House Legislation Introduction Thread

[YE]

“Razze and I got caught up in the moment with finding a way to go after fhtagn and the opportunity to stop both of her bills”

This is the quote or at least part of it that seems to be causing the problems.

The main takeaway was that Jimmy and Razze wanted an outcome that differed from what fhtagn wanted. Whether that is a good idea can be debated in the respective threads in which the bills reside but what is lacking is the specific evidence. What motions did Jimmy do that only a speaker could do that would have caused it? No one objected to a final vote on a gun bill so a vote was opened. Two people motioned to table the carbon tax bill (and I should add that motion was started by a Federalist Rep) so Jimmy opened a vote. While I am certainly not satisfied with how both Jimmy and Razze may have voted, I fail to see how that’s worthy of removal of the Speakership in Jimmy’s case.

[YE]

A BILL

To impose a moratorium on large agribusiness, food and beverage manufacturing, and grocery retail mergers, and to establish a commission to review large agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing, and grocery retail mergers, concentration, and market power.

Section 1: Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Food and Agricultural Merger Act of 2019”. It may also be cited as the "FAM Act".

Section 2: Findings.

Congress finds that the concentration in the food and agricultural economy, including mergers, acquisitions, and other combinations and alliances among suppliers, packers, integrators, other food processors, distributors, and retailers has been accelerating at a rapid pace since the 1980s, and particularly since the 2007 through 2009 recession.

Section 3. Definitions.

In this Act:

(1) AGRICULTURAL INPUT SUPPLIER.—The term “agricultural input supplier” means any person (excluding agricultural cooperatives) engaged in the business of selling, in interstate or foreign commerce, any product to be used as an input (including seed, germ plasm, hormones, antibiotics, fertilizer, and chemicals, but excluding farm machinery) for the production of any agricultural commodity, except that no person shall be considered an agricultural input supplier if sales of such products are for a value less than $10,000,000 per year.

(2) BROKER.—The term “broker” means any person engaged in the business of negotiating sales and purchases of any agricultural commodity in interstate or foreign commerce for or on behalf of the vendor or the purchaser, except that no person shall be considered a broker if the only sales of such commodities are for a value less than $10,000,000 per year.

(3) COMMISSION MERCHANT.—The term “commission merchant” means any person engaged in the business of receiving in interstate or foreign commerce any agricultural commodity for sale, on commission, or for or on behalf of another, except that no person shall be considered a commission merchant if the only sales of such commodities are for a value less than $10,000,000 per year.

(4) DEALER.—The term “dealer” means any person (excluding agricultural cooperatives) engaged in the business of buying, selling, or marketing agricultural commodities in interstate or foreign commerce, except that no person shall be considered a dealer with respect to sales or marketing of any agricultural commodity of that person’s own raising; and no person shall be considered a dealer if the only sales of such commodities are for a value less than $10,000,000 per year.

(5) INTEGRATOR.—The term “integrator” means an entity that contracts with farmers for grower services to raise chickens or hogs to slaughter size and weight. The integrator owns the chickens or hogs, supplies the feed, slaughters, and further processes the poultry or pork.

(6) PROCESSOR.—The term “processor” means any person (excluding agricultural cooperatives) engaged in the business of handling, preparing, or manufacturing (including slaughtering and food and beverage manufacturing) of an agricultural commodity, or the products of such agricultural commodity, for sale or marketing for human consumption, except that no person shall be considered a processor if the only sales of such products are for a value less than $10,000,000 per year.

(7) RETAILER.—The term “retailer” means any person (excluding agricultural cooperatives) licensed as a retailer under the Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act of 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a(b)), except that no person shall be considered a retailer if the only sales of such products are for a value less than $10,000 per year.

Section 4: Moratorium on large agribusiness, food and beverage manufacturing, and grocery retail mergers.

