The White House: The Joseph Cao Administration

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

As one of the very last players of the NPC elections (RIP), one of the Senators who wrote legislation and voted to ice them indefinitely, and one of the people who raised the issue with their implementation based on elections from multiple turns prior, I am glad the Senate could come to a good middle ground on this exit strategy of sorts. It was a great part of the game while it lasted, and it lasted quite a while all things considered, with thanks to Lumine of course, and Peanut, and the various players like Scott and WB and Poirot who made it genuinely engaging, current revisionist history about it in certain circles notwithstanding. Sic transit gloria etc.

RETCON NPC ELECTIONS ACT 2: LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN

An act to ratify recommended changes from the GM Department under the RETCON Again Act relating to NPC Elections.

(a)As per the terms of the RETCON Again Act:

(1)All stories relating to NPC elected officials, and NPC elections past the date of June 1, 2022 are hereby declared non-canon.

(2)All Federal legislation authorizing said elections are hereby repealed.

(b)This act shall take effect immediately and apply retroactively pursuant to law.

Passed 17-1-0-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

I want to be very clear with the establishment of this team that the administration's aim is to open an opportunity to publicly and transparently explore the precise enumerations of regional rights as applicable to all regions in line with the Constitution, which is the source for the rules we are bound by as well as every region's existence as a playable, legally authoritative entity, including the South. I am happy to hear out all regions on what they have to offer, again including the South. As I have said before, secession is not a line I am willing to cross, and it must also be clear to everyone going in that no region is getting special treatment at the expense of others. That defeats the point of regions. At any rate it is good that there has been a conversation about such relationships on AFE in recent days.

Those appointed to the commission are players I trust to do likewise and engage in good-faith conversation about the same topic while respecting the same red lines against being party to the breaking-up of our union. In particular, two of them have held or hold executive authority as head of a region, one as former Governor of the South, and all of them bring substantial regional and federal governing experience to the table. I have every confidence in their ability to find common ground.

EXECUTIVE ORDER
To facilitate proper and constructive dialogue with the Regions

1. A Regional Relations Commission shall be established to open conversation with interested parties representing the regions on the subject of their intended roles within the nation of Atlasia.

2. Old School Republican of the state of New York, Tack50 of the state of Maine, and West Midlander and North Carolina Yankee of the state of North Carolina are hereby appointed to the commission.

3. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Internal Affairs shall retain advisory roles to the commission in accordance with their duties to the federal government of Atlasia.


Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I think the Senate has done its due diligence on this bill, and in regard to the amendments proposed memes are fine and all but don't really mesh well with the wider bill in addition to what Yankee said. The inclusion of Flat Earth is kind of funny in that context however.

FIGHT RACISM AND SEXISM ACT

1. No public school receiving federal funds shall require, or make part of any course taught at such school positive affirmation of any of the following concepts:

A. That one (1) race or sex is inherently superior to or inferior to another race or sex;

B. That an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, privileges, biased, oppressive, or responsible whether consciously or unconsciously;

C. That an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex;

D. That members of one (1) race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without regards to race or sex;

E. That an individual's moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex;

F. That an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;
 
G. That any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex;
 
H. That meritocracy, market-based economics, or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a members of a particular race to oppress members of another race;

I. That Atlasia or any Region thereof, their respective constitution and bill of rights, their government, or their history is fundamentally racist or sexist;

J. That the planet Earth is flat rather than spherical.

2. No public school receiving federal funds shall incorporate buttplugs, anal beads, dildos, or any other sex toy, or instruction on the use thereof, into its sexual education curriculum.

3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

Passed 11-3-3-1 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Very good stuff, a lot of personal info gets exposed in this area in particular and it makes plenty of sense to try to clamp down on its transmission to foreign parties when we have the ability to do so. Great that everyone who showed up could get behind this.

AirBNB Privacy Act

1. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by marketing and facilitating the short-term rental of residential property to customers, to sell or share location data, customer time, date, or place data, or communications with or from a customer or a property owner to any foreign government or third party unless presented with a valid warrant.

2. A violation of this act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by disgorgement of any profits, imprisonment for no more than one (1) year, and a fine of $10,000.00 per individual person whose data was sold. Any data collected in violation of this paragraph shall be subject to forfeiture.

3. A customer whose data was unlawfully shared or sold pursuant to this act may maintain a civil action to recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to $10,000, reasonable legal costs, and any equitable relief necessary to enforce this act.

4. This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage.

Passed 15-0-0-3 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Again I appreciate the chance to give and receive feedback on game mechanics bills like this one. Given the offhand comment by Forumlurker on Discord it is less of a worry to me than it would be otherwise for this or future teams to safely recuse themselves from potential regional conflicts without compromising the current writing arrangement. Sometimes you gotta split the baby.

GAME MODERATOR CANDIDATES ACT

1. The Game Engine Restructuring and GM Team Creation Act shall be amended as follows:

...

Section 3: Game Moderation Team

i. The president shall appoint three (3) members of the game moderation team (henceforth referred to as "the GM team") with the advice and consent of the Senate.

ii. The GM team shall have power, except where limited elsewhere by this legislation:

(a) to simulate the effect of domestic and foreign legislation of the government of Atlasia and of the several regions;
(b) to simulate the actions of non-playable entities;
(c) to simulate domestic and global events;
(d) to be the final arbiter in all questions of the reality of events which occur during their tenure;
(e) to be the final arbiter on the reality of the status quo with respect domestic and global conditions.

iii. The word of the GM team, once spoken, is Canon, and may not be revoked by their successor.

iv. Members of the GM team may be removed from office according to the same provisions set in place for the impeachment of executive officers.

v. A majority of members of the GM team may not hold any other elected or appointed office in either the Federal or Regional Governments. If any member of the GM team holds a Regional Office, such member shall abstain from participating in any GM activities exclusively impacting or affecting the Region in which they serve.

...

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 8-4-2-4 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

How was this the bill the Senate as a whole chose to spend the most of its energy on this session? Am I missing some dimension in this? A variable with solution equal to zero, or something?

PREVENTING DEGENERACY ACT

bruh what

Passed 10-8-0-0 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Joseph Cao]

EXECUTIVE ORDER
To clarify and focus the legal scope of a very strange Act

1. Given that the term non-human animal as listed in (I)(2)(E) of the Preventing Degeneracy Act is vague, to add greater clarity, the Office of the President, and any subordinate Office or Department thereof shall hereby interpret non-human animal to mean and be interchangeable with the term non-sapient animal, provided however that no species of Pokemon shall be deemed to possess sapience.

2. To ensure the best, most impactful, and efficient use of Justice Department Resources, it is hereby ordered by the Office of the President that the Attorney General and Department of Justice, that prosecutions for committing violent sexual deviancy as defined in (I)(9) of the Preventing Degeneracy Act shall in all cases prioritize convictions of violent sexual deviancy as defined in clauses (B)-(E) of (I)(9), as well as violent sexual deviancy as defined in clause (A) in which no affirmative consent has been given by a participant in such violent sexual conduct. Prosecutions for private, non-commercial violent sexual conduct in which all participants have given affirmative consent shall not be deemed a priority and are hereby determined to be an ineffective use of Justice Department resources that would be more impactfully used in prosecuting the more serious violations identified herein.

3. This order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force in perpetuity unless otherwise modified by a subsequent Executive Order or law.


Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Very common-sense clarification on an issue that in many cases the regions are better equipped to take on than the federal government, which I have no issue with.

TREAT DEBTORS FAIRLY ACT

1. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act shall not be interpreted as preempting any Region from adopting stricter regulations on debt collectors or protections for debtors, provided such regulations or protections do not discriminate on the basis of Regional citizenship.

2. The federal bankruptcy code shall not be interpreted as preempting any Region from exempting certain additional classes of household chattels or effects from levy pursuant to a bankruptcy, provided the total value of such additional exemptions do not exceed 20% of the total assets of the debtor.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 14-2-0-2 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

We're not going to use robots to put Atlasian citizens in harm's way. Not doing that here. Nope. Hasta la vista, baby!

NO ROBOCOPS ACT

1. The Who Polices The Police Act shall be amended as follows:

SECTION IV: DYSTOPIAN KILLER ROBOT BOMBS

1. It shall be unlawful for any federal law enforcement officer or employee or law enforcement agency receiving federal funds to operate or otherwise order the use of a robot for the purpose of delivering an explosive device intended to be detonated near any Atlasian citizen or any person within the territorial boundaries of Atlasia, except against enemy combatants during a foreign invasion. Any person who violates this act shall be guilty of 2nd degree murder if the suspect dies, and aggravated assault if the suspect is injured but does not die.

2. For the purposes of this act, an explosive device shall not include flash bangs or gas emitting devices intended solely to disorient a criminal suspect to enable live capture.

3. Nothing in this act shall prohibit the use of robots to disarm bombs, including the safe detonation of bombs which cannot be safely or timely disabled without detonation.

4. It shall be unlawful for any federal law enforcement officer or employee or law enforcement agency receiving federal funds to operate or otherwise order the use of a robot for the purpose of general law enforcement activities, including but not limited to the ticketing or arresting of a suspect or the use or discharge of a firearm.

5. For purposes of this act, a robot equipped with a firearm or explosive device shall be considered a prima facia violation thereof.

6. Any Officer or employee who violates this act shall not have qualified immunity for civil litigation arising from the violation.

2. This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage.

Passed 16-0-0-2 in the Atlasian Senated assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

It is absolutely more than fair to allow level and honest negotiations to take place as far as Atlasians' land is concerned, ratione soli and all that being what it is. This isn't Singapore. There's land enough to settle these things like reasonable people.

EMINENT DOMAIN FAIRNESS ACT

1. Before the Atlasian government may take real property for public use through condemnation, such government shall make a good-faith offer to purchase the real property from the owner.

2. If a good-faith offer to purchase the real property from the owner is unsuccessful, the condemnation process shall proceed as follows:

A. Upon the filing of a petition for condemnation, the court having jurisdiction over the petition shall authorize a fair appraisal to be conducted of the property being condemned by a neutral appraiser at the expense of the condemnor. Such appraisal shall be presumptively fair and just compensation.

B. The condemnor shall deposit the amount determined by the appraisal to the court to be held in escrow pending the condemnation action.

C. If the valuation determined by the appraisal exceeds $25,000.00 the condemnee may request a jury trial as to just compensation.

D. If the real property being condemned is to be used for a road or utility project, does not require the removal of a building or grave or the displacement of a person residing upon such real property, and was not initially appraised as exceeding $1 Million, the condemnor may take control of the real property during the pendency of the case after fifteen (15) days subsequent to depositing the required escrow amount.

E. If the real property being condemned exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the total land area of a parcel or results in the diminution in value of a parcel exceeding fifty percent (50%), the condemnee may require the condemnor to purchase the entire parcel.

3. If during the thirty (30) year period subsequent to condemnation the real property ceases to be used by the public, the former owner shall have the right of first refusal to repurchase the real property at the same price as was paid by the condemnor and interest thereon.

4. Whenever it is determined in a declaratory judgment proceeding that a person's property has been taken or damaged within the meaning of the Atlasian constitution and compensation has not been paid or any action taken to determine the compensation within ninety (90) days following the entry of such declaratory judgment order or decree, the court which entered the order or decree may, upon motion of such person after reasonable notice to the adverse party, enter a further order appointing condemnation jurors to determine the compensation. During such proceedings:

A. The appointment of condemnation jurors and all proceedings thereafter shall be governed by the procedure prescribed for the condemning authority.

B. The date of valuation in actions pursuant to this section shall be the date determined by the court to be the date the property was taken or damaged.

5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

Passed 14-2-0-2 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Welcome to the future, they said. It'll be wonderful, they said.

TELEDILDONICS PRIVACY ACT

1. It shall be unlawful for any person in Atlasia to violate the privacy of another by using or permitting any digitally interoperable sex toy (hereinafter "teledildonics") to collect data on any person in a private home or dwelling in violation of this act, nor shall any such data obtained from such appliance, be sold or transferred to another.

A. Teledildonics shall not be permitted to measure ambient room temperatures to determine the location or number of persons within a home or dwelling.

B. Teledildonics shall not be permitted to compile or track the location data of any person.

C. Teledildonics shall not be permitted to transmit data on the programmed time such device is to be made to anyone but the consumer.

D. Teledildonics shall not be permitted to transmit data on the frequency or time of use of such device, or the preferred settings to anyone but the consumer.

E. Teledildonics shall not be permitted to grant remote access to any person not authorized by the user to such device for the purpose of adjusting settings or turning such device on.

2. A violation of this act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by disgorgement of any profits, imprisonment for no more than one (1) year, and a fine of $10,000.00 per individual person whose privacy was violated. Any data collected in violation of this paragraph shall be subject to forfeiture and disposition.

3. A person whose privacy was unlawfully violated pursuant to this paragraph may maintain a civil action to recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to $10,000, reasonable legal costs, and any equitable relief necessary to enforce this act.

4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

Passed 13-0-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Personally I think the Senate should spare a thought for the people who actually get affected by bills that make changes to gameplay, because I vastly prefer other aspects of this job to cleaning up after implementation messes. There are now two successive executive orders dealing with these. I am not sure why this slipped everyone's mind during debate but it did.

Consider this a formal announcement about the bill in question, although having spoken to two of the three players affected this is more by way of an NPC-specific audience than anything else.

Also I'm pretty sure "automatically moving people" might be a constitutional violation of some sort.

EXECUTIVE ORDER
To protect the welfare and inviolate rights of players to participate in the game

1. The Office of the President, the State Department, and the Census Bureau shall notify Atlasian citizens residing in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar by public post, or announcement through the relevant channels, of the pending amendment to the Atlasian–British Common Market Agreement (ABMCA) and the present danger of deregistration or loss of other constitutional rights resulting from such.

2. Implementation of the amendment to the ABCMA by the above offices and any relevant subordinate offices and departments shall be delayed until after all affected citizens have moved to another Atlasian state and region of their choosing.


Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I had enough of an attention span during foreign affairs from my Senate service and on a few successive National Security Councils to hear plenty of horror stories abroad about kickbacks and endless spirals of subcontraction and monopolism and general malfeasance and be convinced of the utmost importance of keeping that scourge of effective government service far away from us. We deserve a clean government and we certainly shall get it with enough safeguards like these in place.

