House Legislation Introduction Thread

[Dr. MB]

Chagos Islands Act

HOUSE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: WITHDRAWING MILITARY PRESENCE

1. All Atlasian military and civilian personnel shall be immediately recalled from Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, and all other facilities located in the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Archipelago.

SECTION II: SOLIDARITY WITH DISPLACED PEOPLES

1. The Republic of Atlasia strongly urges the government of the United Kingdom to authorize displaced Chagos Islanders and their descendants the right to return to the islands.

[Dr. MB]

Recognition of Labor Act

HOUSE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

1. May shall officially be designated as Labor History Month by the Republic of Atlasia. Throughout the month of May schools throughout the Republic of Atlasia are encouraged to emphasize the contributions of working people to the development of the nation.

2. May 1 is hereby designated as 'International Workers' Day' and shall henceforth be recognized as a federal holiday. April 28 is hereby designated as 'Workers' Memorial Day' and shall henceforth be recognized as a federal holiday. Easter Monday is hereby designated as a federal holiday.

[Dr. MB]

Protecting Innocent Tame Breeds from Unjust Laws and Liabilities Act

HOUSE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: NAME

1. This bill may be cited as the Protecting Innocent Tame Breeds from Unjust Laws and Liabilities Act, or alternatively, the PITBULL Act.

SECTION II: SUBSTANCE

1. All statutes and regulations which currently place additional legal restrictions, duties, penalties, or legal presumptions upon the keeper, owner or harborer of dogs based solely upon the breed of said dog, including but not limited to the breeds of dogs known as pit bulls, Rottweillers, Doberman pinschers, and Staffordshire terriers, as well as hybrids of wolves and dogs, are hereby repealed.

2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to remove legal restrictions, duties, penalties, or legal presumptions upon the keeper, owner or harborer of any dog or wolf-dog hybrid based on prior misconduct of that particular dog or owner.

[fhtagn]

None of the Above Act

House Bill
To ensure fair elections.

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

1. A "None of the Above" option shall be included on federal election ballots.
2. Voters choosing to vote for "None of The Above" will not be able to preference any candidate(s) listed on the ballot.
3. If "None of the Above" wins more votes than the candidate with the highest number of first preferences, the election shall be declared null and void, and a special election for that seat shall be held in no less than two weeks and no more than three, where the "None of the Above" option shall be equally valid, as well as all the provisions in this bill.
4.None of the candidates defeated against "None of the Above" shall be permitted to run in the special election.

[fhtagn]

Your Employees Must Be Citizens Act

House Bill
To ensure that organizations receiving federal contracts are employing Atlasian citizens.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

1.  Any organization seeking or holding federal Atlasian government contracts which is found to knowingly employ undocumented immigrants will be ineligible for new contracts for two years following the discovery of these immigrants.

   A. The SoIA shall compile an effective and efficient procedure by which companies can verify the status of their employees. The terms of the above shall apply once the procedure is in place and companies have been given a “reasonable” chance to utilize it.

   B. Contracts that deal with critical defense or emergency related procurement may be given exemption based on the situation, but must be required to take steps to ensure the legality of their workforce going forward and the Department of Internal Affairs shall certify they have done so.

2.  The bill is not affecting contracts for companies, that employed undocumented immigrants without knowing their legal status. Said companies are required to remove any undocumented employees within a period of two months instead.

3. No provision in this bill shall be construed as to condone or legalize any violations of current laws regarding racial profiling and civil rights. Any and all such violations shall be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of existing law at the time of the violation's occurrence.

[fhtagn]

Stickies, Posts, and Polls Reduction Act

House Bill
To simplify how the Atlas Fantasy Elections board is organized.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1: Deletion of Outdated and Obsolete Posts and Polls
(a) Old polls created for the purpose of guaging the level of support of candidates in past elections are now obsolete and have no relevance to current events. Thus all polls created for this manner shall be deleted.
(b) Posts which are more than 30 days old and/or do not give any relevant information or have any usefulness shall be deleted.
(c) No threads or posts of historical value will be deleted. Speeches, major announcements, party conventions, election results, and candidate debates will not be deleted. None of the posts relating to the civil war or regarding other significant events in the history of the forum will be deleted.

Section 2: Stickies Reduction
(a) All threads currently stickied will hereby be condensed into one stickied thread entitled "Atlasian Operations Headquarters." The AOHQ thread will include a brief explanation of forum government and politics to potential members as well as links to the threads previously stickied on the Atlas Fantasy Elections board. The thread will also contain links to each major parties forums and/or website, a list of registered voters, and a list of current office holders. Voting threads will not be included within the "Atlasian Operations Headquarters" thread considering the importance of those threads existing in a separate capacity.