(a) In general.—

(1) Until the date referred to in paragraph (2) and except as provided in subsection (b)—

(A) no dealer, processor, commission merchant, agricultural input supplier, broker, or operator of a warehouse of agricultural commodities or retailer with annual net sales or total assets of more than $160,000,000 shall merge or acquire, directly or indirectly, any voting securities or assets of any other dealer, processor, commission merchant, agricultural input supplier, broker, or operator of a warehouse of agricultural commodities or retailer with annual net sales or total assets of more than $16,000,000; and

(B) no dealer, processor, commission merchant, agricultural input supplier, broker, or operator of a warehouse of agricultural commodities or retailer with annual net sales or total assets of more than $16,000,000 shall merge or acquire, directly or indirectly, any voting securities or assets of any other dealer, processor, commission merchant, agricultural input supplier, broker, or operator of a warehouse of agricultural commodities or retailer with annual net sales or total assets of more than $160,000,000 if the acquiring person would hold—

(i) 15 percent or more of the voting securities or assets of the acquired person; or

(ii) an aggregate total amount of the voting securities and assets of the acquired person in excess of $15,000,000.

(2) DATE.—The date referred to in this paragraph is the earlier of—

(A) the effective date of comprehensive legislation—

(i) addressing the problem of market concentration in the food and agricultural sector; and

(ii) containing a section stating that the legislation is comprehensive legislation as provided in section 101 of the Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 2018; or

(B) the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) Exemptions.—The classes of transactions described in section 7A(c) of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a(c)) are exempt from subsection (a).

(c) Avoidance.—Any transaction or other device entered into or employed for the purpose of avoiding the moratorium contained in subsection (a) shall be disregarded, and the application of the moratorium shall be determined by applying subsection (a) to the substance of the transaction.

Section 5: Establishment of Commission.

(a) Establishment.—There is established a commission to be known as the Food and Agriculture Concentration and Market Power Review Commission (hereafter in this title referred to as the “Commission”).

(b) Purposes.—The purpose of the Commission is to—

(1) study the nature and consequences of concentration in America’s food and agricultural economy; and

(2) make recommendations on how to change underlying antitrust laws and other Federal laws and regulations to keep a fair and competitive agriculture marketplace for family farmers, other small and medium sized agriculture producers, generally, and the communities of which they are a part.

(c) Membership of Commission.—

(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission (non-playable) shall be composed of 12 members as follows:

(A) Three persons, one of whom shall be a person currently engaged in farming or ranching, shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the Chairs of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and of the Committee on the Judiciary.

(B) Three persons, one of whom shall be a person currently engaged in farming or ranching, shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and of the Committee on the Judiciary.

(C) Three persons, one of whom shall be a person currently engaged in farming or ranching, shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the Chairs of the Committee on Agriculture and of the Committee on the Judiciary.

(D) Three persons, one of whom shall be a person currently engaged in farming or ranching, shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture and of the Committee on the Judiciary.

(2) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.—

(A) APPOINTMENTS.—Persons who are appointed under paragraph (1) shall be persons who—

(i) have experience in farming or ranching, expertise in agricultural economics and antitrust, or have other pertinent qualifications or experience relating to agriculture and food and agriculture industries; and

(ii) are not officers or employees of the United States.

(B) OTHER CONSIDERATION.—In appointing Commission members, every effort shall be made to ensure that the members—

(i) are representative of a broad cross sector of agriculture and antitrust perspectives within the United States; and

(ii) provide fresh insights to analyzing the causes and impacts of concentration in agriculture industries and sectors.

(d) Period of appointment; vacancies.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the appointment shall be for the life of the Commission.

(2) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(e) Initial meeting.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.

(f) Meetings.—The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.

(g) Chairperson and vice Chairperson.—The members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission.

(h) Quorum.—A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(i) Voting.—Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to 1 vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every other member of the Commission.

Section 6: Duties of the Commission.

(a) In general.—The Commission shall be responsible for examining the nature, the causes, and consequences of concentration in America’s agricultural economy in the broadest possible terms.

(b) Issues To be addressed.—The study shall include an examination of the following matters:

(1) The nature and extent of concentration in the food and agricultural sector, including food production, manufacturing, transportation, processing, distribution, marketing, retailing, and farm inputs such as machinery, fertilizer, and seeds.

