House Legislation Introduction Thread

[Mike Thick]

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[Mike Thick]

The dfwlibertylover minimum wage Act of 2017

1. The minimum wage shall officially be adjusted to match the following levels by January 1, 2020 nationally

A. Urban minimum wage values shall be set at $14.00 a hour

B. Suburban minimum wage values shall be set at $12.00 a hour

C. Exurban/Rural minumum wage values shall be set at $10.00 a hour

2. Regions may adjust these minimum wage values, but may not adjust any of these values below $10.00 a hour state by state

3. Minimum Wage area thresholds shall be determined by the following:

A. An Urban area shall be defined as a city with at least 100,000 people in it or as a county with at least 250,000 people in it.

B. A Suburban area shall be defined as a city with between 25,000 and 100,000 people in it or as a county with between 100,000 and 250,000 people in it.

C. An Exurban/Rural area shall be defined as a city with less than 25,000 people in it or as a county with below 100,000 people in it.

D. In areas where the county has less than 100,000 people in it, only cities with more than 25,000 people in it shall have the suburban minimum wage applied, all areas outside of this city shall have a minimum wage of a rural area.

I would like to sponsor this legislation.

[Mike Thick]

This bill is pretty straightforward: it's intended to provide procedural and statutory guidelines for subpoenas of testimony and possibly physical evidence in criminal trials. There are amendments to be made here, naturally (especially concerning process restrictions, elaboration on good-faith disclosure processes, etc), but hey, that's what you guys are for!

House Resolution

To establish procedures for the ethical disclosure of evidence in criminal trials

Be it resolved by the People's House Assembled;

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2. Renumbers all appropriate Sections of SB-2017 to account for this change.[/quote]

[Mike Thick]

AN ACT
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the eligibility of broadband internet access services for Federal universal service support, and for other purposes.

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

Section I. Title

The long title of this Act shall be the "Considering How Online Networks are Key, Yield Funding to Internet Redevelopment and Expansion Act." It may be abbreviated to and cited as the "CHONKYFIRE Act."

Section II. Universal Service Support for Broadband Internet Access Services

(a) Clarification Of Eligibility For Support.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 254(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES.—In addition to the services included in the definition of universal service under paragraph (1), the Commission shall designate broadband internet access services as services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms. In designating services under this paragraph, the Commission shall ensure that the services designated are sufficient for the purposes for which consumers use broadband internet access services, as such purposes evolve over time.

(2) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS.—Section 214(e)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting “all of” after “offer”.
(b) Contributions To Universal Service.—
(1) PROVIDERS OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting “and all providers of broadband internet access services” after “telecommunications services”; and
(B) in subsection (d)—
(i) in the heading, by striking “Telecommunications Carrier”;
(ii) in the first sentence, by inserting “and every provider of broadband internet access services” after “telecommunications services”; and
(iii) in the second sentence—
(I) by inserting “, or provider or class of providers,” after “carriers”; and
(II) by inserting “or provider’s” after “carrier’s” each place it appears.
(2) ADDITIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is amended—
(A) by striking “Every telecommunications carrier” and inserting the following:

(1) IN GENERAL.—Every telecommunications carrier”

(B) It is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(2) EXCLUSION FROM CONTRIBUTION BASE OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO LIFELINE CONSUMERS.—In determining the amount that a telecommunications carrier or provider of a broadband internet access service is required to contribute under this subsection, the Commission shall exclude from the determination any services provided by such carrier or provider to consumers who receive services through the Lifeline program of the Commission.
(3) CONSIDERATION OF ANTICIPATED FUNDING NEEDS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—In determining the amount of contributions required under this subsection, the Commission shall consider forecasts of anticipated demand for services that are supported by each of the Federal universal service support mechanisms over periods that are sufficiently long to allow for adequate planning, thereby ensuring sufficient and predictable funding for each such mechanism.
(B) PROHIBITION ON CONTRIBUTION LIMIT.—The Commission may not establish any limit on the total amount of contributions required under this subsection with respect to all Federal universal service support mechanisms, except for establishing the amount that providers are required to contribute with respect to a particular time period based on the projected demand for services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms over such time period.

(c) Access In Tribal Areas.—Section 254(b)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(b)(3)) is amended—
(1) in the heading, by striking “ACCESS IN RURAL AND HIGH COST AREAS” and inserting “ACCESS IN ALL REGIONS”; and
(2) by inserting “Tribal,” after “insular,”.
(d) Prohibition On Expenditure Limit.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(m) Prohibition On Expenditure Limit.—The Commission may not establish any limit on the total amount of funds that may be expended through all Federal universal service support mechanisms. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to prohibit the Commission from ensuring that funds expended through the Federal universal service support mechanisms are expended for services eligible for support through such mechanisms.

(e) Consultation Among FCC, NTIA, And USDA.—The Federal Communications Commission, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and the Department of Agriculture shall, in administering Federal financial assistance for the deployment of broadband services, consult with one another regarding the distribution of such assistance for the deployment of broadband services in rural areas.
(f) Reporting Requirements.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsection (d), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(n) Reporting Requirements.—Not later than 180 days after the end of each calendar year, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report that contains the following:
(1) A statement of the total amount expended in such year to support broadband internet access services through the Federal universal service support mechanisms for high-cost areas.
(2) A statement of the amount, of the total amount stated under paragraph (1), expended in each of the following:
(A) Rural areas.
(B) Insular areas.
(C) Tribal areas.
(D) Areas that, as of the beginning of such year, were unserved areas, as determined by the Commission.
(3) A description of progress during such year in advancing the universal service principles described in subsection (b) and the requirements for meeting future growth in the demand for the services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms, including challenges that may prevent the advancement of such principles.”

