Current+Topics+-+Congress+-+LD+-+PF+-+NX

 November Public Forum 2014 Topic  TOPIC AREA: Agriculture  Resolved: On balance, the benefits of genetically modified foods outweigh the harms.  // (447 schools and 385 students voted for the resolution. The winning resolution received 81% of the school vote and 79% percent of the student vote.) //   November/December Lincoln/Douglas 2014 Topic  Resolved: The "right to be forgotten" from Internet searches ought to be a civil right.

Congress legislation for Pirates @ Cyprus At Pirate Pete’s Locker Congress will debate the following resolutions   **2014-2015 Congress Legislation for the intramural**
 * A Bill for the United States Department of Defense to Prioritize the Militarization of the Sahel Region of Africa
 * A Bill to Adopt the American Plan
 * A Bill to Expand the NSA’s Power on Foreign Surveillance
 * A Bill to Reform Taxation in the U.S.
 * A Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Enact Supreme Court Justice Term Limits
 * A Resolution to Recognize and Classify Bitcoin as Money in the U.S.
 * A Resolution to Discontinue the Use of Armed Military Drones
 * A Resolution to Incentivize the Expansion of Wind Power Through Tax Breaks
 * A Resolution to Protect the Identities of American Citizens
 * A Resolution to Reform the GI Bill

WHEREAS, Identity theft has become a major issue within America; and
WHEREAS, The number of identity theft incidents has reached 9.9 million a year, according to the Federal Trade Commission; and

WHEREAS, The losses from identity theft affect not only the individual American but the nation as a whole and Personal Identity theft totaled $24.7 billion in 2012, over $10 billion more than the losses attributed to all other property crimes measured in the National Crime Victimization Survey at that time; and

WHEREAS, The National Security Agency could protect American identities and would be required to create a Bureau of Identity Safekeeping Program; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled give the NSA authority over identity theft issues, and as such they will be responsible over the investigation and that they have the authority to monitor and act proactively against such threats for all American citizens.

A Bill to Stop Deportations of Illegal Immigrants with Dependents from the United States
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. The United States stop the deportation from the United States of illegal 2 immigrants who have dependents residing in the United States. The 3 United States can only deport illegal immigrants with dependents if those 4 immigrants are felons. 5

SECTION 2. Dependent children are defined as children that are under the age of 19 6 (or under age of 24 if a full-time student), did not support more than one 7 half of his/her support in the past fiscal year, have the same residence as 8 the parent, and is the parent’s child, stepchild, foster child, or a 9 descendent of one of these. 10

SECTION 3. This bill will be enforced through the United States Department of 11 Human Services. Penalties for violating this legislation will be determined 12 by congressional committees at a future time. 13

SECTION 4. This legislation will take place immediately upon the passage of this bill. 14 SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

A Bill to Increase the Federal Minimum Wage
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: 1

SECTION 1. The Federal minimum wage shall be raised from $7.25 per hour to $8.00 2 per hour. 3

SECTION 2. All employers in the United States who are not otherwise exempt must 4 pay employees at least the Federal minimum wage and overtime pay of 5 one-and-one-half-times the regular rate of pay as provided by the Fair 6 Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 7

SECTION 3. In the case where an employee is subject to both the state and Federal 8 minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two 9 minimum wages. 10

SECTION 4. This law shall be enforced by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour 11 Division. 12

SECTION 5. This law shall come into effect at the beginning of the 2016 fiscal year. All 13 laws in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void. 1

A Resolution to Prevent Television Advertisements of E-Cigarettes
WHEREAS, E-cigarettes contain nicotine; and

WHEREAS, E-cigarettes are reputed to contain other harmful carcinogens; and

WHEREAS, E-cigarettes are linked to health issues; and

WHEREAS, E-Cigarettes are currently exempt from the law against cigarette advertising on television; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation that commercial advertising time for e-cigarettes no longer be allowed to be purchased on all television networks.

=LD Topics September/October:=

Lincoln-Douglas Debate
topic ideas <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">//**September/October 2014 Topic**//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Resolved: A just society ought to presume consent for organ procurement from the deceased.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #00aae7; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">NOVICE Lincoln-Douglas Debate
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">The following NOVICE Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic may be used during the first two months of a novice season: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">//Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Note: Establishing a resolution for the first two months of the novice season enables the Association to create educational materials that can be updated and improved year-to-year, and allow educators to have a consistent topic geared toward novices that will enhance and streamline their novice LD curriculum, particularly after the first year of implementation. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Coaches are encouraged to check with tournament hosts in their area before exclusively prepping for one topic over another.

= = =CX Topic analysis Link:= file:///C:/Users/jjroberts/Downloads/-userdocs-publicDocs-2014-15_Policy_Topic_Synopsis.pdf

=Public Forum Topic: Public Forum Debate= <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">//**September/October 2014 Topic**//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">TOPIC AREA: Sports in the United States Resolved: On balance, public subsidies for professional athletic organizations in the United States benefit their local communities. //<span style="color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 1.5;">(360 schools and 298 students voted for the resolution. The winning resolution received 51% of the school vote and 56% percent of the student vote.) //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">**The initial Public Forum topic is a two-month topic in September/October and then reverts to a month-to-month topic.** This schedule beneftis novices who have more time to learn and improve their skills without switching topics. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">//Note: The PF Topic Selection Committee chooses topic areas to debate at their summer meeting. These areas are then used throughout the school year. If you would like to submit a topic area for consideration, please submit by June 1 for the following school year.//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">**Potential PF Topic Areas for 2014-15:**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">//(in alphabetical order)// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">//Online voting for PF occurs the last week of each month, with the exception of the Sept/Oct PF topic, which occurs August 7-14.//
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Agriculture
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Civil Rights
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Criminal Justice
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Cyber Policies
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Floating X
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Gun Control
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Healthcare
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Higher Education
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">International Hot Spots
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">International Organizations
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Poverty
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">South America
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Sports in the United States
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">U.S. Constitution
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">U.S. Foreign Policy