(2) Current trends in concentration of the food and agricultural sector and what this sector is likely to look like in the near and longer term future.

(3) The effects of rising concentration on suppliers and farmers, including independent and contract farmers, with respect to—

(A) competition in markets for their products and services;

(B) income and benefit levels;

(C) income distribution;

(D) income volatility; and

(E) other material benefits.

(4) The impacts of this concentration upon rural communities, rural economic development, and the natural environment.

(5) The impacts of concentration in the seed industry on genetic diversity in farm fields and any related impacts on food security.

(6) The impacts of this concentration upon food shoppers, including the reasons that low farm prices have not resulted in corresponding drops in supermarket prices.

(7) Whether farming is approaching a scale that is larger than necessary from the standpoint of productivity.

( The effect of current laws and administrative practices in supporting and encouraging this concentration.

(9) Whether the existing antitrust laws provide adequate safeguards against, and remedies for, the impacts of concentration upon family farms, the communities they comprise, and the food shoppers of this Nation.

(10) Accurate and reliable data on the national and international markets shares of multinational agribusinesses, and the portion of their sales attributable to exports.

(11) Barriers that inhibit entry of new competitors into markets for the processing of agricultural commodities, such as the meat packing industry.

(12) The extent to which developments, such as packer ownership of livestock, formula pricing, marketing agreements, production contracting, forward contracting, and vertical integration tend to give processors, agribusinesses, integrators, and other buyers of agricultural commodities additional market power over farmers and suppliers in local markets.

(13) Such related matters as the Commission determines to be important.


Section 7: Powers of Commission.

(a) Hearings.—The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this title. The Commission shall hold at least one or more hearings in Washington, DC, and four in different agriculture regions of the United States.

(b) Information from Federal agencies.—The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.

(c) Postal services.—The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

Section 8: Commission personnel matters.

(a) Compensation of members.—Each member of the Commission shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.

(b) Travel expenses.—The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.

(c) Staff.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.

(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

(d) Detail of government employees.—Any Federal Government employee shall be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

(e) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.—The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

Section 9: Authorization of appropriations.

There are authorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 annually to the Commission as required by this title to carry out the provisions of this title.

[YE]

A BILL

To ensure high-income earners pay a fair share of Federal taxes.

Section 1: Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Buffet Rule Act of 2019”.

Section 2: Text

(a) In general.—Subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

“PART VIII—Fair Share Tax on High-Income Taxpayers

“Sec. 59B. Fair share tax.

“SEC. 59B. Fair share tax.

“(a) General rule.—

“(1) PHASE-IN OF TAX.—In the case of any high-income taxpayer, there is hereby imposed for a taxable year (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) a tax equal to the product of— the amount determined under paragraph (2), and a fraction (not to exceed 1)—of  the taxpayer's adjusted gross income, over the dollar amount in effect under subsection (c)(1).

“(2) AMOUNT OF TAX.—The amount of tax determined under this paragraph is an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax for the taxable year, over

“(A) the excess of—

“(i) the sum of—

“(I) the regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)) for the taxable year, determined without regard to any tax liability determined under this section,

“(II) the tax imposed by section 55 for the taxable year, plus

“(III) the payroll tax for the taxable year, over

“(ii) the credits allowable under part IV of subchapter A (other than sections 27(a), 31, and 34).

“(b) Tentative fair share tax.—For purposes of this section—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The tentative fair share tax for the taxable year is 30 percent of the excess of—

“(A) the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer, over

“(B) the modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year.

“(2) MODIFIED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION DEDUCTION.—For purposes of paragraph (1)—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The modified charitable contribution deduction for any taxable year is an amount equal to the amount which bears the same ratio to the deduction allowable under section 170 (section 642(c) in the case of a trust or estate) for such taxable year as—

“(i) the amount of itemized deductions allowable under the regular tax (as defined in section 55) for such taxable year, determined after the application of section 68, bears to

“(ii) such amount, determined before the application of section 68.

“(B) TAXPAYER MUST ITEMIZE.—In the case of any individual who does not elect to itemize deductions for the taxable year, the modified charitable contribution deduction shall be zero.