Section 3: Administration
(a) All posts and polls will be deleted by the moderator in accordance with the wishes of a three member panel to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It will be the responsibility of the three member panel to find and catalog all polls and posts for deletion. Any item catalogued for destruction must remain on the forum for a week before being deleted by the moderator. Should any member of the forum object to an item's deletion, he or she may bring a complaint before the deletion panel. The panel will have five days to rule one way or another on the item. Any decision of the panel may be overruled by a vote of the Senate.
(b) Sticky reduction will be the responsibility of a member of the forum to be elected by the senate with the consultation and approval of the President.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Stickies, Posts, and Polls Reduction Act

House Bill
To simplify how the Atlas Fantasy Elections board is organized.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1: Deletion of Outdated and Obsolete Posts and Polls
(a) Old polls created for the purpose of guaging the level of support of candidates in past elections are now obsolete and have no relevance to current events. Thus all polls created for this manner shall be deleted.
(b) Posts which are more than 30 days old and/or do not give any relevant information or have any usefulness shall be deleted.
(c) No threads or posts of historical value will be deleted. Speeches, major announcements, party conventions, election results, and candidate debates will not be deleted. None of the posts relating to the civil war or regarding other significant events in the history of the forum will be deleted.

Section 2: Stickies Reduction
(a) All threads currently stickied will hereby be condensed into one stickied thread entitled "Atlasian Operations Headquarters." The AOHQ thread will include a brief explanation of forum government and politics to potential members as well as links to the threads previously stickied on the Atlas Fantasy Elections board. The thread will also contain links to each major parties forums and/or website, a list of registered voters, and a list of current office holders. Voting threads will not be included within the "Atlasian Operations Headquarters" thread considering the importance of those threads existing in a separate capacity.

Section 3: Administration
(a) All posts and polls will be deleted by the moderator in accordance with the wishes of a three member panel to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It will be the responsibility of the three member panel to find and catalog all polls and posts for deletion. Any item catalogued for destruction must remain on the forum for a week before being deleted by the moderator. Should any member of the forum object to an item's deletion, he or she may bring a complaint before the deletion panel. The panel will have five days to rule one way or another on the item. Any decision of the panel may be overruled by a vote of the Senate.
(b) Sticky reduction will be the responsibility of a member of the forum to be elected by the senate with the consultation and approval of the President.

As Article 2, Section 2 of the House of the Representatives Rules and Procedures for Operation allows, I am hereby removing this bill from the queue as it is unconstitutional for it violates Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, it is impractical as Congress cannot control moderation policy regarding post deletion, and is therefore frivolous.

[fhtagn]

Stickies Reduction Act

House Bill
To simplify how the Atlas Fantasy Elections board is organized.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1: Stickies Reduction
(a) All threads currently stickied will hereby be condensed into one stickied thread entitled "Atlasian Operations Headquarters." The AOHQ thread will include a brief explanation of forum government and politics to potential members as well as links to the threads previously stickied on the Atlas Fantasy Elections board. The thread will also contain links to each major parties forums and/or website, a list of registered voters, and a list of current office holders. Voting threads will not be included within the "Atlasian Operations Headquarters" thread considering the importance of those threads existing in a separate capacity.

Section 2: Administration
(a) Managing the AOHQ will be the responsibility the forum coordinator.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Stickies Reduction Act

House Bill
To simplify how the Atlas Fantasy Elections board is organized.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1: Stickies Reduction
(a) All threads currently stickied will hereby be condensed into one stickied thread entitled "Atlasian Operations Headquarters." The AOHQ thread will include a brief explanation of forum government and politics to potential members as well as links to the threads previously stickied on the Atlas Fantasy Elections board. The thread will also contain links to each major parties forums and/or website, a list of registered voters, and a list of current office holders. Voting threads will not be included within the "Atlasian Operations Headquarters" thread considering the importance of those threads existing in a separate capacity.

Section 2: Administration
(a) Managing the AOHQ will be the responsibility the forum coordinator.

As Article 2, Section 2 of the House of the Representatives Rules and Procedures for Operation allows, I am hereby removing this bill from the queue as it is unconstitutional for it violates Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution regarding the assigning of portfolios to executive departments.

