into better more

beneficial things.

WHEREAS, the organization/company that the stadiums are being built for should be paying

more than the public.

RESOLVED, that the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for

the solution, the organization/company that the stadiums are being built for should pay for at

least half of the funds.

Respectfully submitted,Senator Ethan BrownJr. Tucker High School.


A Resolution to Reduce the Creation and Prescription Use of Opioids

in Virginia to Solve the Opioid Epidemic1. WHEREAS, The use of opioids as well as opioid addictions have immensely risen over

2. the past two decades since the 1990’s in the State of Virginia.

3. WHEREAS, The percentage of people being prescribed alternatives for similar aches

4. and pains such as Acetaminophen are abysmal compared to Opioid’s use

5. WHEREAS, Opioids can cause complications to the user being prescribed to them such

6. as sedation, nausea, physical dependence, and respiratory depression.

7. WHEREAS, There are a multitude of safer, more reliant, and effective methods and

8. pharmaceuticals available that doctors and practitioners can prescribe

9. their patients.

10. WHEREAS, The rise of opioid use is still inclining as long as many still believe in its

11. ability to relieve pain quicker than other medical drugs.

12. RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation:

13. To reduce the creation and the prescription of Opioids to help both the

14. people and Epidemic plaguing Virginia.


Representative Benjie AbuanJR Tucker High School


A Resolution to Not Recognize the Territorial Claims of Artificial Chinese Islands in the South China Sea

Whereas, The territorial parameters of the seven artificial Chinese islands in the South China Sea will not be recognized by the government of the United States; and

Whereas, These claims infringe on the sovereignty and security of both the United States and her allies in the region; and

Whereas, China has now deployed several People's liberation Army-Navy and Chinese CoastGuard ships to these islands as well as 3,000 meter long runways that allow them to strike crucial United States military bases and allies in the region; now, therefore be it

Resolved That the Student Congress here assembled push forward a proposition to deny recognition of Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Respectfully submitted,Representative Alex WinchJames River High School


A BILL TO ABOLISH THE USE OF SANCTUARY CITIES


SECTION 1. The sanctuary cities shall be prohibited in protecting undocumented

immigrants and working against the United States federal government

SECTION 2. A sanctuary city is a city, country or state that limits their aid to the national

government in the context of immigration laws

SECTION 3. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall be

responsible for enforcing and overseeing the provisions of this bill.

SECTION 4. The provisions of this bill shall take effect January 1, 2019

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


Cassie JohnsonJames River High School


A BILL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ISSUED VISAS AND CITIZENSHIP PER

YEAR REDUCE TO

THE NEED OF SANCTUARY CITIES


ARTICLE I. Increase the amount of issued visas and citizenships per year to reduce

the need of sanctuary cities.

ARTICLE II. Sanctuary cities are defined as cities that refuse to follow federal

jurisdiction concerning undocumented immigration.

ARTICLE III. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be the one to oversee

this change in the number of visas and citizenships

ARTICLE IV. Effective March 21, 2019.

ARTICLE V. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and

void.

Respectfully submitted,Rep. Keyshana RichardCosby High School


A Resolution to Increase Funding for Veterans

Whereas: The United States Government has placed a greater emphasis on the military

rather than the people within the military and

Whereas: The US Government has recognized that at least 39,000 veterans are

homeless and in desperate need of care and aid but has done little to nothing to stop and help

the people who have so diligently served this country; and

Whereas: The impact that the homeless veterans have on the economy is crippling and

all they need is some aid and adequate health care; and

Whereas: The people that have given their lives to this country should be given better

and deserve a future that is just as bright as their civilian comrades; and be it

Therefore: Be it resolved by this Student Congress here assembled that the United States

Government give aid for hospitals, economic support, and educational programs for the

Veterans of all branches of the military

Respectfully Submitted,

Rep. Franklin Monroe Jackson III

Cosby High School


A BILL TO GRANT THE ROLE OF REDISTRICTING TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM TO PREVENT GERRYMANDERING


SECTION 1. The redrawing of congressional districts in Virginia will be performed by a

computer program, basing the redrawing solely on population.

SECTION 2. A computer program in this case refers to a piece of software serving the

specific purpose of redrawing Virginia congressional district lines. Regulations will be

placed on the program’s drawing of the districts in that population must be equal or as equal

as possible in each district and each must be drawn in the most logical and compact way.