“(c) High-Income taxpayer.—For purposes of this section—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘high-income taxpayer’ means, with respect to any taxable year, any taxpayer (other than a corporation) with an adjusted gross income for such taxable year in excess of $1,000,000 (50 percent of such amount in the case of a married individual who files a separate return).

“(2) INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a taxable year beginning after 2020, the $1,000,000 amount under paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to— such dollar amount, multiplied by the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting ‘calendar year 2019’ for ‘calendar year 2016’ in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

“(B) ROUNDING.—If any amount as adjusted under subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $10,000, such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $10,000.

“(d) Payroll tax.—For purposes of this section, the payroll tax for any taxable year is an amount equal to the excess of the taxes imposed on the taxpayer under sections 1401, 1411, 3101, 3201, and 3211(a) (to the extent such tax is attributable to the rate of tax in effect under section 3101) with respect to such taxable year or wages or compensation received during such taxable year, over the deduction allowable under section 164(f) for such taxable year.

“(e) Special rule for estates and trusts.—For purposes of this section, in the case of an estate or trust, adjusted gross income shall be computed in the manner described in section 67(e).

“(f) Not treated as tax imposed by this chapter for certain purposes.—The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter (other than the credit allowed under section 27(a)) or for purposes of section 55.”.

(b) Clerical amendment.—The table of parts for subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

“PART VIII—FAIR SHARE TAX ON HIGH-INCOME TAXPAYERS”.

(c) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

[YE]

A BILL

To amend the Clayton Act to modify the standard for an unlawful acquisition.

Section 1: Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Consolidation Prevention Act of 2019”.

Section 2: Unlawful aquistions

Section 7 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18) is amended—

(1) in the first and second undesignated paragraphs, by striking “substantially” each place that term appears and inserting “materially”;

(2) by inserting “or a monopsony” after “monopoly” each place that term appears; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“ In a case brought by the United States, the Federal Trade Commission, or a State attorney general, a court shall determine that the effect of an acquisition described in this section may be materially to lessen competition or create a monopoly or a monopsony if—

“(1) the acquisition would lead to a significant increase in market concentration in any line of commerce or in any activity affecting commerce in any section of the country; or

“(2) (A) the acquisition is not a transaction that is described in section 7A(c); and

“(B) (i) as a result of such acquisition, the acquiring person would hold an aggregate total amount of the voting securities and assets of the acquired person in excess of $5,000,000,000 (as adjusted and published for each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2020, in the same manner as provided in section 8(a)(5) to reflect the percentage change in the gross national product for such fiscal year compared to the gross national product for the year ending September 30, 2019); or

“(ii) (I) the person acquiring or the person being acquired has assets, net annual sales, or a market capitalization greater than $100,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published); and

“(II) as a result of such acquisition, the acquiring person would hold an aggregate total amount of the voting securities and assets of the acquired person in excess of $50,000,000 (as so adjusted and published),
unless the acquiring and acquired person establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the effect of the acquisition will not be to tend to materially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly or a monopsony. In this paragraph, the term ‘materially lessen competition’ means more than a de minimis amount.”.

Section 3: Post-settlement data.

Section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(l) (1) Each person who enters into an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission or Atlasia to resolve a proceeding brought under the antitrust laws or under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) regarding an acquisition with respect to which notification is required under this section shall, on an annual basis during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the agreement is entered into, submit to the Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney General, as applicable, information sufficient for the Federal Trade Commission or Atlasia, as applicable, to assess the competitive impact of the acquisition, including—

“(A) the pricing, availability, and quality of any product or service, or inputs thereto, in any market, that was covered by the agreement;

“(B) the source, and the resulting magnitude and extent, of any cost-saving efficiencies or any consumer benefits that were claimed as a benefit of the acquisition and the extent to which any cost savings were passed on to consumers; and

“(C) the effectiveness of any divestitures or any conditions placed on the acquisition in preventing or mitigating harm to competition.

“(2) The requirement to provide the information described in paragraph (1) shall be included in an agreement described in that paragraph.