GOVERNMENT SOFTWARE PROCUREMENT ACT

TITLE I: DEFINITIONS

1. As used in this title:

A. Public Agencies means a federal government agency, department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, institution, college, university, technical school, government corporation, or other establishment of the executive, legislative or judicial branches.

B. Procurement means buying, purchasing, renting, leasing, licensing, or otherwise acquiring any goods or services. It also includes all functions that pertain to the obtaining of any goods or services, including description of requirements, selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contracts, installation, maintenance, and all phases of contract administration.

C. Computer Software means a set of Computer Programs, procedures and associated documentation concerned with computer data or with the operation of a computer, Computer Program, or Computer Network.

D. Computer Program means an ordered set of data representing coded instructions or statements that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform one or more computer operations.

E. Software Source Code means pre-compiled, human-readable versions of a Computer Program.

F. Computer Network means a set of related, remotely connected devices and any communications facilities, including multiple computers with the capability to exchange data via communications facilities.

G. Total Cost of Ownership means the sum of all costs borne by the Public Agency during the useful life of the software, including costs for software acquisition, installation, worker training, conversion or loading of existing data, interface and integration with related information systems, and long-term costs for software maintenance, upgrades, and technical support.

TITLE II: PUBLIC SOFTWARE PROCUREMENT

1. Decisions by Public Agencies regarding the requisition, procurement, and installation of Computer Software shall be based upon performance and value criteria, including quality, functionality, security, reliability, interoperability, and Total Cost of Ownership.

2. Decisions by Public Agencies regarding the requisition, procurement, and installation of Computer Software must be neutral with respect to:

A. whether such Computer Software is provided by a for-profit entity or a non-profit entity; and

B. the licensing model under which such Computer Software is provided.

3. Nothing in this Act shall preclude Public Agencies from considering the effect of specific licensing terms in software procurement decisions, including licensing terms that govern the availability of Software Source Code, rights and restrictions regarding software modification, redistribution, warranties, security, and intellectual property indemnification.

4. Public Agencies and public employees must conform with federal software procurement and acquisition rules regardless of the licensing model under which software is provided.

TITLE III: ENACTMENT

1. This act shall take effect ninety (90) days after passage.

Passed 13-0-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Hey, there's the vehicle consumer protection bill I was thinking out loud about a few weeks back!

And of course the debate is absolutely right that this doesn't just apply to self-driving cars and the like. Too much of the machinery on which too much of our industry depends is subject to the whims of corporations and while successive presidential administrations continue to prioritize the preservation of jobs for our workers, the machines that have unavoidably been brought in have to be within the control of the people who actually use them. Cars and trucks are only the tip of the threshold.

NO DYSTOPIAN CARS ACT

TITLE I: LOCATION DATA

1. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling motor vehicles to customers, to sell or share location data acquired from such cars, regardless of if such data is entirely anonymized or masked.

2. A violation of this act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by disgorgement of any profits, imprisonment for no more than one (1) year, and a fine of $10,000.00 per individual person whose data was sold. Any data collected in violation of this paragraph shall be subject to forfeiture.

3. A customer whose location was unlawfully shared or sold pursuant to this act may maintain a civil action to recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to $10,000, reasonable legal costs, and any equitable relief necessary to enforce this act.

TITLE II: REMOTE ACCESS AND RIGHT TO REPAIR

1. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling motor vehicles to customers, to utilize software to lock, inhibit, or restrict the full use or performance of such vehicle by the customer after the time of sale, or require such customer to pay a fee or subscription to access the full use or performance of such vehicle.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling motor vehicles to customers, to utilize software to prohibit or prevent the vehicle from exceeding a posted speed limit.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling motor vehicles to customers, to utilize software to imprison a person in such vehicle.

4. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling motor vehicles to customers, to utilize software to take control of or countermand the intended destination of such vehicle.

5. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling motor vehicles to customers, to refuse to sell all service materials and diagnostics for repairing such vehicles to independent mechanics and other end-use consumers. Service materials and diagnostics shall include physical parts, specialty tools, and electronic information necessary to allow a motor vehicle to function as designed and intended at the time of sale but shall not include trade secrets. Manufacturers shall be permitted to charge a reasonable price for physical parts and tools but shall not be permitted to charge more than $10.00 for electronic information that is already available on the internet.

TITLE III: RACE CARS

1. No military advertisements, accelerated depreciation formula for motorsports facilities, or other federal funding may be paid to or claimed by any stock car racing association, member thereof, or motorsports facility owner that permits racing conducted by any stock car racing association at such facility, if such stock car racing association:

A. Fails to require drivers to wear an ANSI-approved head and neck support (HANS) device in any race where anticipated stock car speeds will exceed 120 miles per hour;

B. Requires the use of restrictor plates in stock car engine systems during races on dirt tracks or tracks with a banking of less than 32 degrees;

C. Adopts a rule that enforces stock cars crossing into the internal apron of the track in an arbitrary, inconsistent, or disparate manner;

D. Adopts a seasonal scoring system that awards points in an inconsistent or disparate manner in more than 11 scheduled races;

E. Adopts a seasonal scoring system that awards points in an inconsistent or disparate manner by penalizing driver conduct unrelated to the safe operation of stock cars; or

F. Unduly restricts the free expression of fans attending races by prohibiting constitutionally-protected clothing, decals, signs, flags, and other apparel unrelated to the physical safety of others.

2. The Atlasian government shall not prohibit motor vehicle engines from being modified for racing, to operate off of a diesel fuel source, or to receive injections of nitrous oxide, nor shall the federal government prohibit the commercial sale, transportation, manufacture, or possession of conversion kits necessary for such modifications, or of nitrous oxide.

3. The Atlasian government shall not require restrictor plates on motor vehicles sold in interstate commerce or operated on federal highways.

TITLE IV: TIMING

1. This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage.

Passed 13-0-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Completely commonsense. A fair few administrations ago this government cracked down on the feds' ability to spy on Atlasian citizens and this goes after the possibility of them spying by arms' length in collusion with data companies. Given the Senate's recent attention to the issue of data in general I don't think they (or myself for that matter) are sorry that the faceless handlers of our personal data are being bound as hard as possible to have every care for the inviolacy of the information they handle.

GET A WARRANT ACT

SEC. 1. PROTECTION OF RECORDS HELD BY DATA BROKERS.

1. 18 USC 2702 is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e) Prohibition on Obtaining in Exchange for Anything of Value Certain Records and Information by Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies.

(1) Definitions.