SECTION 3. The provisions of this bill will be implemented by the Virginia State Board

of Elections.

SECTION 4. This bill is to go into effect just after the next U.S. census in 2020.



Rep. Sadie BilenkinCosby High School


A BILL TO INCREASE REHABILITATION IN VIRGINIA FOR THOSE ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS


SECTION 1. Increase access to rehabilitation in Virginia for those addicted to opioids by

increasing funding to the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to

construct rehabilitation centers.

SECTION 2. Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic

opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as

oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.

Rehabilitation centers are a centre or clinic where people with an alcohol or drug addiction

are treated.

SECTION 3. The government agency that will oversee the enforcement of the bill will be

the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

SECTION 4. Implementation of this bill will go into effect August of 2019.



Rep.Hannah TomanCosby High School


A Resolution to Chinese Aggression in the South China Sea

Whereas: China’s encroachment in the South China Sea towards the Paracels and

Spratlys Islands, which has been declared international waters, undermines UN authority;

and

Whereas: China’s alleged aggression towards member nations of ASEAN, such as the

sabotage of two exploration operations conducted by Vietnam; and

Whereas: Chinese construction of military outposts in the South China Sea implies

hostility and expected military conflict; and

Therefore: Be it resolved by this Student Congress here assembled that trade deals

should be made with Taiwan and naval support should be given to Taiwan in order to secure

United States interests in the South China Sea.


Jacob MillerCosby High School


A BILL TO DECREASE TARIFFS WITH CHINA


ARTICLE I. America has to rollback 45% of the tariffs recently placed upon China for the benefit of

both the American Economy and Industrial giants specifically companies in Tech and Industrial roles.

ARTICLE II. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, which increases the price of goods for consumers.

ARTICLE III. This will be set and regulated by the United States International Trade Commision

ARTICLE IV. This bill will go into effect October 1, 2019

ARTICLE V. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted,Rep. Sivaperiyan Saravanane

Cosby High School


A RESOLUTION TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH AID AVAILABLE TO VETERANS

WHEREAS, Far too many veterans returning home do not receive needed mental health

treatment; and

WHEREAS, it negatively affects the individual person and their family because the

burden of receiving help is with them; and

WHEREAS, this lack of help results in a high suicide rate among veterans and higher

mental health issues within their families; and

WHEREAS, the federal government should help these veterans by providing federal aid to

this issue; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Student Congress here assembled calls for an urge to improve the

mental health aid available to veterans.


Lexi GambardellaJames River High School


Manchester High SchoolKeenon Shields

Opioid Epidemic-

MS: There should only be no intervention in ensuring that consumers of opioids don’t cause any detriment to their own health

IOB: Consumer misuse of Opioids has claimed the lives of 42,049 people according to the Health and Human service as of their 2017 survey. This misuse of opioids has only been so because of its effective ability to create europhia within an individual. Opioids were originally intended to act as a painkiller, but 11.5 million people have reported misusing opioids for recreation. This recreation has been only one of many forms of narcotic pleasure as marijuana, tobacco, adderall and other drugs have been used. Recreational drug use is not new, and consumer discretion is advised as to warn that any incident that occurs is the fault of the consumer themself so there is nobody to blame. Although the narcotic might be illicit, there should only be minimum measure taking into ensuring that consumers of opioids do not misuse such an item that was intended to be used for good.

Contention I: Enforcing Opioid use would make the government appear as an authoritarian. Liberty is one of the utmost important values in establishing a perfect union and encroaching on the lives of others if they do not pose a threat to the general public is absurd.

Contention II: The Opioid Epidemic will diminish as people take alternative non-lethal satiating drugs. Marijuana is classified medically as non-lethal and is much more popular than opioids because of its potent ability to satiate a consumer and its non-inimical pose to health.

Contention III: Enforcement would blight Pharmaceutical companies. The only way to effectively prevent opioids from being used in an illicit way would be to arrest those who misuse the drug as psychological therapy would no be palatable for obstinate people. The justice department can only do so much to deter people from using drugs as a whole and the DEA made a miniscule number of 27,107 arrests in the year of 2017 operating at full manpower as according to the DEA website. Tagging suspects with little prior surveillance or report can be quite hard and the DEA can’t do this without infringing individual state laws.