“(3) The Federal Trade Commission, with the concurrence of the Assistant Attorney General, by rule in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, and consistent with the purposes of this section—

“(A) shall require that the information described in paragraph (1) be in such form and contain such documentary material and information relevant to a proposed acquisition as is necessary and appropriate to enable the Federal Trade Commission and the Assistant Attorney General to assess the competitive impact of the acquisition under paragraph (1); and

“(B) may—

“(i) define the terms used in this subsection;

“(ii) exempt, from the requirements of this section, information not relevant in assessing the competitive impact of the acquisition under paragraph (1); and

“(iii) prescribe such other rules as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.”

Section 4: Implementation

This law goes into effect on October 1, 2019.

[YE]

Wasn't that bill in the queue already as it passed the Senate?

[YE]

Resolution condemning Fast-Food Burger and Pizza Restaurants

The Congress Hereby:

- Recognizes that fast-food Burgers and Pizza are typically made with grease, ingredients designed to add fat, and/or inordinately large amounts of toppings, and typically served with ridiculously unhealthy french fries.
- Recognizes that Restaurants, including but not limited to, McDonalds, Burger King, Five Guys, Wendy's, In-And-Out, Chuck-e-Cheese, Pizza Hut, and What-a-burger, that serve fast-food burgers and/or Pizza serve little purpose other than to make people Obese.
- Hereby Condemns all such fast-food burger or pizza restaurants for being the biggest cause of obesity in the region, and urges the populace to never eat at such places.

This was ruled frivolous earlier just to confirm.

[YE]

A BILL

To break up big banks.

Section 1: Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Exist”.

Section 2: Content

(a) Definitions.—In this section—

(1) the term “covered entity”—

(A) means a financial institution, as defined in section 803 of the Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5462); and

(B) does not include—

(i) a Farm Credit System institution chartered under and subject to the provisions of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.);

(ii) a governmental entity; or

(iii) a regulated entity, as defined in section 1303 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4502); and

(2) the term “gross domestic product” means gross domestic product as calculated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce.

(b) Total exposure.—

(1) TOTAL EXPOSURE.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—On February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year, no covered entity may have a total exposure, as reported by the covered entity on the Federal Reserve form required to monitor the systemic risk profile of financial institutions for the previous reporting period, equal to or greater than 3 percent of the most recent estimate for annual gross domestic product of the United States (in current dollars) for the previous calendar year.

(B) OTHER REPORTING.—If a covered entity is not required to complete a Federal Reserve form required to monitor the systemic risk profile of financial institutions, the Financial Stability Oversight Council shall design and assign a quarterly reporting form as appropriate for each covered entity with total assets greater than $50,000,000,000 that reflects the total risk exposures of the financial institution, including off-balance sheet exposures and derivatives exposure within 18 months of the date of enactment of this Act. Once designated a reporting form, on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 no covered entity may have a total exposure, as reported by the covered entity for the previous reporting period, equal to or greater than 3 percent of the most recent estimate for annual gross domestic product of the United States (in current dollars) for the previous calendar year.

(2) RESTRUCTURING.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—

(i) DESIGNATION.—Any covered entity that violates paragraph (1) shall immediately be designated as a “Too Big to Exist Institution” by the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

(ii) SUPERVISION.—The Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or during any period in which that position is vacant, the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, shall require and supervise a “Too Big to Exist Institution” to restructure to comply with paragraph (1) not later than 2 years after the date on which the first violation arises.

(B) SUBSEQUENT REQUIREMENTS.—After the date on which a covered entity is required to restructure under subparagraph (A), the Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or, during any period in which that position is vacant, the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, shall require and supervise any “Too Big to Exist Institution” to restructure to comply with paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the institution is again found to be in excess of the threshold specified in paragraph (1).

(c) Prohibition against use of federal reserve financing.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), any “Too Big to Exist Institution” may not use or otherwise have access to advances from any Federal Reserve credit facility, the Federal Reserve discount window, or any other program or facility made available under the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 221 et seq.), including any asset purchases, temporary or bridge loans, government investments in debt or equity, or capital injections from any Federal institution.

(d) Prohibition on use of insured deposits.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Any “Too Big to Exist Institution” that is an insured depository institution, or owns such an institution, may not use any insured deposit amounts to fund—

(A) any activity relating to hedging that is not directly related to commercial banking activity at the insured bank;

(B) any creation or use of derivatives for speculative purposes;

(C) any activity related to the dealing of derivatives;

(D) any creation of, or lending against, new or existing forms of structured or structured derivatives products, including col­lat­er­al­ized debt obligations, col­lat­er­al­ized loan obligations, and synthetic derivatives of col­lat­er­al­ized debt obligations and col­lat­er­al­ized loan obligations; or

(E) any other form of speculative activity that regulators specify.

(2) RISK OF LOSS.—A “Too Big to Exist Institution” may not conduct any activity listed in paragraph (1) in such a manner that—

(A) puts insured deposits at risk; or

(B) creates a risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund.

(e) Report; testimony.—The Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or during any period in which that position is vacant, the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Council shall annually testify before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and submit to those committees an annual report the restructuring and designation under subsection (b)(2).

(f) Effective date.—Subsections (c) and (d) shall apply to a covered entity 90 days after the date on which a covered entity is designated as a “Too Big to Exist Institution”.

[YE]

I ask Congress to consider this bill in solidarity with our Lord and Savior.

AN ACT
to crack down on frivolous copyright cases

Section 1 (Title)
i. The long title of this Act shall be, the "Dave Leip Copyright Defendant Protection Act." It may be cited as the "Leip Act."

Section 2 (Protecting creators from frivolous lawsuits)
i. In all cases where a copyright holder (hereafter "the plaintiff") shall bring suit against an individual or other party (hereafter "the defendant") alleging a violation or violations of their copyright under the laws of the Republic of Atlasia, the plaintiff must demonstrate either
(a) the alleged violation placed a significant burden on their ability to profit financially from the copyrighted work; or
(b) that any profit incurred by the defendant as a direct result of the alleged violation is in excess of $25,000.
ii. Should a copyright suit be decided in favor of the defendant, the plaintiff shall bear full financial responsibility for any legal costs incurred by the former in the course of their defense.

Section 3 (Resolution condemning copyright trolls)
i. RESOLVED, that it is the opinion of the Senate and House of Representatives that so-called "copyright trolls" are a species of imp distinguished by the total absence of grace or civilization even in comparison to their brother demons, and when they burn in Hell for eternity, it will be neither soon nor harsh enough.

For the record, a marginally modified version of this bill was already passed by the Senate

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=330349.25

However it seems the House never got around to introducing it? Either way, if it's faster this can be handled as Senate-passed legislation if the VP and House speaker want.

This should be on the House floor then - hold on.

[YE]

There are fewer ways more knee jerk than blindly c/p a M4A bill from RL.

Honestly with the outcome of the election in the South and the fact it's only 1 chamber regionally,... figure it out.

[YE]

Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2019

NATIONWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE POISON CONTROL CENTER UTILIZATION AND THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES

“(a) In General.—The Secretary of Internal Affairs shall—

“(1) carry out, and expand upon, a national public awareness campaign to educate the public and health care providers about—

“(A) poisoning, toxic exposure, and drug misuse prevention; and

“(B) the availability of poison control center resources in local communities; and

“(b) Consultation.—In carrying out and expanding upon the national campaign under subsection (a), the Secretary may consult with nationally recognized professional organizations in the field of poison control response for the purpose of determining the best and most effective methods for achieving public awareness.

“(c) Contract With Entity.—The Secretary may carry out subsection (a) by entering into contracts with one or more public or private entities, including nationally recognized professional organizations in the field of poison control and national media firms, for the development and implementation of the awareness campaign under subsection (a), which may include—

“(1) the development and distribution of poisoning and toxic exposure prevention, poison control center, and public health emergency awareness and response materials;

“(2) television, radio, internet, and newspaper public service announcements; and

“(3) other means and activities to provide for public and professional awareness and education.