[fhtagn]

Business Owners Should Be Treated Equally Act

House Bill
To eliminate preferential treatment based on race.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

1. The Minority Business Development Agency is hereby abolished.

2. Any laws relating to the Minority Business Development Agency are repealed.

[fhtagn]

Fetal Remains Are Human Remains Act

House Bill
To treat fetal remains with the same dignity as any human that passes.

Be it enacted in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1: Findings
1. Congress recognizes that fetal tissue belongs to a human whose body is separate from the mother's, and should not be treated as medical waste.
2. Congress recognizes that women should have the opportunity to properly mourn for the loss of their child.

Section 2: Proper Handling of Fetal Remains
1. All parts of fetal tissue collected during abortion procedures in the Republic of Atlasia must be handled in the same manner as human remains.
2. Any process in which these remains are treated as medical waste and disposed of as such is banned.
3. Fetal tissue obtained during an abortion procedure may only be disposed of in the form of cremation or burial, with a written record of the mother's wishes obtained prior to the procedure.
4. The mother may request a blood relative of the child to be granted custody of the remains, however said person must be present and acknowledgement of this must be obtained in writing prior to the procedure.
5. If the mother refuses to take custody of the remains and there is no other person who can legally be given custody of the remains, the woman may sign over the remains to the clinic, or any religious or community organization authorized to store the remains or perform burials. The clinic or organization must dispose of the remains either in an approved permanent storage facility or in a burial site with other unclaimed remains.
6. Following the procedure, the remains may not be retained as security for unpaid expenses, particularly where it has been kept without authorization and payment is demanded as a condition precedent to its release.

Section 3: Implementation
1. This bill will take effect 90 days after being signed into law.

[lfromnj]

Financial Abortion Act

Giving the right to terminate any financial support of a future child

Section I: Action and Timeframe

i. If one member of a partnership of two people that created a mutually conceived fetus wishes to raise a child but the other does not, the one that does not want the child may terminate all parental rights including financial rights. They will not be required to pay any child support as longs as the child resides in Atlasia . This action will hereby be referred to as a financial abortion.

ii. This Financial Abortion must take place either 12 weeks into the pregnancy or 2 weeks after disclosure of the pregnancy to both partners,whichever is the later date.

[Dr. MB]

End Corporate Bidding Act

HOUSE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: RECOGNIZING CORPORATE BIDDING

1. The Government of the Republic of Atlasia recognizes:
a) Corporations often engage in "bidding wars" when looking for places to invest in, during which they "bid" for tax breaks and financial grants from local governments.
b) These practices are harmful and have little benefit to anybody but the corporation.

SECTION II: ENDING TAX BREAKS FOR CORPORATE BIDDING

1. Any financial benefit or tax break provided by a regional, state, or municipal government to a company or corporation in order to entice investment in the area shall be defined as "special income".
2. The special income attained from said financial benefits shall be taxed at a 100% rate.

[Dr. MB]

Screwing Around with Borders Act

HOUSE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: UNRECOGNIZED TRIBES

1. The following Native Atlasian tribes are hereby recognized by the Republic of Atlasia:
a) The Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians
b) The Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama
c) The Cherokees of Southeast Alabama
d) The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
e) The Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama
f) The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians
g) The Piqua Shawnee Tribe
h) The Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks
i) The United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation
j) The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation
k) The Golden Hill Paugussett
l) The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
m) The Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware
n) The Nanticoke Indian Association
o) The Cherokee of Georgia Tribal Council
p) The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokees
q) The Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe
r) The Addai Caddo Tribe
s) The Biloxi-Chitimacha Confederation of Muskogee
t) The Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb
u) The Clifton-Choctaw Tribe
v) The Four Winds Tribe, Louisiana Cherokee Confederacy
w) The Grand Caillou/Dulac Band
x) The Isle de Jean Charles Band
y) The Louisiana Choctaw Tribe
z) The Pointe-au-Chien Tribe
aa) The United Houma Nation
ab) The Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana
ac) The Piscataway Conoy Tribe
ad) The Piscatway Indian Nation
ae) The Praying Indians of Natick
af) The Massachusett-Ponkapoag Tribal Council
ag) The Nipmuc Nation
ah) The Webster/Dudley Band of the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck
ai) The Assonet Wampanoag Tribe
aj) The Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe
ak) The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe
al) The Pocasset Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation
am) The Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe
an) The Burt Lake Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians
ao) The Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians
ap) The Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians
aq) The Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes of Michigan
ar) The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians
as) The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation
at) The Ramapough Lenape Nation
au) The Powhatan Renape Nation
av) The Unkechague Poosepatuck Tribe
aw) The Coharie Intra-tribal Council
ax) The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe
ay) The Lumbee Tribe
az) The Meherrin Nation
ba) The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation
bb) The Sappony Tribe
bc) The Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe
bd) The Beaver Creek Indians
be) The Edisto Natchez Kusso Tribe of South Carolina
bf) The Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina
bg) The Pee Dee Indian Tribe
bh) The Santee Indian Organization
bi) The Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians
bj) The Waccamaw Indian People
bk) The Lipan Apache Tribe
bl) The Mount Tabor Indian Community
bm) The Elnu Abenaki Tribe
bn) The Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
bo) The Koasek Abenaki Tribe
bp) The Missisquoi Abenaki Tribe
bq) The Chinook Indian Tribe