(A) the term covered customer or subscriber record' means a covered record that is (i) disclosed to a third party by a provider of an electronic communication service to the public or a provider of a remote computing service of which the covered person with respect to the covered record is a subscriber or customer; or an intermediary service provider that delivers, stores, or processes communications of such covered person; (ii) collected by a third party from an online account of a covered person; or (iii) collected by a third party from or about an electronic device of a covered person;

(B) the term `covered person' means a person who is located inside Atlasia; or a person who is located outside Atlasia or whose location cannot be determined; and who is an Atlasian citizen;

(C) the term `covered record' means a record or other information that pertains to a covered person; and is a record or other information described in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection (c); the contents of a communication; or location information;

(D) the term `electronic device' has the meaning given the term `computer' in section 1030(e);

(E) the term `illegitimately obtained information' means a covered record that was obtained from a provider of an electronic communication service to the public or a provider of a remote computing service in a manner that violates the service agreement between the provider and customers or subscribers of the provider; or is inconsistent with the privacy policy of the provider; by deceiving the covered person whose covered record was obtained; or through the unauthorized accessing of an electronic device or online account; or was obtained from a provider of an electronic communication service to the public, a provider of a remote computing service, or an intermediary service provider; and collected, processed, or shared in violation of a contract relating to the covered record;

(F) the term `intelligence community' has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003);

(G) the term `location information' means information derived or otherwise calculated from the transmission or reception of a radio signal that reveals the approximate or actual geographic location of a customer, subscriber, or device;

(H) the term `obtain in exchange for anything of value' means to obtain by purchasing, to receive in connection with services being provided for consideration, or to otherwise obtain in exchange for consideration, including an access fee, service fee, maintenance fee, or licensing fee;

(I) the term `online account' means an online account with an electronic communication service to the public or remote computing service;

(J) the term `pertain', with respect to a person, means information that is linked to the identity of a person; or information that has been anonymized to remove links to the identity of a person; and that, if combined with other information, could be used to identify a person; and

(K) the term `third party' means a person who is not a governmental entity; and in connection with the collection, disclosure, obtaining, processing, or sharing of the covered record at issue, was not acting as a provider of an electronic communication service to the public; or a provider of a remote computing service.

(2) Limitation.

(A) A law enforcement agency of a governmental entity and an element of the intelligence community may not obtain from a third party in exchange for anything of value a covered customer or subscriber record or any illegitimately obtained information.

(B) The limitation under subparagraph (A) shall apply without regard to whether the third party possessing the covered customer or subscriber record or illegitimately obtained information is the third party that initially obtained or collected, or is the third party that initially received the disclosure of, the covered customer or subscriber record or illegitimately obtained information.

(3) An agency of a governmental entity that is not a law enforcement agency or an element of the intelligence community may not provide to a law enforcement agency of a governmental entity or an element of the intelligence community a covered customer or subscriber record or illegitimately obtained information that was obtained from a third party in exchange for anything of value. Nothing in this provision or in federal law shall prevent a federal agency from conducting and sharing background check data on a covered person to the Office of Personnel Management to eliminate the need to contract with third parties to compile and collect such data.

(4) A covered customer or subscriber record or illegitimately obtained information obtained by or provided to a law enforcement agency of a governmental entity or an element of the intelligence community in violation of paragraph (2) or (3), and any evidence derived therefrom, may not be received in evidence in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, officer, agency, regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of Atlasia, a Region, a State, or a political subdivision thereof.

(5) Data Privacy.

(A) The Attorney General shall adopt specific procedures that are reasonably designed to minimize the acquisition and retention, and prohibit the dissemination, of information pertaining to a covered person that is acquired in violation of paragraph (2) or (3).

(B) If a law enforcement agency of a governmental entity or element of the intelligence community acquires information pertaining to a covered person in violation of paragraph (2) or (3), the law enforcement agency of a governmental entity or element of the intelligence community shall minimize the acquisition and retention, and prohibit the dissemination, of the information in accordance with the procedures adopted under subparagraph (A).

SEC. 2. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE.

1. 18 USC 2703 is amended by adding at the end the following:

(i) Covered Customer or Subscriber Records and Illegitimately Obtained Information.

(1) Definitions. In this subsection, the terms `covered customer or subscriber record', `illegitimately obtained information', and `third party' have the meanings given such terms in section 2702(e).

(2) Unless a governmental entity obtains an order in accordance with paragraph (3), the governmental entity may not require a third party to disclose a covered customer or subscriber record or any illegitimately obtained information if a court order would be required for the governmental entity to require a provider of remote computing service or a provider of electronic communication service to the public to disclose such a covered customer or subscriber record or illegitimately obtained information that is a record of a customer or subscriber of the provider.

(3) A court may only issue an order requiring a third party to disclose a covered customer or subscriber record or any illegitimately obtained information on the same basis and subject to the same limitations as would apply to a court order to require disclosure by a provider of remote computing service or a provider of electronic communication service to the public of a record of a customer or subscriber of the provider. For purposes of this provision, a court shall apply the most stringent standard under Federal statute or the Constitution of Atlasia that would be applicable to a request for a court order to require a comparable disclosure by a provider of remote computing service or a provider of electronic communication service to the public of a record of a customer or subscriber of the provider.

SEC. 3. INTERMEDIARY SERVICE PROVIDERS.

1. 18 USC 2711 is amended by adding at the end the following:

(5) the term `intermediary service provider' means an entity or facilities owner or operator that directly or indirectly delivers, stores, or processes communications for or on behalf of a provider of electronic communication service to the public or a provider of remote computing service.

2. 18 USC 2702(a) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4) an intermediary service provider shall not knowingly divulge to any person or entity the contents of a communication while in electronic storage by that provider; or to any governmental entity a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of, a recipient of a communication from a subscriber to or customer of, or the sender of a communication to a subscriber to or customer of, the provider of electronic communication service to the public or the provider of remote computing service for, or on behalf of, which the intermediary service provider directly or indirectly delivers, transmits, stores, or processes communications.

SEC. 4. LIMITS ON SURVEILLANCE CONDUCTED FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE PURPOSES.

1. 18 USC 2511(2)(f) is amended to read as follows:

(f)(i)(A) Nothing contained in this chapter, chapter 121 or 206 of this title, or section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) shall be deemed to affect an acquisition or activity described in clause (B) that is carried out utilizing a means other than electronic surveillance, as defined in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801).

(B) An acquisition or activity described in this clause is an acquisition by the Atlasian Government of foreign intelligence information from international or foreign communications that is acquired pursuant to express statutory authority; or only includes information of persons who are not Atlasian citizens and are located outside Atlasia; or a foreign intelligence activity involving a foreign electronic communications system that is conducted pursuant to express statutory authority; or only involves the acquisition by the Atlasiab Government of information of persons who are not Atlasian citizens and are located outside Atlasia. The procedures in this chapter, chapter 121, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance, as defined in section 101 of such Act, and the interception of domestic wire, oral, and electronic communications may be conducted.

2. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) shall be the exclusive means by which electronic communications transactions records, call detail records, or other information from communications of Atlasian citizens or persons inside Atlasia are acquired for foreign intelligence purposes inside Atlasia or from a person or entity located in Atlasia that provides telecommunications, electronic communication, or remote computing services.

3. In this subsection, the term ``location information'' has the meaning given that term in 18 USC 2702(e) as added by section 2 of this Act.

4. Title I and sections 303, 304, 703, 704, and 705 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 1823, 1824, 1881b, 1881c, 1881d) shall be the exclusive means by which location information, web browsing history, and internet search history of Atlasian citizens or persons inside Atlasia are acquired for foreign intelligence purposes inside Atlasia or from a person or entity located in Atlasia.

5. Title I and sections 303, 304, 703, 704, and 705 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 1823, 1824, 1881b, 1881c, 1881d) shall be the exclusive means by which any information, records, data, or tangible things are acquired for foreign intelligence purposes from a person or entity located in Atlasia if the compelled production of such information, records, data, or tangible things would require a warrant for law enforcement purposes.

SEC. 5. LIMIT ON CIVIL IMMUNITY ABSENT A COURT ORDER.