A Bill to Enforce Tariffs on Imported Products Manufactured by U.S. Companies Outside of the United States of America 1234567

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:SECTION 1. A tariff will be implemented and enforced on imported products that United States’ companies manufacture outside of the United States of America. SECTION 2. The proposed tariff is a 5% tax on the value of the products that were manufactured overseas and abroad. The tariff does not apply to companies of foreign countries that manufacture in other countries, but strictly to American companies.SECTION 3. The International Trade Administration, which is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce, will oversee the enforcement of the bill along with the specific enforcement mechanism.SECTION 4. The implementation date of the bill will be January 1, 2019. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted,Jake Wood

Clover Hill High School


A Resolution to Reduce the Number of Publicly Funded StadiumsWHEREAS, Tax money used on sports stadiums barely helps the economy, which means it does not fulfill its purpose; andWHEREAS, Especially everyone in the state containing publicly funded stadiums, but not limited to, face the effects of the lower economic benefits of tax money used for stadiums; andWHEREAS, Taxes used for stadiums will cost the taxpayers more than what they receive as benefits, as all the money spent on the stadiums does not have an immense return effect and does not create a huge net gain in terms of jobs and incremental tax revenues; andWHEREAS, There is a higher opportunity cost on taxes that are spent on stadiums, as there are many other very useful things that can be done with the tax money spent on stadiums, such as building roads, bridges, airports, police stations, schools, parks, advancing health care programs and funding them, helping the poor, etc.; andWHEREAS, Building other useful things, like the things listed above, instead of stadiums, with tax money actually increases productivity and economic growth, like when schools are built, more students will be able to receive the education needed to get jobs, and more jobs filled increases productivity, which increases the potential of an increase in economic growth and in the standard of living; andWHEREAS, The spending inside a stadium substitute for other entertainment spending, causing other entertainment groups to fall and less tax collection from them to occur, and due to their fall, there will be more unemployment equaling GDP falls; now, therefore, be itRESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation to lower state taxes spent on sports stadiums and increase state taxes spent on more positively effecting advancements. Respectfully submitted,

Representative Ayathi Gogineni Clover Hill High School


A Bill to Eliminate Federal Funding to Sanctuary Cities


SECTION 1. All federal funds will hereby be eliminated to sanctuary cities.

SECTION 2. “Sanctuary cities” are defined but not limited to cities that limit or lack

altogether their enforcement of federal immigration law.

SECTION 3. The Department of the Treasury will enforce the implementation of

this legislation.

SECTION 4. This legislation will be implemented on February 1st, 2019

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

void.

Respectfully submitted, Rep. Kevin Bennett Clover Hill High


Bill To Establish the Defunding of Sanctuary Cities

BE IT ENACTED BY THIS CONGRESS THAT:

SECTION 1:

1. Sanctuary cities within the United States will lose 25% of their federal

funding.

SECTION 2: 1. Sanctuary city being any city that does not comply with federal immigration

laws and knowingly harbors illegal immigrants.

SECTION 3:1. The House Committee on Appropriations will oversee the enforcement of this

bill. The lack of funding will be the mechanism of enforcement.

SECTION 4:1. The defunding will start when the 2020 annual budget has been passed.

2. The defunding will cease once the cities impacted agree to comply with

United States immigration laws, whenever that may be. Their funding will

increase at the start of the next fiscal year after their compliance.

SECTION 5: 1. Any laws that are in conflict with this new policy shall hereby be declared null

and voidThis bill is introduced by Manchester High School

Carter Spawn

A Resolution to Affirm the Authority of Sanctuary Cities to Grant Asylums and Regulate Migrant Behavior


WHEREAS, federal authorities are using executive measures to enforce administration policy

over the authority of the delegated powers of the local and state governments;

WHEREAS, the power to grant sanctuary to migrant individuals is not implicitly stated in the U.S.

Constitution as a regulatory power of the federal government and thus cannot be infringed upon

by executive order;

WHEREAS, the overreach of the current administration to restrict the delegated powers of the

state and local officials is harmful to constitutional law; and

WHEREAS, the preservation of delegated powers is imperative to the maintenance of common

law; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for the

executive to repeal their restrictions on sanctuary cities and allow for the maintenance of the

delegated powers of the state and local governments; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, only upon the adoption of a Constitutional amendment that such policy

be rendered unchanged.


Senator Rowan Hopson

Atlee High School

Docket B


A Bill to Restrict the Virginia Congressional Districts to Develop Equitability of RepresentationLine 00: Be it enacted

Line 01:Article I: New district lines shall be drawn with regard to geometric and geographic


Line 02:orientation which will enable fair representation of the general population and ensue the

Line 03:general welfare of the people

Line 04:

Line 05:Article II: In regards, geometric and geographic orientation, new lines shall be created to

Line 06:reduce gerrymandering.