(g) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsections (d) and (f), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(o) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.—In this section, the term ‘broadband internet access service’—
(1) means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but excluding dial-up internet access service; and
(2) includes any service that the Commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the service described in paragraph (1).

[Mike Thick]

AN ACT
To amend the Atlasian Criminal Code and reestablish an alternative sentencing schedule for hate crimes.

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

Section I. Title

i. The long title of this bill shall be the "Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., and Latisha King Hate Crimes Prevention Act." It may be cited as the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act."

Section II. Reinstatement of Federal Hate Crime Sentencing Schedule
i. Section IV, Clause 4 of the Reforming Criminal Law Act is hereby repealed, and the former 18 U.S. Code § 249, imposing an alternative sentencing schedule for “hate crimes," hereby reinstated.

[Mike Thick]

^ I oppose this one big-time, but I can sponsor so it gets to the floor

[Mike Thick]

AN ACT
To ensure the solvency of state, local, and regional governments in the upcoming fiscal year.

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

Section I. Title & Definitions

i. The long title of this Act shall be the "Buttress Insolvent Governments Bailout Act." This may be abbreviated to, and cited as, the "BIG Bailout Act."

Section II. Funding for Regional, State, and Local Governments
i. RESERVED

[Mike Thick]

Looking for a sponsor.

A RESOLUTION
To reduce gridlock and streamline Congressional rule changes

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives and Senate assembled:

Section 1. Title

1. This legislation may be cited as the J.K. Sestak Congressional Reform Resolution.

Section 2. Recognizing the Need for Reform

WHEREAS, legislative debate under the bicameral system has slowed to a crawl;

WHEREAS, many bills go without comment by all but a handful of members in each House;

WHEREAS, the glacial pace of passing and debating legislation, as well as the difficulty of monitoring legislation that moves between two chambers, unnecessarily complicates the work of the Congress;

WHEREAS, the voices of both regional and federal interests in the policymaking process must be heard in the course of Congressional debate;

WHEREAS, procedural reforms should incorporate the unique interests both chambers have in the lawmaking process,

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that Congress must move towards a model of debate in which both the Senate and the House of Representatives debate legislation in permanent joint session;

FURTHER RESOLVED, that such a model of debate must originate from a package of rules jointly debated and approved by both chambers;

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the best way to reach broad consensus on a new rules package is through a special joint session of Congress.

Section 3. Working Towards Real Procedural Change

1. The President of the Congress shall preside over a special joint session of Congress for the purpose of modifying the rules and procedures of both legislative houses, and unifying their procedural governance under a single set of revised rules.
a. The revised rules shall take effect upon their approval in the special joint session by both houses of Congress.

2. The special joint session shall deliberate for thirty (30) days, or until Congress approves the new set of rules.
a. Congress may further extend the special joint session for as long as it sees fit to do so.

2. The special joint session shall commence immediately upon passage of this resolution by both Houses.

[Mike Thick]

Looking for a sponsor

A BILL
To secure the stability of a Latin American ally
Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress assembled

1. $5 billion in aid shall be appropriated to the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
a) Nothing in this legislation may be interpreted to appropriate repeat payments to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
2. Congress encourages the President to impose any and all necessary sanctions on the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, should it be clearly proven that the aid is used for improper purposes.
3. This legislation shall take effect immediately upon passage into law.

[Mike Thick]

I would like to introduce the following legislation in the Presidential slot.

A BILL
To rectify the unintentional re-establishment of the tipped minimum wage.
Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress assembled

II. TITLE

1. The title of this act shall be the "Fixing Tipped Minimum Wage Laws Act."

I. PROVISIONS

1. The Tipped Employee Protection Act of 2018 is hereby repealed.

III. ENACTMENT

2. This legislation shall go into effect immediately upon the President's signature.

[Mike Thick]

I would like to introduce the following legislation in the emergency slot.

A BILL
To provide government relief of COVID-19-related medical debt.
Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress assembled

II. TITLE

1. The title of this act shall be the Completely Obliterate Virus Insolvency and Debt, Ending Bad Times Act.
a. This legislation may also be cited as the "COVIDEBT Act."

I. PAYMENT FREEZE

1. No healthcare provider or private debtholder may demand servicing of debts from uninsured patients for COVID-19 treatment until August 1st, 2021.

II. PAYING OFF DEBT

1. $X,XXX,XXX,XXX shall be appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a "COVIDEBT Fund" from which payments to healthcare providers shall originate.
a. Healthcare providers may apply for payments by providing a comprehensive statement of invoices and billing statements related to undischarged debts from uninsured patients for COVID-19 treatment.
b. Healthcare providers must submit this statement by July 1st, 2021; to be eligible to receive funding.
c. The Department of Health and Human Services shall allocate funding to applicants equal to the gross amount of undischarged payment or debt stated therein.
d. All other holders of medical debt may apply for funding as well, subject to the same requirements.
i. In cases in which non-healthcare-provider debtholders have not been informed that payment is owed for COVID-19 treatments, the original healthcare provider shall inform the debtholder of this aspect of the nature of the debt by April 1st, 2021.

2. $15,000,000 shall be appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for the implementation of this act.

III. ENACTMENT

1. This legislation shall go into effect immediately upon the President's signature, except where otherwise specified herein.