1.18 USC 2511(2)(a) is amended by inserting the following:

(B) a certification in writing by a person specified in section 2518(7) or the Attorney General; that the requirements for an emergency authorization to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication under section 2518(7) have been met; and that the specified assistance is required;

(iii) For assistance provided pursuant to a certification under subparagraph (ii)(B), the limitation on causes of action under the last sentence of the matter following subparagraph (ii)(B) shall only apply to the extent that the assistance ceased at the earliest of the time the application for a court order was denied, the time the communication sought was obtained, or 48 hours after the interception began.

SEC. 6. ENACTMENT.

1. This act shall take effect forty (40) days from the date of passage.

Passed 14-0-0-4 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

In the absence of the current SoFE I am appointing a temporary administrator in accordance with §5.1 of the Federal Electoral Act.

EXECUTIVE ORDER
To save the SoFE's bacon

1. Secretary of State Scott, of the state of Wyoming, is hereby designated to administer the voting booth for the February 2023 federal election.


Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

So following the ins and outs of this bill through the Senate has been exhausting even by typical Senate standards. But these are lenient penalties compared to what has been implemented by other countries in the past in view of the massive scientific and ethical concerns for many of these practices, and if establishing these helps deter potential He Jiankuis from setting up shop here I am 110% on board with it.

MAD SCIENTIST PREVENTION ACT

TITLE I: DEFINITIONS

1. Adrenochrome means any chemical compound directly produced by a human or non-human animal from the oxidation of adrenaline or any blood or other product containing such compound.

2. Cryogenic human preservation means the long-term preservation of a human body or human tissue through freezing or heat removal for the intended purpose of resurrecting such body or creating a human clone from such body or tissue at a later date when hypothetical technology is discovered to allow for such resurrection or cloning.

3. Embryonic stem cells means any stem cells produced by a human embryo.

4. External incubation means gestating a living human embryo in an artificial womb until such embryo can be safely implanted in a host or safely delivered as a live baby.

5. Human clone means a human embryo that is substantially genetically identical to a previously born human being.

6. Human embryo means an organism of the species Homo sapiens during the earliest stages of development, from 1 cell up to delivery or fetal death.

7. In vitro fertilization means the artificial creation of a human embryo or fertilized human egg outside of a female human body with the consent of the egg and sperm donors for the intended implantation into a human host body.

8. Prohibited artificial intelligence means any real or theoretical program or software code that:

A. reaches or exceeds the level of human intellectual abilities and is able to apply its abilities to any type of task;

B. achieves self-awareness as found in humans;

C. is capable of animating or controlling a human body; or

D. is or purports to be the uploaded soul, life, consciousness, personality, or memories of a specific human.

9. Prohibited eugenics means reproductive procedures including but not limited to sterilization, castration, vasectomy, fallopian tubal ligation, hysterectomy, and abortion which are carried out for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the future population of specific groups or genetic patterns, groupings, or sequences.

10. Prohibited gain-of-function research means medical or scientific research involving the deliberate editing of the genetic code of a virus, disease, or pathogen for the purpose of increasing the virulty, transmissibility, harmfulness, deadliness, resistance, or persistence of the virus, disease, or pathogen.

11. Prohibited human-animal chimera means:

A. a human embryo into which a nonhuman cell or cells (or the component parts thereof) have been introduced to render the embryo's membership in the species Homo sapiens uncertain;

B. a human-animal embryo produced by fertilizing a human egg with nonhuman sperm;

C. a human-animal embryo produced by fertilizing a nonhuman egg with human sperm;

D. an embryo produced by introducing a nonhuman nucleus into a human egg;

E. an embryo produced by introducing a human nucleus into a nonhuman egg;

F  an embryo containing at least haploid sets of chromosomes from both a human and a nonhuman life form;

G. a nonhuman life form engineered such that human gametes develop within the body of a nonhuman life form;

H. a nonhuman life form engineered such that it contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or predominantly from human neural tissues;

I. a nonhuman life form engineered such that it exhibits human facial features or other bodily morphologies to resemble human features;

J. an embryo produced by mixing human and nonhuman cells, such that human gametes develop within the body of the resultant organism, it contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or predominantly from human neural tissues, or it exhibits human facial features or other bodily morphologies to resemble human features;

K. a human to whose DNA nonhuman DNA is artificially spliced or grafted; or

L. a human embryo implanted or gestated in a non-human animal.

12. Test tube gestation means the artificial creation of a human embryo or fertilized human egg outside of a female human body.

13. Unknowing test subject means a person upon whom a medical or scientific experiment, test, or case study is being performed without that persons knowledge or consent.

TITLE II: DYSTOPIAN CRIMES

It shall be unlawful for any person in Atlasia to knowingly:

1. create a human clone or produce, advertise, transport, transfer, or receive any product derived from such cloning;

2. create a prohibited human-animal chimera, transfer a human embryo into a nonhuman womb, transfer a nonhuman embryo into a human womb, or transport or receive for any purpose a prohibited human-animal chimera, however this clause does not prohibit research involving the use of transgenic animal models containing human genes or transplantation of human organs, tissues, or cells into recipient animals, if such activities are not prohibited by this act or any other law;

3. create or a human embryo as a result of test tube gestation, except for the purpose of in vitro fertilization with the consent of both parents and an identified host for implantation of the human embryo, however nothing in this clause shall be interpreted as prohibiting the use of external incubation to save an extant human embryo that lacks a human host;

4. produce, advertise, transport, transfer, or receive any human embryo or human fetal tissue or any product derived therefrom however nothing in this clause shall be interpreted as prohibiting the use of external incubation to save an extant human embryo, in vitro fertilization, the burial of a fetus, or scientific research on donated embryonic stem cells resulting from an unintended miscarriage, fetal death, or ectopic pregnancy;

5. conduct, perform, finance, or advertise prohibited eugenics;

6. Advertise cryogenic human preservation services;

7. produce, advertise, transport, transfer, or receive any product derived from human bones, flesh, appendages, skin, organs, blood, or adrenochrome, however nothing in this clause shall be interpreted as prohibiting scientific research on any lawfully obtained human bones, flesh, appendages, skin, organs, stem cells, or blood or the transplantation of any lawfully obtained human organ, stem cells, or blood;

8. prepare, serve, eat, or consume any human bone, flesh, appendage, skin, organ, blood, or adrenochrome obtained in interstate commerce. For purposes of this act food intentionally injected with human DNA shall constitute human flesh;

9. create, finance, transfer, or receive prohibited artificial intelligence;

10. conduct, perform, or finance any medical or scientific research on an unknowing test subject;

11. conduct, perform, or finance any prohibited gain-of-function research; or

12. administer euthanasia to a human embryo, human clone, or prohibited human-animal chimera, except in cases where the animal is suffering from a painful injury or condition for which there is no realistic alternative treatment or realistic chance of recovery.