SECTION II: FIXING RIVER BOUNDARIES

1. State borders involving the Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers are set to the present course of the respective rivers.
2. Should the course of the rivers shift in the future, the borders shall be changed accordingly.

SECTION III: FIXING OTHER BORDER IRREGULARITIES

1. Finns Point, Delaware and the Delaware portion of Artificial Island are ceded to New Jersey.
2. The artificially constructed part of Ellis Island is ceded to New York.
3. The Kentucky Bend is ceded to Tennessee.
4. Ronald Reagan National Airport is ceded to Nyman, District of Columbia.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

House Rule Update Resolution

To increase the productivity of the House of Representatives and Congress as a whole, and for other purposes.

Be it resolved in the Atlasian House Assembled,

Section 1. Improving productivity regarding senate passed bills in the House

Article 2, Section 3 of the House of the Representatives Rules and Procedures for Operation shall be amended to read as follows:

3.)
a) There may be eighteen threads about legislation open for voting and debate simultaneously.
b) The first ten open threads shall be open to all legislations initially regarding bills, resolutions or constitutional amendments. If the sponsor already has two or more pieces legislation on the House floor, legislation from Representatives who do not shall take priority until all such other legislation is completed. The Speaker shall be the president officer for these open threads.
c) The eleventh open thread shall be reserved for bills submitted by civilians in the Public Consultation and Legislation Submission thread. The Speaker shall be the president officer for this open thread.
d) The twelfth through sixteenth open threads shall be reserved for legislation that previously passed the Senate. The President of Congress shall be the presiding officer for these open threads.
e) The seventeenth open thread shall be reserved for legislation related to national emergencies declared by the President of Atlasia. The Speaker shall introduce legislation to this thread as directed by the President, but only when the President has declared a state of national emergency.
f) The eighteenth slot shall be reserved for budget debates and related resolutions and statutes. This slot shall be administered by the President of Congress.

Section 2. Fixing section designation errors in Article 2

Article 2 shall be amended by redesignating the second occurrence of "3.)" as "4.)" with succeeding sections renumbered accordingly.

Section 3. Fixing the amendment process

Article 3 shall be amended to read as follows:

1.) At any time during debate on a piece of legislation, a representative may propose an amendment to that legislation. The presiding officer may ignore amendments that he or she deems frivolous, functionally impractical, or unconstitutional at his or her discretion, but the House of Representatives may compel the presiding officer to consider the amendment by majority consent.
2.) The presiding officer shall allow 24 hours for objections to an amendment following its introduction. If no objections are filed, the amendment shall pass. If any objections are filed, a vote shall be held. This vote shall last until a majority of sitting Representatives have voted to either approve or reject the amendment or until 3 days, i.e. 72 hours, have elapsed. No Representative may change his or her vote once the voting period has concluded.
3.) The Speaker shall number and track all amendments offered during the course of each House session.
4.) The Speaker shall have authority to correct grammar and formatting of legislation, provided that such technical changes do not alter the intended meaning of the legislation.

Section 4. Removing the duplicate amendment and tabling process included in Article 4

Article 4 shall be amended by striking sections 3 through 5 with succeeding sections renumbered accordingly.

Section 5. Removing unnecessary and unused conference committees

(1) Article 9 shall be struck with succeeding articles renumbered accordingly.
(2) Article 11, Section 3 shall be struck with succeeding sections renumbered accordingly.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Party Platform Transparency Act

To make the game easier to understand for new players, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “Party Platform Transparency Act”.