Line 07:

Line 08: Article III: The Office of General Elections will cooperate with an independent non-

Line 09:partisan commission appointed by the Governor and approved with a 2/3 consensus of

Line 10:the General Assembly.

Line 11: a. This independent non-partisan commission will require members of both

Line 12:Democratic Party of Virginia and the Republican Party of Virginia to provide

Line 13:recommendations and be provided with equal representation.

Line 14: b. The independent non- partisan commission and the Office of General Elections

Line 15: must be in general consensus over the final proposal before presenting it to the General

Line 16:Assembly.

Line 17: c. The final proposal may be amended in sub-committee but must be presented

Line 18:back to the independent commission if major amendments are presented.

Line 19:

Line 20:Article IV: the timeframe of a final vote on the final proposal in the General Assembly

Line 21:must be met before June 2020.

Line 22:

Line 23:Article V: All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.



Atlee High School

A Bill to Create a Special Real Estate Sales Tax to Raise Funds for the Construction of Public

Entertainment Venues in Virginia

Line 00: Be it enacted


Line 01: Article I: A special real estate sales tax will be imposed for the 2019-2024 fiscal

Line 02: years to improve the general fund for the construction of new public

Line 03: entertainment venues within the Commonwealth of Virginia to improve the

Line 04: general welfare of the Commonwealth and improve economic outcomes in the

Line 05: Virginia market.

Line 06:

Line 07: Article II: Entertainment venues can range under large scale venues such as

Line 08: sporting arenas or amphitheaters, or may include smaller venues such as small

Line 09: theaters. General welfare is defined as the construction of new venues will

Line 10: improve the sustainability of economic market without providing mitigating

Line 11: negative consequences.

Line 12:

Line 13: Article III: The Office of Economic Development will stand in charge of the fund

Line 14: and must present all expenditures to the General Assembly’s sub-committee on

Line 15: Economic Management.

Line 16: a. All proposals for the use of funding must come through the Office of

Line 17: Economic Development and approved by two-thirds vote in the General

Line 18: Assembly.

Line 19:

Line 20: Article IV: This special tax will remain on charter for the 2019-2024 fiscal years.

Line 21: The 2024 General Assembly will vote on renewing the charter.

Line 22:

Line 23: Article V: All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and

Line 24: void.


Senator Rowan Hopson, Atlee High School

A Resolution to Fight Drug Abuse and Educate the Public about the Harms Opioid Use Causes in

the Commonwealth of Virginia


WHEREAS, opioid abuse are at an all-time high, and are heading towards an epidemic unseen

since the 1980’s War on Drugs;

WHEREAS, law enforcement struggles to enforce regulations on these drugs, often finding

themselves behind in reducing illegal trade of opioids; and

WHEREAS, to restrict use of opioids, we must have educational services and resources for the

public; and

WHEREAS, the need of preservation of the public through better enforcement and education on

opioids; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for power

be given to law enforcement to track the production and distribution of opioids, provide funds for

drug education, and resources for the public.



Atlee High School

A Resolution to streamline and privatize aspects of the Department of Veterans Affairs to greater

benefit and increase the efficiency in helping the U.S. Veterans.


WHEREAS, Mismanagement and corruption has plagued the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

WHEREAS, Medical materials are being bought for exponentially higher prices than what can be

payed for, for the same product; and

WHEREAS, Over 1,200 medical records were found to be lost, and over 500,000 medical

instruments, costing over 1,000,000$ were found unused in warehouses, all due to bureaucratic

negligence; and

WHEREAS, The VA is horribly understaffed due to unfair programs to fire aids

WHEREAS, Veterans have little room for choosing better healthcare options, and are forced

to utilize the mismanaged VA, with little to no ability to explore private healthcare options; and

WHEREAS, Some of the largest veterans benefit charities have raised over 500,000,000$

and has directly helped over 300,000$ veterans; and, let it be

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled recommend that the Department of Veterans’

Affairs should be downsized, and merged with the Department of Defense; and, let it be

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a charitable, free-market solution is preferable to a bureaucratic

veterans’ affairs department, and that privatization shouldl be implemented wherever possible.


Representative Johnny Stanley.

Atlee High School

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