“(d) Evaluation.—The Secretary shall—

“(1) establish baseline measures and benchmarks to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the nationwide public awareness campaign carried out under this section; and

“(2) on a biennial basis, prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an evaluation of the nationwide public awareness campaign.

“(e) Authorization Of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $800,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023.”.


MAINTENANCE OF THE POISON CONTROL CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.

“(a) Authorization Of Program.—The Secretary shall award grants to poison control centers accredited under subsection (c) (or granted a waiver under subsection (d)) and nationally recognized professional organizations in the field of poison control for the purposes of—

“(1) preventing, and providing treatment recommendations for, poisonings and toxic exposures including opioid and drug misuse;

“(2) assisting with public health emergencies, responses, and preparedness; and

“(3) complying with the operational requirements needed to sustain the accreditation of the center under subsection (c).

“(b) Additional Uses Of Funds.—In addition to the purposes described in subsection (a), a poison center or professional organization awarded a grant under such subsection may also use amounts received under such grant—

“(1) to research, establish, implement, and evaluate best practices in the United States for poisoning prevention, poison control center outreach, opioid and drug misuse information and response, and public health emergency, response, and preparedness programs;

“(2) to research, develop, implement, revise, and communicate standard patient management guidelines for commonly encountered toxic exposures;

“(3) to improve national toxic exposure and opioid misuse surveillance by enhancing cooperative activities between poison control centers in the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other governmental agencies;

“(4) to research, improve, and enhance the communications and response capability and capacity of the Nation’s network of poison control centers to facilitate increased access to the centers through the integration and modernization of the current poison control centers communications and data system, including enhancing the network’s telephony, internet, data, and social networking technologies;

“(5) to develop, support, and enhance technology and capabilities of nationally recognized professional organizations in the field of poison control to collect national poisoning, toxic occurrence, and related public health data;

“(6) to develop initiatives to foster the enhanced public health utilization of national poison data collected by such organizations;

“(7) to support and expand the toxicologic expertise within poison control centers; and

“( to improve the capacity of poison control centers to answer high volumes of contacts and internet communications, and to sustain and enhance the poison control center’s network capability to respond during times of national crisis or other public health emergencies.

“(d) Supplement Not Supplant.—Amounts made available to a poison control center under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, Regional, State, or local funds provided for such center.

“(e) Maintenance Of Effort.—A poison control center, in utilizing the proceeds of a grant under this section, shall maintain the annual recurring expenditures of the center for its activities at a level that is not less than 80 percent of the average level of such recurring expenditures maintained by the center for the preceding 3 fiscal years for which a grant is received.

“(f) Authorization Of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $28,600,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023.”.

Simplified and Cleaned up version of HR 5329 of the 115th Congress, which passed the House by Voice Vote. Similar language became U.S. law as part of HR 6 of the 115th Congress.

Cosponsoring this.

[YE]

AN AMENDMENT
to the Constitution of the Republic of Atlasia

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

Section 1 (Title)
i. The title of this Amendment shall be, the “Right to Life Amendment.” It may be cited by its ordinal number in order of ratification.

Section 2 (Right to Live Amendment)
i. The following shall be appended to Article I of the Constitution of the Republic of Atlasia as the next section thereof:

The right of citizens of the Republic of Atlasia to health care, including but not limited to care necessary to prevent and treat illness, shall not be denied.

This amendment to the Bill of Rights would establish the right of all Atlasians to health care, including care necessary to prevent and treat illness.

Cosponsoring this.

[YE]

AN ACT
To honor an Atlas Forum hero

Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia assembled

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Olawakandi Day Act.

Section 2. Establishment of Federal Holiday

1. In honor of the 15th anniversary of his initial registration on the Atlas Forum, Wednesday, the thirtieth of June, two thousand and twenty-one, is hereby designated "Olawakandi Day", to be celebrated across Atlasia as well as the Talk Elections Blog at large.
2. Olawakandi Day is established as a full federal holiday for the Republic of Atlasia, and will continued to be celebrated as such annually on the thirtieth of June.
3. Five days of festivities are to be held in Nyman beginning on Olawakandi Day and ending on the Fourth of July.