TITLE III: PUNISHMENTS

1. It shall be a felony to commit any crime enumerated in Title II of this act.

2. A violation of Title II(1),(3), (4), and (12) of this act shall be punishable by imprisonment for not less than 15 years and not more than life and a fine of the greater of $500,000 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

3. A violation of Title II(6) of this act shall be punishable by imprisonment for not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years and a fine of the greater of $100,000.00 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

4. A violation of Title II (5) of this act shall be punishable my imprisonment for not less than 10 years and not more than 25 years and a fine of the greater of $500,000 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

4. A violation of Title II(7) - (8 ) of this act shall be punishable by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years and not more than twenty (20) years and a fine of the greater of $100,000.00 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

5. A violation of Title II(9) of this act shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years and a fine of the greater of $100,000.00 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

6. A violation of Title II(10) of this act that does not result in permanent harm to the unknown test subject shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years and a fine of the greater of $10,000.00 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

7. A violation of Title II(10) of this act that results in permanent harm to the unknown test subject shall be punishable by imprisonment for not less than five (5) years and not more than twenty (20) years and a fine of the greater of $100,000.00 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

8. A violation of Title II(11) of this act shall be punishable by imprisonment for not less than five (5) years and not more than ten (10) years and a fine of the greater of $100,000.00 or the amount equal to twice the amount of the gross pecuniary gain from the violation, if any.

9. Any person convicted of crime enumerated in this act shall be ordered to attend an appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling.

10. Any person, including but not limited to any business, institution, or entity that participates in or funds any crime enumerated in this act shall be ineligible to receive federal public funds for no less than five (5) years.

11. No federal public funds shall be expended in the furtherance of any crime enumerated in this act.

TITLE IV: ENACTMENT

1. This act shall take effect 90 days after the passage of this act.

Passed 12-1-1-4 in tbe Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Redraft statement

Wait, are we barring India from receiving arms? That's, uh. From first principles that seems kinda nuts.

FOREIGN ARMS SALES AMENDMENT ACT

1. The Arsenal of Democracy Act shall be amended as follows:

...

2.) In light of the above criteria the following countries are hereby barred from purchasing either non-lethal or lethal arms from Atlasia or from receiving military or policing training; either in their own country or in Atlasia.

Algeria
Angola
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Belarus
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Comoros
Chad
China
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Eswatini
Gabon
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
India
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Oman
Mali
Mauritania
Myanmar
Nicaragua
Niger
Pakistan
Palestine
Peru
Qatar
Republic of the Congo
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Togo
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Zimbabwe

2A.) Azerbaijan
2B.) Central African Republic
2C.) China
2D.) Brunei
2E.) Belarus
2F.) Egypt
2G.) Iran
2H.) Syria
2I.) Myanmar
2J.) Zimbabwe
2K.) Saudi Arabia

...

2. This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage.

Passed 15-0-0-3 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

VETOED AND REDRAFTED

FOREIGN ARMS SALES AMENDMENT ACT

1. The Arsenal of Democracy Act shall be amended as follows:

...

2.) In light of the above criteria the following countries are hereby barred from purchasing either non-lethal or lethal arms from Atlasia or from receiving military or policing training; either in their own country or in Atlasia.

Algeria
Angola
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Belarus
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Comoros
Chad
China
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Eswatini
Gabon
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
India
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Oman
Mali
Mauritania
Myanmar
Nicaragua
Niger
Pakistan
Palestine
Peru
Qatar
Republic of the Congo
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Togo
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Zimbabwe

2A.) Azerbaijan
2B.) Central African Republic
2C.) China
2D.) Brunei
2E.) Belarus
2F.) Egypt
2G.) Iran
2H.) Syria
2I.) Myanmar
2J.) Zimbabwe
2K.) Saudi Arabia

...

2. This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage.

Passed 15-0-0-3 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

@OBD

NEED FOR SPEED ACT

Senate Bill
to devolve certain vehicle speed limit authority to the Regions

Section 1. Title

This Act shall be called the Need For Speed Act.

Section 2. Speed Limits

A. Except during a declared emergency neither the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any federal highway, interstate, or other road managed or funded by Atlasia. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating.

B. Except during a declared emergency, neither the National Parks Service (NPS), nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any road located in National Parks. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 36 CFR 4.21 shall be amended accordingly.

C. Except during a declared emergency, neither the National Forestry Service (NFS), nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any road located in National Forests. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 36 CFR 261.50 - 54 and Appendix A, shall be amended accordingly. NFS Order 2009-0614-UM-03 is hereby rescinded.

D. Except during a declared emergency, neither the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any road located on land managed by the BLM. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 43 CFR 8340 and 8365 shall be amended accordingly.

E. Except during a declared emergency, neither the NPS, nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any road located on land managed by the Presidio National Trust. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 36 CFR 1004.21 shall be amended accordingly.

F. Except during a declared emergency, neither the Coast Guard nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any waterway managed by the federal government. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 33 CFR 162.139 - 155, 33 CFR 401.28, and 162 CFR 160 - 200 shall be amended accordingly.

G. Except during a declared emergency neither the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the FHA, nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on commercial vehicles operating federal highway, interstate, or other road. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating.

H. Except during a declared emergency, neither the Occupational Safety and Hazards Administration (OSHA) nor any
other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any forklift. The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(8 ) shall be amended accordingly.

I. Except during a declared emergency, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor any other department, agency, board, or subdivision of the Atlasian government shall prescribe, impose, set, or enforce any vehicle speed limit on any low speed vehicle (LSV). The government of Atlasia hereby devolves all authority to set such vehicle speed limits to the Regional governments in which the vehicle is operating. 49 CFR 571.500 shall be amended accordingly.

J. Nothing in this act shall pertain to or affect the federal government's extant authority over speed limits on trains, aircraft, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or existing law or regulations related thereto.

Section 3. Enactment

A. This bill shall come into effect on January 1, 2024.

Passed 10-4-1-3 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Honestly that last section seems like an unrelated graft onto the bill. But in view of the likely modes of implementation given its current prominence in schools I expect the possibilities for overreach or abuse of the rules here will be kept to a minimum.

ANONYMOUS EATING ACT

1. It shall be unlawful for any person, or the officers, employees, or agents thereof, who operates in Atlasian commerce by selling food, beverages, or other groceries at retail to customers, to sell or share customer purchase data unless such data is entirely anonymized or masked to protect the identity of the customer or if presented with a valid warrant.

2. A violation of this act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by disgorgement of any profits, imprisonment for no more than one (1) year, and a fine of $10,000.00 per individual person whose data was sold. Any data collected in violation of this paragraph shall be subject to forfeiture.

3. A customer whose location was unlawfully shared or sold pursuant to this act may maintain a civil action to recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to $10,000, reasonable legal costs, and any equitable relief necessary to enforce this act.

4. Schools should provide the possibility for students to eat outside of the school cafeteria. Schools shall not force students to eat with other students if the student has a concern about mental health, bullying, or loneliness. Forcing a student with concerns to eat lunch with other students will be seen as an act of emotional abuse. For the purposes of this provision, eating school lunch in a bathroom is not protected under this act.

4a. Violation of a student's request to eat alone will be punishable by a fine of up to 1,000 dollars.

4b. Should a student request to eat alone, a student may decide to eat lunch in a nearby classroom or other area allowed for this purpose.

4c. Students may be under staff supervision while eating alone in schools, for example in a teacher's classroom while a teacher has a planning period. Alternatively, students may eat unsupervised in an empty classroom so long as they are checked on by a staff member every 15 minutes for the duration of their lunch, e.g., once at the beginning of the individual lunch period and once halfway through. For students at or over the age of 15, this requirement will be limited to one check-in halfway through the individual lunch period.

5. This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage.

Passed 14-0-1-3 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Sadly this still does not get me out of the battery of corporate horoscopes I have to do this week. Life ain't fair. But at least the federal government is on the record as rejecting the notion that you have to measure up to a flawed metric of cognition in order to work for an employer whose broad purview calls for forms of intelligence that can't be measured by these things.

