A Bill to Restrict Intake of Caffeine

A BILL TO RESTRICT INTAKE OF CAFFEINE

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. All U.S citizens under the age of fifteen shall be restricted to partake in the consumption of caffeinated beverages and/or food.

1. Any consumption of caffeine for those under the age of 15 must be prescribed by a medical

professional.

2. No caffeinated products shall be sold to any individual under the age of fifteen without A. an

individual over the age of 18 accompanying them, and B. a prescription written and signed by a

medical professional (with the reason specified)

SECTION 2. Caffeine is defined as a bitter alkaloid C8H10N4O2 found especially in coffee, tea, cacao, and kola nuts and used medicinally as a stimulant and diuretic. Caffeinated products include but are not limited to:

1. Coffee- a beverage made by percolation, infusion, or decoction from the roasted and

ground seeds of a coffee plant (Includes: Iced, Frappes, Lattes, etc.)

2. Tea- the dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, from which a somewhat

bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by infusion in hot water. (Includes: Iced, Sweet,

Bottled, Green, etc.)

3. Soda- carbonated water (originally made with sodium bicarbonate) drunk alone or with

liquor or wine (Includes: Mtn Dew, Coke, Pepsi, etc.)

4. All other products that contain caffeine including prescription pills and food products are

to be considered restricted unless otherwise specified.

SECTION 3. The FDA and current Judiciary System will oversee enforcement and punishment regarding this bill

1. Penalties for minors include: Minors who break the law may be charged with criminal

offenses, and if convicted, face jail sentences, fines, diversion programs (supervised

Revised 09/24/2012 counseling, which often results in dropped charges if the minor participates successfully

in the program), and sentences such as a number of hours of community service.

2. Penalties for underage possession, purchase, or attempt to purchase include: First Offense

— A $200 fine. Second Offense—A $500 fine.

3. Vendors who sell or give caffeinated products to minors may be violating state and/or

local criminal law, as well as state administrative codes. Criminal penalties may include

fines and jail time. Administrative consequences can include license revocations, fines,

suspensions of the right to sell or serve caffeinated products, or the revocation of licenses.

In states that restrict private consumption, hosts of private parties may face jail or fines.

4. Someone who violates any offense may be charged with a misdemeanor and may face a

fine of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail. A minor found guilty of violating any of the

above laws faces a mandatory fine of at least $100.

SECTION 4. This bill shall be implemented January 2018.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Rep. Kai Fenty Cumberland International Early College High School

Revised 09/24/2012 A BILL TO LOWER LEGAL WORKING AGE TO INCREASE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORS

SECTION 1. The youth section of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) shall be amended to lower the minimum work age from 14 to 13, and increase the amount of hours and opportunities available to working minors, while maintaining minimum safety conditions in workplaces.

SECTION 2. “Minimum safety conditions” shall be defined as protection from common biohazards, proper sanitary conditions, and proper use of potentially dangerous machinery.

A. “Dangerous machinery” shall include the following: electrical tools with sharp or

piercing ends, machinery not meeting DOL standards, and outdated machinery.

B. Furthermore, the expansion of “opportunities” shall be defined as extending hours, and

providing more job offers for minors in chain restaurants, and other laborious tasks (i.e.

agriculture, custodial work, et cetera….).

C. “Extending hours” will include the extension of how long a minor can work a shift,

and included allowing minors to take regular 7-10 hour shifts; however, shifts to minors

shall also not be given during a student's educational hours, or interfere with their ability

to pursue their education.

SECTION 3. Shall be overseen and enforced by the Department of Labor (DOL).

A. The DOL shall issue a report on the safety of the minors exactly one year after the bill is

enacted.

B. The DOL shall take measures to ensure that minors are not cheated, harmed, or discriminated

within the workplace or by their employer.

C. The DOL shall also issue a report on the effectiveness and economic effect of the bill

two years after it has been enacted.

SECTION 4. This bill shall be implemented January 2018.

Revised 09/24/2012 Respectfully submitted,

Rep. Sabrina Krupenko Cumberland International Early College High School

Revised 09/24/2012 A Bill to Amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to Improve the Workforce

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1A. An hourly worker is now able to waive their right to overtime

pay, one and one half of normal wages.

SECTION 1B. Employers may not require workers to work over the regular

40 hours.

SECTION 2A. A worker may voluntarily work more than 40 hours a week at

their regular hourly rate.

SECTION 2B. The standard work week will still be 40 hours.

SECTION 3. The Department of Labor will oversee the application of this

revision.

SECTION 4. The bill will go into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal

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

null and void.

Legislation Introduced by North Mecklenburg High

Revised 09/24/2012 A Bill to Put into Effect Mandatory Background Check

SECTION 1. All firearm sales must include a background check on the

buyer through the National Instant Criminal Background

Check System (NICS), which will be expanded to include all

50 states.

SECTION 2. This also applies to all interstate and intrastate transactions.

SECTION 3. The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division will

oversee the background check system and handle claims and

disputes. No further funding will be allotted.

SECTION 4. The bill will go into effect six months after passage.

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

null and void.

Legislation Introduced by North Mecklenburg High

Revised 09/24/2012 A Resolution to Increase Free Trade agreements to African Nations

WHEREAS, Chinese expansion is increasing in Africa; and WHEREAS, Slowly African nations are dealing with increased Chinese economic influence; and WHEREAS, Any form of Chinese economic control on any African sector could be disastrous, and WHEREAS, The United States stands to prosper greatly, both economically and politically, by reaching out to African countries; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled enter talks with African nations in order to create free trade agreements. Introduced for Congressional Debate by Ardrey Kell High School.

Revised 09/24/2012 A Bill to Provide Funding for Infrastructure to Fix America’s Roads

SECTION 1. The United States shall allocate federal funding to the Federal Highway Administration

for the purpose of infrastructure maintenance.

SECTION 2. Infrastructure maintenance shall be defined as diagnosing and solving problems with

federal and state infrastructure.

SECTION 3. The Federal Highway Administration shall oversee the allocation of funds for specific

infrastructure projects.

1. The Federal Highway Administration shall oversee the allocation of funds to the

states and have the authority to recommend infrastructure maintenance projects to

the states.

2. Funding shall be allocated from the budget of the Department of Transportation.

SECTION 4. This legislation shall go into effect on January 1, 2018.

Introduced by Ardrey Kell High School.

Revised 09/24/2012 A Bill to Increase Military Aid in Southeast Asia and the Sea of

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED:

SECTION 1. The United States will provide military aid to promote stability in

Southeast Asia, the South China Sea, and the Sea of Japan.

SECTION 2. Military aid will include both troops and technological assistance

necessary to combat Chinese territorial aggression and the North Korean

nuclear threat. The United States will increase its overall military

presence in the region by 20,000 troops. US troops will be divided

between bases in Japan and South Korea. Technological assistance will

include enhancement of the Japanese Defense Force (JDF) and the South

Korean Navy by installing Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense systems on no

less than 20% and no more than 50% of each fleet’s destroyers and/or

frigates where possible or necessary.

SECTION 3. The Department of Defense will be responsible for this assistance with

oversight provided through both the Executive and Legislative branches.

SECTION 4. This legislation will begin enforcement immediately upon passage with

full implementation completed within 2 years.

Respectfully submitted by Research Triangle High School

Revised 09/24/2012 A Bill to Require Childhood Immunizations

SECTION 1. Children in the United States shall receive all childhood immunizations at the appropriate ages. However, children with cancer or children taking drugs that lower the body’s immunities shall be exempt until their immunities are back to normal.

SECTION 2. Children shall be defined as “a person between birth and full growth; a boy or a girl between the ages of 1 month to the day before their 18th birthday.” Childhood immunizations shall be defined as, “vaccines that protect children from more than a dozen childhood diseases.”

SECTION 3. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shall oversee the implementation of this bill. A. All parents/guardians who do not vaccinate their children will be charged with felony child endangerment and shall be imprisoned for between 1-10 years. B. Children who do not receive vaccines will not be allowed to attend school until they receive vaccinations. C. Vaccines will be subsidized for those who are unable to afford it and are in the lowest tax bracket.

SECTION 4. The law shall become effective immediately upon passage.

Introduced at 2017 National Speech and Debate Finals

Revised 09/24/2012 Revised 09/24/2012