Section 2. Purpose

Whereas the "Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act" (F.L. 13-53) was signed into law on September 12, 2018; but the law has failed to be implemented, be it resolved that the law be repealed and replaced with a new Act that will achieve the goal of making party platforms more transparent and visible to players.

Section 3. Definitions

As used in Act, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context:

(A) The term "organized political party" shall have the meaning as described in the "Federal Electoral Act" (F.L. 1-9 § 1(6)); and (B) The term "citizen" shall have the same meaning as a voter as described in the "Federal Electoral Act" (F.L. 1-9 § 14(1)).

Section 4. Repealing the "Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act"

The "Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act" (F.L. 13-53) shall hereby be repealed.

Section 5. Thread creation

(a) In general. -

The Game Moderator must create a thread, no later than 30 days after the passage of this Act, which shall-

(A) be titled "Atlasian Political Parties and Platforms"; (B) be stickied in the "Atlasian Elections Board"; (C) include the platforms of federal organized political parties; and (D) include the platforms of regional political parties.

(b) Game Moderator succession. -

(1) When the position of Game Moderator is held by a different citizen, they shall create a new thread in the same process as in subsection(a). (2) The new thread shall have all existing platform posts from the previous "Atlasian Political Parties and Platforms" thread reposted.

Section 6. Process

(a) In general. -

For a regional political party or a federally organized political party to have their platform posted in the "Atlasian Political Parties and Platforms" thread, or to have their platform edited, said party shall submit the new platform to the Game Moderator.

(b) Game Moderator duties. -

(1) The Game Moderator shall post submitted platforms for each different party in the "Atlasian Political Parties and Platforms" as separate posts.

(2) The Game Moderator shall include links to all party platform posts in their first post, which shall be listed in alphabetical order.

Section 7. Implementation

This Act shall take effect immediately after passage.

[lfromnj]

Young Traders Act

Opening a limited stock market to the youth.

Section I:Actions now Allowed
A. Age Lowering
    i. The minimum age to open a special youth stock market account shall be lowered to 16.
    ii. Nothing stated above may prevent private brokers from setting their own age restriction stated it is above the age of 16.
   iii. Stated youth stock market account will not have full function of the market and will be only be allowed to purchase and sell the top 500 companies in market cap at the date of purchase of the stock.
  iv. Brokers will not be held responsible for any losses due to trades
  V. Brokers may not give special options that increases risk such as selling on margin or selling short.

A short bill that encourages people to invest when they are most likely to have free income.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act Repeal

To repeal the "Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act".

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act Repeal”.

Section 2. Repeal

The "Making Party Platforms More Transparent Act" (F.L. 13-53) shall hereby be repealed.

Section 3. Implementation

This Act shall take effect immediately after passage.

[Coastal Elitist]

COMMONSENSE WELFARE REFORM ACT
SENATE BILL
to make government more efficient, make it easier to get food stamps, and redirect federal money to better welfare programs
Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION I.: NAME
a.  This Act may be cited as the Commonsense Welfare Reform Act.

SECTION II: AGENCY CONSOLIDATION
a. The Subdepartment of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall be renamed the Subdepartment of Human Services and Welfare (HSW)
b. The following agencies, and all related programs, administrative powers, obligations, and duties shall be transferred to the DHW:
   1. The Social Security Administration (SSA)
   2. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), currently part of the Subdepartment of Agriculture
   3. The Office of Housing, currently part of the Subdepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the exception of the Federal Housing Administration which shall remain within HUD and all activities and powers related to the administration of the Manufactured Housing Program which shall be transferred to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
   4. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), currently part of the Subdepartment of Labor, with the exception of all activities and powers related to the administration of the Agricultural Worker’s Survey Program which shall transfer to the Census Bureau, currently part of the Subdepartment of Commerce.
   5. The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), currently part of the Subdepartment of Labor.
   6. The Office of Federal Student Aid, currently part of the Subdepartment of Education.
c. The following offices and agencies and all related programs, powers, obligations, and duties shall be transferred from HSW:
   1. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Subdepartment of Commerce.
   2. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to the Department of Justice.
d. The administrator of HSW shall oversee the creation of a cross-program database of program beneficiaries to better monitor against fraud and abuse.
e. After 60 days of non-repayment following notice, HSW shall have the authority to recover benefit overpayments from one program by deducting the amount from other programs the beneficiary is collecting from.
f. HSW shall hire an additional 35 Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) to hear Atlascare appeals, and an additional 5 ALJs to hear appeals from the SSA. Funding for these judges shall come from the savings realized in this bill.

SECTION III: NUTRITION PROGRAMS
a. Eligibility
   1. Eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shall be expanded to include persons earning up to 150% of the poverty line and persons who own less than $5,000 in assets.
   2. No person otherwise eligible for SNAP benefits shall be excluded from the program due to past criminal or felony conviction. Nothing in this clause prohibits federal employees from investigating potential fraud. 7 U.S.C. § 2015 shall be amended accordingly.
   3. SNAP receiving households that receive substantial winnings from any lottery or from gambling where such winnings would lead to the disqualification of the household from SNAP eligibility shall report such winnings to the DHWS within fifteen (15) days of receiving such winnings and shall be liable for reimbursement for any SNAP funds spent after that period. 7 U.S.C. § 2015 shall be amended accordingly.
   4. SNAP eligibility may not be determined on the basis of participating in a State or Regional low-income heating and energy assistance program. 7 USC § 2014(e)(6)(C) shall be amended accordingly.
   5. Adult college students shall not be eligible to receive SNAP benefits unless the student is employed, is participating in career and technical training programs, or in a work study program. 7 USC § 2015(e)(3)(B) shall be amended accordingly.
b. Savings and Fraud Prevention   
   1. Any unspent SNAP benefits remaining when the proceeding month’s benefits are deposited on any EBT account shall be expunged. 7 USC § 2020 shall be amended accordingly.
   2. No person receiving SNAP benefits shall receive deposit fees for returned cans or bottles greater than $20 per household per month. 7 USC § 2012(k)(1) shall be amended accordingly.
   3. The regulation requiring food vendors to carry a minimum number of staple foods to participate in the program is hereby eliminated.
   4. Chewing gum shall not be an eligible item to purchase with SNAP benefits.
  5. At the beginning of fiscal year 2019 authorization for the following programs administered by SNAP shall expire and all related funding shall be redirected to assist in paying for the eligibility expansion contained herein:
     A. Media and enrollment campaign activities. 7 USC § 2025(a)(4) shall be amended accordingly.
     B. SNAP Performance Bonus Program. 7 USC § 2025(d) shall be amended accordingly.
     C. SNAP Employment and Training program. 7 USC § 2025(h)(1)(A) shall be amended accordingly.
     D. SNAP nutrition education program. 7 USC § 2036a  shall be amended accordingly.
     E. SNAP Outreach Coalition.
     F. SNAP Outreach Grant Program.
     G. U.S.-Mexico partnership for nutrition assistance initiative. The MOU entered into (7/22/04) is hereby rescinded.
   6. At the beginning of fiscal year 2019 authorization for the following redundant programs shall expire and all related funding shall be redirected to assist in paying for the eligibility expansion contained herein:
     A. Afterschool Snack Program.
     B. Child and Adult Care Food Program.
     C. Commodity Supplemental Food Program. 7 USC § 612c shall be amended accordingly.
     D. Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program.
     E. Emergency Food Assistance Program 7 USC § 2036(a) shall be amended accordingly.
     F. Indian Reservations Food Distribution Program.
     G. Fresh Food and Vegetable Program. 42 USC § 1769a shall be amended accordingly.
     H. Nutrition Information and Awareness Program. 7 USC § 3171 shall be amended accordingly.
     I. Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. 7 USC § 3007 shall be amended accordingly.
     J. Special Milk Program.
     K. Summer Food Service Program.
     L. WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
     M. Nutrition Cash Payments in Puerto Rico. 7 USC § 2028(a)(2)(B) shall be amended accordingly.

SECTION IV: MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES
a. The cap on SSI overpayment recoveries is hereby eliminated.
b. On January 1, 2020, authorization to carry out the HOPE VI currently administered by HUD shall expire.
c. On January 1, 2020, authorization to carry out the Housing Counselors Program and Mobility Counselors Program currently administered by HUD shall expire.
d. Beginning in fiscal year 2019, no CDBG funds awarded shall be expended on community centers, signs, banners, landscaping, parking lots, or decorative streetscape.
e. No person shall be eligible to collect both federal Unemployment Insurance payments and Social Security Disability Insurance payments simultaneously.
f. No person whose annual income exceeds $1 Million shall be eligible to collect Unemployment Insurance payments during that year.
g. Long-term Emergency federal Unemployment Insurance payments shall be capped at seventy-five (75) consecutive weeks.
h. On January 1, 2020, authorization to carry out the Title X Family Planning Program currently administered by HHS shall expire.
i. Federal funding for fiscal year 2020 for the following federal scholarships shall be redirected into the Pell Grant Program:
   1. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship
   2. The Fulbright Scholarship
   3. The James Madison Fellowship
   4. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship
   5. The Udall Scholarship
   6. HUD Doctoral Scholarship

SECTION V: TIMING
a. Unless otherwise specified herein, the provisions of this act shall take effect six (6) months from the date of passage.

[Coastal Elitist]

KNOW WHEN TO FOLD’UM ACT

SECTION I: NAME
a. This act shall be known as the Know When To Fold’um Act

SECTION II: END OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN GAMBLING
a. The regulation prohibiting wagering on sports is hereby eliminated. 28 USC 3701 - 3704 (PAPSA) is hereby repealed.
b. The regulation prohibiting the transfer of funds in connection to online gambling is hereby eliminated. 31 USC 5361 - 5367 (UIGEA)is hereby repealed.
c. The regulation prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, or sale of gambling devices in interstate commerce is hereby eliminated. 15 usc 1171-1178 (Johnson Act) and 18 USC 1953 (Waging Paraphernalia Act) are hereby repealed.
d. The regulation prohibiting the use of wired communication facility to transmit sports wagering information in interstate commerce to assist in gambling (Wire Act) is hereby eliminated. 50 USC 1081 - 1084 is hereby repealed.
e. The regulation prohibiting the conduct of wagering activity in interstate commerce is hereby eliminated. 18 U.S.C. 1955 (IGBA) is hereby repealed.
f. The regulation prohibiting the traveling in interstate commerce to transmit sports wagering information is hereby eliminated. 18 USC 1952 (Travel Act) is hereby repealed.
g. Gambling operations operating legally under Regional law shall not be considered unlawful businesses under 18 USC 1960 (Money Transmitters Act) and 18 USC 1961 - 1968 (RICO).
h. Sec. III(c) of the Postal Reform Act shall be amended to clarify that 18 USC 1303 and 39 USC 3005 shall also be amended to reflect the change in law.
i. On January 1, 2021 all federal regulations about gambling on Indian reservations shall be eliminated. 25 USC 2701 - 2721 shall be repealed.

SECTION III: TIMING
a. This act shall take effect thirty (30) days after adoption.

[Coastal Elitist]

LACEY JONES NEEDS HELP ACT

SECTION I: NAME
a. This act shall be known as the Lacey Jones Needs Help Act

SECTION II: LACEY ACY REFORMS
a. The regulations required under the Lacey Act shall not apply to hardwood trees or products thereof. 16 USC 3371 - 3378 shall be amended accordingly.
b. The regulations required under the Lacey Act for applying foreign law shall only consider environmental and conservation laws. 16 USC 3371 – 3378.

SECTION III: JONES ACY REFORM
a. The regulations on foreign vessels or domestic vessels without a requisite percentage of Atlasian crew members on engaging in cabotage in Atlasia is hereby repealed. 46 U.S.C. § 55102 - 55113, 46 U.S.C. § 55116 - 55122, 46 U.S.C. § 8103, and 46 U.S.C. § 12103 (Jones Act) is hereby repealed.

SECTION IV: TIMING
a. This act shall go into effect ninety (90) days after the date of passage.

[JGibson]

INSULIN PRICE CAP ACT

To set a maximum price on the cost of insulin.

SECTION I.: NAME

a.  This Act may be cited as the Insulin Price Cap Act.

SECTION II: PURPOSE

a. This bill is in response to Colorado proposing such a bill in real life.
b. This bill proposes curbing the cost of insulin to patients (esp. those with diabetes) who need the drug for medical necessity reasons.
c. This bill combats the pharmaceutical price gouging issue with this drug.
d. The price of insulin out-of-pocket shall be capped at $45, though regions can set the cap lower if they wish.
e. All health insurance plans-- whether individual, employer, AtlasCare, Medicaid, or Medicare-- shall cover the insulin cap costs in their plans.

SECTION III: TIMING

a. This act shall take effect fourteen (14) days after adoption.

[fhtagn]

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

House Bill
to implement common sense policies regarding firearms

SECTION I: NAME

a. This act shall be known as the Human Rights Act

SECTION II: INELIGIBLE PERSONS


a. 18 USC 922(d) shall be amended as follows:

(d-i)It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person—

(1) is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court of, a violent crime as defined hereinpunishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;

(2) is a fugitive from justice;

(3) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act);

(3)(4) has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution;

(4)(5) who, being an alien—

(A) is illegally or unlawfully in the United States; or

(B) has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(26) of the Immigration and Nationality Act);

(5)(6) who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions equivalent to a violent crime as defined herein;

(7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship;

(6)( 8 ) is subject to a court order that restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child, except that this paragraph shall only apply to a court order that—

(A) was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had the opportunity to participate; and

(B)

(i) includes a finding that such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of such intimate partner or child; or

(ii) by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury; or

(9) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

(7) is listed in the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB).

(d-ii) Violent Crime as used within this act shall be defined to include any of the following:
1. murder

2. voluntary manslaughter

3. aggravated assault

 4. rape or sexual assault

 5. sexual abuse or aggravated sexual abuse

 6. abusive sexual contact

 7. child abuse

 8. kidnapping

 9. human trafficking

 10. robbery

 11. carjacking or hijacking any other vehicle, vessel, or aircraft

 12. burglary

 13. arson

 14. extortion

 15. Threatening a juror, potential juror, witness, or potential witness related to a criminal case

 16. domestic violence

 17. piracy

 18. illegal brandishing of a firearm

 19. coercion

 20. interference with flight crew members and attendants

 21. stalking

 22. hostage taking

 23. communicating threats to kill the President, Vice President, Game Moderator, or any Cabinet member, member of Congress, or judge

 24.terrorism

 25. conspiracy to commit any of the above offenses

b. 18 USC 922(g) shall be amended by replacing the existing list of ineligible persons and replacing it with the same list proposed in this act.

SECTION III: PUBLIC HOUSING

a. No public or private government, body, board, entity, or person receiving federal housing or urban development funding shall prohibit in housing connected to federal funds, tenants (or their guests) who may lawfully own firearms from possessing such lawfully owned firearms while in their own dwelling unit or in common areas. Nothing in this act shall limit the right of tenants to exclude other persons from carrying firearms into their dwelling unit under trespass laws.

SECTION IV: TIMING

a. This act shall go into effect sixty (60) days after the date of passage.

[Dr. MB]

PARTY NAMING INDEPENDENCE ACT

HOUSE BILL

to expand on established laws for the organization and operation of parties

Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the “Party Naming Independence Act”.

SECTION 2.

F.L. 15-05, the Party Organization Act, is amended to read as follows:

1. a) If the membership of an organized political party, by vote of a quorum, which shall be a majority of all members of that party, decides that it wishes to change the name of that party, then the Registrar General shall, upon notification of the results by an officer of the party in question, change the official party membership of all members registered within that party to the new name approved by the party membership.
b) An organized political party may nullify this provision by placing an alternate system to change its name in it bylaws. Should the name be changed by said alternate system, the Registrar General shall, upon notification by an officer of the party in question, change the official party membership of all members registered within that party to the new name

2. No formal organized political party may use the registration "Independent", nor may any party change its name to one occupied by an existing party.

3. A party may, at its discretion as determined by individual bylaws, prohibit any candidate from appearing on the ballot with its official party name. This decision must be made and reported to the relevant election administrators at least 48 hours in advance of the start of the election.

4. Two or more parties may, with the approval of each of their chairs, reach a merger agreement between them which clearly indicates the name, leadership, and (provisional or permanent) bylaws of the resultant party. If the membership of each of the parties within the agreement, by vote of a quorum, which shall be a majority of all members of that party, decides to approve the agreement within 30 days of each other, then the Registrar General shall, upon notification of the results by an officer of the party in question, change the official party membership of all remaining members registered within that party to the name of the resultant party specified within the agreement.
        a) The name of the resultant party must adhere to Section 2.3, except that the resultant party may use the name of a party within the agreement.
        b) A party may revoke its assent to the agreement, provided at least one of the parties within the agreement has not yet given it, by a declaration of the chair, a second vote by the quorum, which shall be a majority of all members of the party, or by any other method specified by the party bylaws.

5. A party may, with the approval of its chair and subsequently by its membership by vote of a quorum, dissolve itself and merge into another party, provided the party it merges into has at least double its membership per the most recent Census and the chair of the larger party approves. Should the preceding take place, the Registrar General shall, upon notification of the results by an officer of the party in question, change the official party membership of all remaining members registered within the smaller party to the name of the larger party it joined.

5.6. No provision of this Act shall be construed to preclude any individual from choosing to revert to their previous registration if it is altered by one or more provisions of this Act.

[Dr. MB]

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the Regions concerned.