UNINTELLIGENT TESTS ACT

1. No federal employee, contractor, or subcontractor, employee of a federal contractor or subcontractor, or employee, contractor, or subcontractor of a federally regulated railroad, harbor, or Atlasian-flagged vessel operating in international waters, or no federal employee of the armed forces or intelligence community shall be administered or required to submit to any intelligence quotient (IQ) or similar cognitive test as a condition of employment or contract award.  For purposes of this act, similar tests include but are not limited to the Myers-Briggs Personalty Indicator, the big five personalty traits test, and astrology or horoscope evaluation.

2. The results of any IQ or similar cognitive test shall not be admissible as evidence in any federal court trial or sentencing to prove any criminal element or defense element.

3. No person shall be administered or required to submit to any IQ or similar cognitive test as a condition of applying for, proving eligibility for, or receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI).

4. The results of any IQ or similar cognitive test administered to a student in a public school that receives federal funds shall not be used in a manner that is determinative of such student's placement in any special education class or advanced placement or gifted class, eligibility for an individual education plan (IEP), eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities, or eligibility to receive any other targeted benefit or program offered by the school.

5. No person shall be administered or required to submit to any IQ or similar cognitive test as a condition of applying for or receiving admission to any public college or university that receives federal funding. The SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, or other standardized general knowledge test shall not constitute an IQ or similar cognitive test.

6. No person shall be administered or required to submit to any IQ or similar cognitive test as a condition of purchasing a firearm from a federal firearms licensee (FFL).

7. The results of any IQ or similar cognitive test shall not be admissible as indicative or proof of a person being intellectually disabled, in any circumstances.

8. This act shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of enactment.

Passed 14-0-0-4 in the Atlasisn Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Common sense. Goes along with our other bills this session addressing "practices" that went on for far too long considering their horrible consequences. Even retrospectively I am happy we've been going on the record to outlaw these violations of Atlasian and human rights.

NO MORE BUCK V. BELL ACT

Whereas, many States in Atlasia have a shameful record of forcibly or coercively sterilizing otherwise healthy criminals, minors, social outcasts, and persons who lacked the capacity to give informed consent; and

Whereas, sterilizing otherwise healthy persons deprives such persons of their God-given rights to form families; and

Whereas, sterilizing otherwise healthy persons negatively impacts the public health, safety, and welfare of Atlasia by limiting potential families and population growth, while wasting scarce medical resources; and

Whereas, limiting the risk of coercive sterilizations while balancing the need for sterilization in certain medically-necessary cases is important;

Now therefore, the Atlasian Senate Assembled hereby ordains the following:

1. No federal court in Atlasia shall authorize or require the sterilization of a minor, nor of a prisoner, nor of an adult who lacks the capacity to give informed consent.

2. It shall be unlawful for any licensed physician or healthcare practioner to perform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation, orchiectomy, penectomy, mastectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure on any otherwise healthy adult who is imprisoned or who is involuntarily committed or otherwise lacks the mental capacity to give informed consent.

3. It shall be unlawful for any licensed physician or healthcare practioner to perform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation, orchiectomy, penectomy, mastectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure on any otherwise healthy minor child younger than eighteen (18) years of age.

4. Prior to or at the time of a patient request for any sexual sterilization procedure, a full, reasonable, and comprehensible medical explanation as to the meaning and consequences of such an operation and as to alternative methods of contraception shall be given by the physician to the person requesting the operation. No procedure shall be performed until at least ten (10) days subsequent to the person requesting the procedure offering written consent and receiving the counseling prescribed herein, except where such delay poses a substantial risk to the physical health of the patient.

5. A licensed physician or healthcare practioner who performs a vasectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation, orchiectomy, penectomy, mastectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure upon any otherwise healthy person in violation of this act shall be liable to the individual if injured (including any physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harms) by such procedure, related treatment, or the aftereffects of the procedure.

6. An individual eligible to sue may, not later than the day that is fifteen (15) years after the date on which the individual turns eighteen (18) years of age, regains mental capacity, is discharged from imprisonment, or otherwise becomes eligible to sue, bring a civil action against such physician in a court of competent jurisdiction for:

A. declaratory or injunctive relief;

B. compensatory damages;

C. punitive damages; and

D. attorney’s fees and costs.

7. Subject to the rules of law applicable generally to negligence, no licensed physician or healthcare practioner shall be either civilly or criminally liable by reason of having refused or declined to perform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation, orchiectomy, penectomy, mastectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure upon any otherwise healthy person in Atlasia.

8. No federal public funds shall be expended to pay for or facilitate a vasectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation, orchiectomy, penectomy, mastectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure upon any otherwise healthy person.

9. No provision in this act shall apply to or be construed so as to prevent, control, or regulate the medical or surgical treatment for sound therapeutic reasons of any person in Atlasia by a licensed physician or healthcare practioner, which treatment may require sexual sterilization or may involve the nullification or destruction of the reproductive functions, including but not limited to treatment for cancer. For the purposes of this provision the sterilization of a person whose physical health would be endangered by a pregnancy shall be deemed a medical or surgical treatment for sound therapeutic reasons.

10. This act shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of passage.

Passed 14-0-0-4 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I actually had a bill idea in 2021 or thereabouts to federally address preservation efforts of a few animal species and, I think, seagrasses and other native coastal plants. It ran into some trouble with the funding requirement I was trying to meet at the time and never got written in full. I'm very glad the Senate has thought of a way around this problem to spectacular effect and also extended the idea to parts of our natural wonders that will have the added benefit of encouraging Atlasians to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Fantastic work.

PROTECTING THE OUTDOORS ACT

TITLE I: PROTECTING BIRDS

1. As used in this act:

A. Audubon's Oriole means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Icterus graduacauda.

B. Audubon's Shearwater means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Puffinus lherminieri.

C. Audubon's Warbler means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Setophaga auduboni.

D. Bachman’s Sparrow means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Peucaea aestivalis.

E. Hammond's Flycatcher means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Empidonax hammondii.

F. McCown's Longspur means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Rhynchophanes mccownii.

G. Townsend's Warbler means any bird, including unhatched eggs, of the species Setophaga townsendi.

2. The list of birds subject to special protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act shall be amended to include Audubon's Oriole, Audubon's Shearwater, Audubon's Warbler, Bachman's Sparrow, Hammond's Flycatcher, McCown's Longspur, and Townsend's Warbler.

3. The government of Atlasia hereby reaffirms that the official name of the bird species identified in this act are as defined herein. Accordingly, no federal public funds shall be expended:

A. To acquire or provide any textbook, field guide, teaching materials, or museum exhibit that identifies a bird species identified herein with a name other than that which is prescribed in this act; or

B. To draft, prepare, or distribute any report or other public document that identifies a bird species identified herein with a name other than that which is prescribed in this act.

4. No federal public funds shall be expended to fund activities by any club, organization, entity, or non-profit that conducts or organizes a racially segregated and/or focused bird watching event.

TITLE II: PROTECTING NATURE

1. $600 Million is hereby appropriated to the National Park Service to fund facility upgrades, recreational enhancement activities, and to acquire inholdings necessary to expand National Parks.

2. At least $20 Million of the funds appropriated herein shall be expended for the purpose of establishing, improving, or promoting recreational rock-climbing courses and activities.

3. Any newly discovered public recreational rock climbing route or trail on federal law shall be named by the first person of record to successfully climb and document such rock climbing route or trail, hereinafter referred to as the first ascensionist. Accordingly, no federal public funds shall be expended:

A. To acquire, publish, record, or provide any rock climbing map, trailguide, or other information that identifies a recreational rock climbing route or trail on federal land by a name other than the name provided by law, including but not limited to on signs, government websites, and at reststops and visitor centers;

B. To fund activities by any publisher, club, organization, entity, or non-profit that identifies a recreational rock climbing route or trail on federal by a name other than the name provided by law; or

C. To draft, prepare, or distribute any report or other public document that identifies a public recreational rock climbing route or trail on federal land by a name other than the name provided by law.

4. At least $15 Million of the funds appropriated herein shall be expended for the purpose of improving, enhancing, or promoting the trees in King's Canyon National Park in Fremont, including commemorative signs and markers for each of its named giant trees.

5. At least $15 Million of the funds appropriated herein shall be expended for the purpose of improving, enhancing, or promoting the Lamar Bath House in Hot Springs National Park in the South, including a bronze commemorative statue of Secretary of the Interior Lamar.

6. At least $15 Million of the funds appropriated herein shall be expended for the purpose of improving, enhancing, or promoting recreational trails in Acadia National Park in Lincoln.

7. No federal funds shall be expended for activities that desecrate, degrade, reduce, disturb, or negatively modify any battlefield, cemetery, or war monument, or that prevent private persons from safely and respectfully adorning or decorating the cemeteries, graves, or monuments upon land owned, controlled, or managed by the federal government.

8. No park, park facility, recreation area, road, trail, forest, tree, preserve, reserve, census area, cave, mountain, valley, lake, watercourse, or other natural place or feature under the jurisdiction or control of the Atlasian government shall be renamed, unless such name change is approved by a duly passed statute from both Atlasia and the Regional government where such place or feature is located. Accordingly, no federal public funds shall be expended:

A. To acquire, publish, record, or provide any textbook, map, trail guide, teaching materials, or other information that identifies any park, park facility, recreation area, road, trail, forest, tree, preserve, reserve, census area, cave, mountain, valley, lake, watercourse, or other natural place or feature under the jurisdiction or control of the Atlasian government with a name other than the official name as established by law, including but not limited to on signs, government websites, and at reststops and visitor centers;

B. To draft, prepare, record, or distribute any report, plat, map, or other public document that identifies any park, park facility, recreation area, road, trail, forest, tree, preserve, reserve, census area, cave, mountain, valley, lake, watercourse, or other natural place or feature under the jurisdiction or control of the Atlasian government with a name other than the official name as established by law, with a name other than the official name as established by law; or

C. To create or conduct any advisory committee or board related to the renaming of any park, park facility, recreation area, road, trail, forest, tree, preserve, reserve, census area, cave, mountain, valley, lake, watercourse, or other natural place or feature under the jurisdiction or control of the Atlasian government.

9. To help offset the costs of this act, the following actions shall occur:

A. All proceeds resulting from the Surplus Land Sales Act shall be dedicated to the funding of this act.

B. An annual license tax of $50 shall be imposed on any snowmobile, dune buggy, or other off-road motor vehicle operated by members of the public in any National Park, Forest, or Wilderness Area. Payment of such tax shall be evidenced by a decal to be affixed upon the exterior of such vehicle.

C. Annual hunting license, fishing license, duck stamp, and junior duck stamp prices issued by the federal government shall be increased by 20% beginning in FY 2024 and shall thereafter be indexed to and grow with inflation.

D. Gift Shops located upon federal parks or battlefields property shall expand their inventories to include more souvenirs, collectibles, and other items shown to generate revenue, including but not limited to medallions, shot glasses, flasks, post cards, maps, clothing and apparel, historic flags, and other items that are cheap to acquire and store in bulk.

E. The federal government shall permit the Southern Region to donate the statue of Secretary of the Interior Lamar at no expense to the federal government.

F. The federal government shall acquire 2,400,000 troy ounces of silver bullion and commission the minting of 2,400,000 non legal tender, silver, 1 troy oz commemorative tokens, to be sold to the public at a price of $40 per token. Such tokens shall feature the following designs:

i. Each of the thirty-one (31) States with a National Park located therein shall have a token design featuring one (1) or more of the National Parks within such State, as well as the name of such park or parks, the name of the State, and the year 2023.

ii. Each of the seven (7) birds identified by this act shall have a token design featuring on the obverse the bird, its name, and the year 2023. On the reverse such token shall have a design featuring the person for whom such bird was named along with his name.

iii. Each of the four (4) largest named trees in King's Canyon National Park shall have a token design featuring on the obverse the tree, its name, and the year 2023. On the reverse such token shall have a design featuring the person for whom such tree was named along with his name.

iv. Each of the five (5) tallest named rock-climbing course or trail in a National Park shall have a token design featuring on the obverse the course or trail, its name, and the year 2023. On the reverse such token shall have a design featuring persons engaging in rick climbing.

v. The Lamar Bath House shall have a token design featuring on the obverse the building, its name, and the year 2023. On the reverse such token shall have a design featuring the person for whom such bath house was named along with his name.

Each design shall be struck on 50,000 tokens per design. The President shall approve the final sculpting design of each token. All proceeds from the sale of these tokens shall be dedicated to the funding of this act.

TITLE III: ENACTMENT

1. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 14-0-0-4 in the Atlas Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I kinda miss being PPT at times given the authority that office has to clean up the language in bills. But the principle of the thing is clear and will help ordinary Atlasians, and if it takes money out of their pockets for certain landlords to do their jobs then I'm all for it. Win-win situation as far as I am concerned.

Limiting Landlord Monopoly Act

Title I: Defining The Law

a. Every Three Months, Landlords will report to the IRS about their income and money spent on repairs.

b. The Profit will be the Money gained from Tenants minus the money spent on repairs.

c. Any Money gained above $75,000 will be subject to a 10% tax increasing by 10% per $25,000 gained in profit above $75,000.

d. This Tax will be a Progressive Tax.

Title II: What to do in case of Fraud

a. Should it come to the attention of the IRS that you have been misrepresenting how much money you are making, the punishments will be as follows:

- A Fine to consist of the misrepresented Money

- A Prison Sentence not to exceed 10 years

- Automatic Audits on your Income for the next 10 years

Title III: What the Tax is to be used for:

a. The Landlord Tax will be used to build Public Housing for Homeless People and to help them become productive members of Society again.

Title IV: When this law will take Effect:

a. This law will take effect on May 1st 2023.

Passed 9-0-5-4 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Fair’s fair. Relations with Cuba are still not great considering the state of their democracy which we haven't had an update on, I think, since Laki originally called it out three years ago. But that doesn't justify the weird carveout for it specifically that still exists and I suppose it's good that the Senate’s attention has been brought to this by… [checks notes] …Laki. Hmm.

Refugee Fairness Act

1. To ensure every refugee is treated fairly and equally, the 8 USC ch. 12, subch. II § 1255, also known as the Cuban Adjustment Act is repealed.

Passed 8-6-2-2 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia