The White House: The Joseph Cao Administration

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

DOMESTIC RARE EARTH METALS ACT

TITLE I: DEFINITIONS

1. In this Act:

A. Concentrated rare earth element means a rare earth element that has been extracted or separated from raw materials and concentrated.

B. Covered entity means a private entity, a consortium of private entities, or a consortium of public and private entities with a demonstrated ability to substantially finance, construct, expand, or technologically upgrade a covered facility.

C. Covered facility means a facility located in a State that carries out the metallurgy of rare earth elements for the production of finished rare earth products.

D. Covered incentive means an incentive offered by a Federal, Regional, State, local, or Tribal governmental entity to a covered entity for the purposes of constructing within the jurisdiction of the governmental entity a covered facility; or expanding or technologically upgrading an existing facility within that jurisdiction to be a covered facility; and a workforce-related incentive, including a grant agreement relating to workforce training or vocational education, any concession with respect to real property, funding for research and development with respect to rare earth elements and finished rare earth products, and any other incentive determined appropriate by the Secretary of State.

E. Finished rare earth product means a product composed of metal powders, such as rare earth oxides and rare earth salts, including chlorides and nitrates;  metals containing rare earth elements; alloys; or magnets; and any other value-added product that is composed fully or partially of rare earth elements.

F. Foreign entity means a government of a foreign country and a foreign political party; a natural person who is not a lawful permanent resident of Atlasia; a citizen or national of Atlasia; or any other protected individual (as defined in section 274B(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))); and a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country. The term foreign entity includes: any person owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign entity; any person, wherever located, who acts as an agent, representative, or employee of a foreign entity; any person who acts in any other capacity at the order, request, or under the influence, direction, or control, of a foreign entity; or a person the activities of which are directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole or in majority part by a foreign entity; any person who directly or indirectly through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, owns 25 percent (25%) or more of the equity interests of a foreign entity; any person with significant responsibility to control, manage, or direct a foreign entity; any person, wherever located, who is a citizen or resident of a country controlled by a foreign entity; and any corporation, partnership, association, or other organization organized under the laws of a country controlled by a foreign entity.

G. Foreign entity of concern means any foreign entity that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); included on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Interior; owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction, direction, or otherwise under the undue influence of a government of a covered nation (as defined in section 2533c(d) of title 10, U.S.C.); alleged by the Attorney General to have been involved in activities for which a conviction was obtained under 18 U.S.C. 37 (commonly known as the ``Espionage Act''); 18 U.S.C. 951 or 1030; (iii) 18 U.S.C. 90 (commonly known as the ``Economic Espionage Act of 1996''); the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.); sections 224, 225, 226, 227, or 236 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2274- 2278; 2284); or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or  determined by the Secretary if State, to be engaged in unauthorized conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of Atlasia under this Act.  

H. Metallurgy means the process of producing finished rare earth products from concentrated rare earth elements.

I. Processed or refined means any process by which raw rare earth metals are changed, mixed, or otherwise manipulated to render the metal usable for manufacturing everyday items, including computer chips or circuit boards.

J. Rare earth element means a natural element associated with the metallic element scandium, with atomic number 21; the metallic element yttrium, with atomic number 39; or any of the series of 15 metallic elements between lanthanum, with atomic number 57, and lutetium, with atomic number 71, on the periodic table.

K. Rare earth metals means beryllium, cerium, cobalt, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, graphite, holmium, lanthanum, lithium, lutetium, manganese, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, tantalum, terbium, thulium, tungsten, ytterbium, and yttrium.

TITLE II: STRATEGIC RESERVE

1. It is the policy of Atlasia to provide for the establishment of a strategic rare earth metals and rare earth metal products reserve.

2. Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Internal Affairs and the Secretary of State shall determine the strategic requirements of Atlasia regarding stockpiles of rare earth metals and processed and refined rare earth metal products; and the requirements for such metals and products to support Atlasia for one (1) year in the event of a supply disruption. In determining this need, they shall take into consideration the needs of the Armed Forces, the defense industrial and technology sectors, and any places, organizations, physical infrastructure, or digital infrastructure designated as critical to the national security of Atlasia.

2. Not later than two (2) years after the determination is made, the government shall take such actions as are necessary to procure all types of rare earth metals and processed and refined rare earth metal products in appropriate quantities to support the strategic requirements described in the determination.

3. $10 billion is hereby appropriated for such purposes. Any unneeded funds shall be deposited back into the treasury after two (2) years.

TITLE III: COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING

1. The Secretary of State shall require that any contractor that provides to the Department of State a system with a rare earth metal permanent magnet disclose, along with delivery of the system, the provenance of the magnet.

2. A disclosure under this title shall include an identification of the country or countries in which the rare earth metals used in the magnet were mined; the rare earth metals were refined into oxides; the rare earth metals were made into metals and alloys; and the magnet was sintered or bonded and magnetized.

3. If a contractor cannot make the disclosure required by this title with respect to a magnet, the Secretary shall require the contractor to establish and implement a supply chain tracking system in order to make the disclosure not later than 180 days after providing the magnet to the Department of State.

TITLE IV: NO CHINESE METALS IN MILITARY SYSTEMS

1. The Secretary of State shall require that, for any contract entered into or renewed on or after December 31, 2025, for the procurement of a system the export of which is restricted or controlled under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), no rare earth metals processed or refined in the People's Republic of China may be included in the system.

2. The Secretary may waive the restriction under this title upon a determination that rare earth metals of sufficient quantity and quality are not available at reasonable prices from sources outside of the People's Republic of China; and such a waiver is in the interests of national security.

TITLE V: UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

1. Not later than ninety (90) days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, shall initiate an investigation under title III of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411 et seq.) to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of the Government of the People's Republic of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, or innovation with respect to rare earth metal mining, separation, metallization, alloying, or magnet manufacturing, or related processes, are acts, policies, and practices described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 301 of that Act (19 U.S.C. 2411).
 

TITLE VI: DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

1. The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to provide Federal financial assistance to covered entities to incentivize investment in covered facilities, subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose.

2. In order for a covered entity to qualify for financial assistance under this title, the covered entity shall demonstrate to the Secretary that the covered entity has a documented interest in constructing a covered facility; or expanding or technologically upgrading a facility owned by the covered entity to be a covered facility; and with respect to the project for which the covered entity is seeking financial assistance, the covered entity has been offered a covered incentive; made commitments to worker and community investment, including through training and education benefits paid by the covered entity; and programs to expand employment opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals; secured commitments from regional educational and training entities and institutions of higher education to provide workforce training, including programming for training and job placement of economically disadvantaged individuals; and an executable plan to sustain a covered facility without additional Federal financial assistance under this subsection for facility support.

3. The Secretary may not approve an application submitted by a covered entity unless the Secretary confirms that the covered entity has satisfied the eligibility criteria; determines that the project for which the covered entity is seeking financial assistance is in the interest of Atlasia; and has notified the President before making any commitment to provide an award of financial assistance to any covered entity in an amount that exceeds $10,000,000; or if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, that the covered entity is a foreign entity of concern, or is substantially controlled thereby.

4. In reviewing an application submitted under this title the Secretary may consider whether the covered entity has previously received financial assistance under this subsection; the governmental entity offering the applicable covered incentive has benefitted from financial assistance previously provided under this subsection; the covered entity has demonstrated that the covered entity is responsive to the national security needs or requirements; if practicable, a consortium that is considered a covered entity includes a small business concern, notwithstanding 13 CFR 121.103; and the covered entity intends to produce finished products for use by the government of Atlasia, the defense industry, or critical energy infrastructure.

5. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall prioritize awarding financial assistance under this title to a covered entity that utilizes raw material feedstock sourced from one (1) or more offtake agreements with entities that are not foreign entities of concern; utilizes raw material feedstock sourced from two (2) or more entities; offtake agreements; or geographic locations; utilizes concentrated rare earth elements sourced from two (2) or more entities; offtake agreements; or geographic locations; and intends to produce finished products for use by the government of Atlasia, the defense industry, or critical energy infrastructure.

6. The Secretary may request records and information from a covered entity that submitted an application under this title to review the status of a covered entity. The covered entity shall provide the records and information requested by the Secretary.

7. The Secretary shall determine the appropriate amount and funding type for each financial assistance award provided to a covered entity under this title. The total Federal investment in any individual project receiving a financial assistance award under this subsection shall not exceed $500,000,000, unless the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, recommends to the President, and the President agrees, that a larger investment is necessary to significantly increase the proportion of reliable domestic supply of finished rare earth products relevant for national security and economic competitiveness that can be met through domestic production; and to meet the needs of national security.

8. A covered entity that receives a financial assistance award under this title may only use the financial assistance award amounts to finance:

A. the construction of a covered facility (including equipment) or the expansion or technological upgrade of a facility (including equipment) of the covered entity to be a covered facility, as documented in the application, as determined necessary by the Secretary for purposes relating to the national security and economic competitiveness of Atlasia;

B. to support workforce development for a covered facility;

C. to support site development and technological upgrade for a covered facility; and

D. to pay reasonable costs relating to the operating expenses for a covered facility, including specialized workforce and essential materials.

9. For all financial assistance awards of more than $10,000,000 provided to covered entities, the Secretary shall, at the time of making the award, determine the target dates by which a covered entity shall commence and complete the applicable project. If the covered entity receiving a financial assistance award of more than $10,000,000 does not complete the applicable project by the applicable target date, the Secretary shall progressively recover up to the full amount of the award. In the case of projects that do not meet the applicable target date, the Secretary may waive the requirement to recover the financial award provided for the project after making a formal determination that circumstances beyond the ability of the covered entity to foresee or control are responsible for the delay.

10. Before entering into an agreement with a foreign entity to conduct joint research or technology licensing, or to share intellectual property, a covered entity that has received a financial assistance award shall notify the Secretary of the intent to enter into such an agreement; and may only enter into such an agreement if the Secretary determines the foreign entity is not a foreign entity of concern. The Secretary shall recover the full amount of a financial assistance award provided to a covered entity if, during the applicable term of the award, the covered entity knowingly engages in any joint research, technology licensing, or intellectual property sharing effort with a foreign entity of concern that relates to a technology or product that raises national security concerns, as determined by the Secretary, on the condition that the determination of the Secretary shall have been communicated to the covered entity before the covered entity engaged in the joint research, technology licensing, or intellectual property sharing.

11. A covered entity to which the Secretary awards Federal financial assistance under this subsection shall enter into an agreement that specifies that, during the 5-year period immediately following the award of the Federal financial assistance, the covered entity will not make shareholder distributions in excess of profits.

12. Funding awarded under this act shall be divided as equally as is practicable between each of the three (3) Regions.

13. Any recipient of funds under this Title shall adopt and implement a Cybersecurity Plan approved by the President that is capable of adequately protecting the facility funded by this act as well as any other property owned, controlled, or managed by the recipient.

14. Any recipient of funds under this act shall be considered contractors for purposes of the Stopping Sino-Espionage Act.

15. Funding for this title is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the following amounts: $1.5 Billion for fiscal year 2023; and $200 Million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027.

Passed 9-1-1-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill

SURPLUS LAND SALES ACT

Senate Bill

To direct the Secretary of the Internal Affairs to sell certain Federal lands in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, previously identified as suitable for disposal.

Section 1: Title

1. This Act may be cited as the Surplus Land Sales Act.

Section 2: Sale of Certain Federal Lands Previously Identified as Suitable for Disposal

1. Competitive Sale of Lands
The Secretary of Internal Affairs (SoIA) shall offer the identified Federal lands for disposal by competitive sale for not less than fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser. No single purchaser, or any agent, employee, or subordinate entity thereof, may purchase more than 1,000 acres under this act.

2. Existing Rights
The sale of identified Federal lands under this section shall be subject to valid existing rights.

3. Proceeds of Sale of Lands
All net proceeds from the sale of identified Federal lands under this section shall be deposited directly into the Treasury for reduction of the public debt.

4. Report
Not later than one (1) year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the SoIA shall submit —

   a. A list of any identified Federal lands that have not been sold under subsection (b) and the reasons such lands were not sold; and

   b. An update of the report submitted on May 27, 1997, pursuant to section 390(g) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127; 110 Stat. 1024), including a current inventory of the Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the SoIA that are suitable for disposal.

5. Definitions
The term "identified Federal lands" means the parcels of Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of the SoIA that were identified as suitable for disposal in the report submitted on May 27, 1997, pursuant to section 390(g) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127; 110 Stat. 1024), except the following:
   A. Lands not identified for disposal in the applicable land use plan.
   B. Lands subject to a Recreation and Public Purpose conveyance application.
   C. Lands identified for Regional selection.
   D. Lands identified for Indian tribe allotments.
   E. Lands identified for local government use.

Section 3: Enactment

1. Nothing in this Act shall affect the implementation of Regional laws, including Regional enabling Acts.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 8-6-0-4 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill

WORKER WAGE PROTECTION ACT

1.  Any organization seeking or holding federal Atlasian government contracts or accepting federal funding 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 or funding 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.

4. Any organization seeking or holding federal Atlasian government contracts or accepting federal funding which is found to knowingly use forced labor or slave labor for government contracts will be suspended indefinitely upon the discovery of it occurring.

5.This act shall take effect sixty (60) days from the date of passage.

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

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

USE IT OR LOSE IT ACT

1. If the holder of any federal copyright, patent, or trademark of any intellectual property renounces such copyright, patent, or trademark, or formally expresses the intent to permanently halt and discontinue the use, production, licensing, or redistribution of any intellectual property secured by such copyright, patent, or trademark, such copyright, patent, or trademark shall be null and void and the intellectual property secured thereby shall become a part of the public domain.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 12-2-0-4 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

The downstream effects of inflation on things like consumer confidence and credit status are going to hit harder down the road if we don't try to safetyproof how Atlasian consumers are currently interacting with the system. It simply makes sense to give people a longer leash here when they're in the middle of trying to make ends meet.

Credit Act of 2022

1. As used in this act:

A. Consumer credit report means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer’s credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer’s eligibility for credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, employment purposes, or any other purpose authorized by law.

B. Consumer reporting agency means any person which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer credit reports to third parties.

C. Person shall include but not be limited to banks, credit unions, financial institutions, State or local governments, and business entities when such person is providing financing for any transaction that is to occur or substantially occur in Atlasia, or that is secured by property located in Atlasia, or that is financing an activity, enterprise, or venture that is to occur or substantially occur in Atlasia.

2. No consumer reporting agency operating in Atlasia shall make and transmit to any person, any consumer credit report containing any of the following items of information:

A. Civil suits and civil judgments that, from date of entry, predate the report itself by more than five years.

B. Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, predate the report by more than 5 years.

C. Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which predate the report by more than 5 years.

D. Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which predates the report by more than five 5 years.

The five 5 year period referred to herein shall begin, with respect to any delinquent account that is placed for collection (internally or by referral to a third party, whichever is earlier), charged to profit.

3. The provisions of this act are not applicable in the case of any consumer credit report to be used in connection with:

A. a credit transaction involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a principal amount of $200,000 or more;

B. the underwriting of life insurance involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a face amount of $200,000 or more; or

C. the employment of any individual at an annual salary which equals, or which may reasonably be expected to equal $100,000 or more.

4. Any provision herein found to be unconstitutional by a court of proper jurisdiction shall be severable from the remainder of this act.

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

Passed 9-0-1-8 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

We've passed versions of bills that combat workplace racism in the past and I think that this continues in that vein with the addressment of some especially pernicious institutionalized viewpoints. It's up to the government to help set an example for upholding our nation's constitution however we can. And so we shall.

STOP RACISM ACT

a. No commercial enterprise in Atlasia with twenty-five (25) or more employees that conducts business in Atlasia may use race, ethnicity, religion, income, sex, gender, or political ideology as a factor in hiring, tenure, or promotion. No such enterprise shall require or inquire of any applicants or employees about commitments to or affirmations of the dismantling of oppressive systems, promotion of social equity, or advancement of diversity. This provision shall also apply to any educational institution, including student applicants seeking admission to a school or program, which receives federal funding, however religious non-profits shall be exempt.

b. No federal agency, nor any entity, school, college, university, or contractor receiving federal funding, may use diversity training or employee questionnaires which which promote racist concepts including but not limited to that:

1. one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;

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

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

4. members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;

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

6. an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

7. any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex;

8. meritocracy, market-based economics, or traits such as a hard work ethic or timeliness are racist or sexist, or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race;

9. Atlasia, its constitution and bill of rights, its government, its Regions, or its history is fundamentally racist or sexist.

c. Any worker who is subject to a prohibited questionnaire or training may report such to an appropriate official without facing retaliation for such report. This whistleblower shall be entitled to a reward of up to $1,000 and any worker who experienced discomfort during such a prohibited questionnaire or training can be granted compensation of up to $100. All such fines must come from the diversity budget within the department or organization that conducts such prohibited questionnaire or training.

d. Any diversity administrator hired by a department of the federal government shall have a salary cap equivalent to the annual average human resources administrator salary.

e. This Act shall go into effect ten (10) days from the date of passage.

Passed 9-1-0-8 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I don't think either of the Senators were with me at the time, but back last June I met members of the state trucking association in Alexandria, LA who we were able to talk with for a few hours, and even then there was talk of doing something about the price increases that were being carried down to the consumer because of delays at the trucking stage. The regional government was the first to act later that month and I'm sure they and other truckers across Atlasia will be happy that this bill lets the regional and local governments who better understand their individual concerns take a bigger role in helping bring prices down if they so choose, since we in the federal government are finally doing our part.

TRUCKING PRICE INFLATION PREVENTION ACT

1. 49 CFR 390.19 shall be amended to only require motor carriers to only complete a "Motor Carrier Identification Report" (form MCS-150) at the following times:

A. Before the carrier begins operation; and

B. Every 24 months thereafter, in accordance with the schedule in 49 CFR 390.19.

2. 49 CFR part 385 shall be amended to allow safety investigations to be conducted in compliance with the Regional law of the region in which such vehicle is registered.

3. 49 CFR part 387, subpart A, 387.7 and 387.9 shall be amended to exempt from the minimum level of financial responsibility for for-hire motor carriers motor carriers transporting hazardous material.

4. 49 CFR 382 shall be amended to exempt marijuana and cannabis from the list of prohibited controlled substances.

5. 49 C.F.R §§ 390-399 shall be amended to permit Regions to opt out of such regulations.
 
6. This act shall take effect April 1, 2023.

Passed 9-1-0-8 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Any of you tried to buy a show ticket recently? There's more minefields in that process than I can count. It absolutely needs greater transparency and a few standards for vendors to hold themselves to and I for one am grateful that this bill is giving it to them so that old farts like you or me won't have to shell out exorbitant prices plus our personal data just to get seats to see the Bears.

TICKETMASTER IS A RIPOFF ACT

1. As used in this Act, the following definitions apply:

A. ancillary charges means all fees that must be paid in order to secure a ticket from a primary ticket seller or secondary ticket marketplace, including service fees, convenience charges, parking fees, taxes and other charges.

B. base price means the price charged for a ticket other than any ancillary charges.

C. box office means a physical location where tickets are offered for primary sale.

D. bundled series tickets means packages of tickets for multiple events that are part of the same entertainment series.

E. distribution method means the manner in which a primary ticket seller distributes tickets to a particular event, whether through primary sale, limited presale promotions, donations to charity, reservations of season ticket holders, or allocated to the primary ticket seller, team, artist, or venue.

F. primary sale with regards to a ticket, means the initial sale of a ticket that has not been sold previous to such sale, by a primary ticket seller to the general public on or after the advertised date of such sale.

G. primary ticket seller means an owner or operator of a venue or a sports team, a manager or provider of an event, or a provider of ticketing services (or an agent of such owner, operator, manager, or provider) that engages in the primary sale of tickets for an event or retains the authority to otherwise distribute tickets.

H. purchaser means any person who purchases a ticket from a primary ticket seller or a secondary ticket sales marketplace.

I. resale or secondary sale, with regards to a ticket, mean any sale of a ticket that occurs after the primary sale of the ticket.

J. secondary ticket sales marketplace means a business, including a website, software application for a mobile device, any other digital platform, or portion thereof, of a physical seller whose primary purpose is to facilitate the resale of tickets to purchasers.

K. ticket means a ticket of admission to a sporting event, theater, musical performance, or place of public amusement of any kind, including bundled series tickets.

2. The following shall apply to any interregional ticket sold in Atlasia:

A. All primary ticket sellers shall disclose the total number of tickets for sale to the general public within seven (7) days of tickets becoming available for sale.

B. All primary ticket sellers must disclose any ancillary charges to customers before they select a ticket for purchase. The price of the ticket cannot change during the purchase process based off demand response.

C. All primary ticket sellers must include all ancillary charges in any refund provided.

D. No primary ticket sellers may restrict a purchaser from reselling tickets.

E. Any primary ticket seller may impose a cap on how many tickets any person may purchase.

F. No primary ticket seller may institute a price floor on reselling tickets.

G. All primary ticket sellers must disclose any guarantee or refund policy at the time of sale.

H. All secondary market companies must verify that the secondary ticket reseller is in possession of a ticket, or has made clear the secondary ticket reseller does not possess the ticket with an explanation on how to obtain a refund if the purchaser receives a ticket that does not match the description.

I. All online resale marketplaces must disclose to any purchaser when the secondary seller is the primary ticket seller, venue, team, or artist associated with the event.

J. All secondary market companies must disclose any ancillary charges to customers before they select a ticket. In addition, ticket sellers must display the total cost including all ancillary charges in price quotes and advertisements. The price of the ticket cannot change during the purchase process based off demand response.

K. All secondary ticket sales marketplaces must disclose the face value of each ticket, the location of the tickets seat or space, and the date and time of purchase if the secondary ticket sales marketplace purchased the ticket during a public sale.

L. All secondary ticket sales marketplaces must if it guarantees delivery of tickets to a purchaser and if it fails to deliver the tickets requires a full refund be provided for the total cost of the ticket, including all ancillary charges.

M. All secondary ticket sales marketplaces must disclose to any person purchasing a ticket any delivery guarantee policy.

N. No secondary ticket sales marketplace may make any representation of affiliation or endorsement with a venue, team, or artist, without the express written consent of the venue, team, or artist.

O. All online secondary ticket sales marketplaces, must publish a clear and conspicuous notice that they are engaged in the secondary sale of tickets at the time of sale.

P. The secondary sale of tickets by individual employees of venues, primary ticket sellers, teams, artists, online resale marketplaces, or box offices that are involved in hosting, promoting, performing in, or selling tickets shall be prohibited if the sale is or knows will be sold at a higher price than the primary sale of the ticket.

Q. No reseller shall sell a ticket for the same seat to more than one (1) person at the same time.

R. No person shall be sanctioned or denied admission to an event because a ticket was resold or gifted.

S. No secondary market company, secondary ticket sales marketplace, or online secondary ticket sales marketplace shall hold more than a 60% market share of its respective industry for greater than one (1) year. A violation of this provision shall constitute an anti-trust violation.

3. The Attorney General and the FTC may enforce violations of these rules as unfair or deceptive acts prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

4. Regional and State Attorneys General may bring a civil action on behalf of their residents if they have reason to believe that their residents will be adversely affected by a violation of this act.

5. Any person wronged by a violation of this act may bring a civil lawsuit for an injunction or damages and may recover from such person damages for such injury plus $1,000 for each violation for up to five (5) years from any violation.

6. This law shall not preempt or supersede any Regional regulation that is stricter than this act.

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

Passed 8-2-0-8 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

This government, like its predecessors, was built specifically against the danger of any leader overstepping their power in any respect. We have checks and balances, we have branches of government that are supposed to communicate and work with one another, we have devolved authorities in the regions and in local government that all hew to the deeply Federalist principle of keeping power from being concentrated in the hands of a single position, because as we've seen time and time again nothing good ever happens from that. Someone on a power trip may still try to consolidate as much of it as possible as we saw in April most recently. But with this bill in place the Senate has said once again, in the face of desperate opposition from the loudest remaining cheerleaders of that power tripping no less, that we don't stand for that kind of thing here in these parts. Delighted to sign this.

SENATE BILL

To reduce abuse of power by the executive branch in the use of military force

Be it Enacted in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

POSSE COMITATUS PROTECTION ACT

1. No activity, including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment or detail of any personnel, shall include or permit direct participation by a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or other federal armed forces in a search, seizure, arrest, or other similar activity or general police power, unless participation in such activity by such member is otherwise expressly authorized by law. For purposes of this section, other federal armed forces includes but is not limited to the National Guard when under federal chain of command. For purposes of this section, other similar activity or general police power, includes but is not limited to the enforcement of any drug law, the enforcement of any quarantine, mass vaccination, or mass incarceration of citizens or lawfully present aliens, or the performance or facilitation of any abortion; however the performance of border patrol activities or the detainment of unlawfully present aliens shall not be prohibited, pursuant to law.

2a. Whenever there is an insurrection in any Region against its government or the government of a State or locality therein, the President may, upon the request of the Governor of the Region concerned, call into Federal service such of the militia of the other Regions or States, in the number requested by the Governor of the Region concerned, and use such of the armed forces, as the President considers necessary to suppress the insurrection.

2b. The President may not invoke the authority under this section unless the President, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General certify to the Senate that the Governor of the Region concerned has requested the aid described to suppress an insurrection. Such authority shall lapse within ten (10) days unless an extension is approved by a majority vote of the whole Senate. The President shall not be permitted to redeploy armed forces under this section after this ten (10) day period against the same insurrection without prior approval by a majority vote of the whole Senate.

3a. Whenever violent obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of Atlasia, make it impracticable to enforce the laws of Atlasia in any State by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, and the Governor of the Region in which such State is located requests aid in or expressly refuses to disperse or desist such violent obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion, the President may call into Federal service such of the militia of any other State or Region, and use such of the armed forces, as the President considers necessary to enforce those laws or to suppress the rebellion.

3b. The President may not invoke the authority under this section unless the President, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General certify to the Senate that the Region in which the State concerned is located has requested such aid or is unable or unwilling to suppress the violent obstruction, combination, or assemblage, or rebellion against the authority of Atlasia. A certification under this paragraph shall include:

i. A description of the circumstances necessitating the invocation of the authority under this section.

ii. Demonstrable evidence that the Region concerned has requested aid or is unable or unwilling to suppress such unlawful obstruction, combination, or assemblage, or rebellion against the authority of Atlasia, and a legal justification for resorting to the authority under this section to so suppress.

iii. A description of the mission, scope, and duration of use of members of the armed forces under this section.

3c. Such authority, when at the request of the Governor of the Region concerned, shall lapse within ten (10) days unless an extension is approved by a majority vote of the whole Senate. The President shall not be permitted to deploy armed forces under this section without the request of the Governor of the Region concerned or redeploy armed forces under this section after this ten (10) day period against the same violent obstruction, combination, or assemblage, or rebellion, without prior approval by a majority vote of the whole Senate.

3d. A Region that has lawfully seceded or exercised its authority pursuant to the laws of Atlasia shall not be considered a violent obstruction, combination, or assemblage, or rebellion under this act.

4.The President, in every possible instance, shall consult with the Senate before invoking the authority under this act. Correspondingly, any request by the President to the Senate made pursuant to this act shall be expeditiously considered by the Senate, and shall immediately come to the floor for debate and vote regardless of if there are any empty legislative slots available at the time of the request.

5. Notwithstanding, and without prejudice to, any other provision of law, any individual or entity, including a Regional, State, or local government, that is injured by, or has a credible fear of injury from, the use of members of the armed forces under this act may bring a civil action for declaratory or injunctive relief to the Supreme Court. In any action under this section, the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction to decide any question of law or fact arising under this act, including challenges to the legal basis for members of the armed forces to be acting under this act. It shall be the duty of the Supreme Court to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the disposition of any matter brought under this section.

6. The President may not avoid any of the provisions of this act by authorizing the militia or armed forces of a Region to enter into the territory of another Region, without the request of the Governor of such other Region, outside of the federal chain of command. Any such authorization shall be considered an activity or deployment subject to the provisions of this act.

7. The National Guard of Nyman shall be subject to the command of the government thereof to the same extent as any other State.

8. 10 U.S.C. 251 -  253 and 10 U.S.C. 275 are hereby repealed and replaced by this act.

9. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 8-4-0-6 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT.

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Since the Administration did have a small hand in this bill aside from lending it our full support while it was being hashed out, I think by right Scott and Sirius ought to be here while this gets signed, but they're off in the Rockies keeping an eye on the situation with access to food and supplies for folks there on the ground. We in the administration are doing something similar here with a resource just as valuable to the national interest in its own way, and in light of things like the recent Taiwan situation and other developing hotspots in Africa and the like it's only reasonable that we take what steps we can as an authority on the world stage to ensure the safety of our access to rare earths. With that kind of position I don't intend to put our country in a position to be extorted or bullied in order to continue our research or development or industry. So we are doing what we can here to promote job creation and retention in this area, working toward resource independence, helping our allies abroad do the same, and creating a strategic reserve to help support all this. Atlasian jobs are open for business and I invite Atlasian workers to help strengthen our nation through their continued work.

DOMESTIC RARE EARTH METALS ACT

TITLE I: DEFINITIONS

1. In this Act:

A. Concentrated rare earth element means a rare earth element that has been extracted or separated from raw materials and concentrated.

B. Covered entity means a private entity, a consortium of private entities, or a consortium of public and private entities with a demonstrated ability to substantially finance, construct, expand, or technologically upgrade a covered facility.

C. Covered facility means a facility located in a State that carries out the metallurgy of rare earth elements for the production of finished rare earth products.

D. Covered incentive means an incentive offered by a Federal, Regional, State, local, or Tribal governmental entity to a covered entity for the purposes of constructing within the jurisdiction of the governmental entity a covered facility; or expanding or technologically upgrading an existing facility within that jurisdiction to be a covered facility; and a workforce-related incentive, including a grant agreement relating to workforce training or vocational education, any concession with respect to real property, funding for research and development with respect to rare earth elements and finished rare earth products, and any other incentive determined appropriate by the Secretary of State.

E. Finished rare earth product means a product composed of metal powders, such as rare earth oxides and rare earth salts, including chlorides and nitrates;  metals containing rare earth elements; alloys; or magnets; and any other value-added product that is composed fully or partially of rare earth elements.

F. Foreign entity means a government of a foreign country and a foreign political party; a natural person who is not a lawful permanent resident of Atlasia; a citizen or national of Atlasia; or any other protected individual (as defined in section 274B(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))); and a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country. The term foreign entity includes: any person owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign entity; any person, wherever located, who acts as an agent, representative, or employee of a foreign entity; any person who acts in any other capacity at the order, request, or under the influence, direction, or control, of a foreign entity; or a person the activities of which are directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole or in majority part by a foreign entity; any person who directly or indirectly through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, owns 25 percent (25%) or more of the equity interests of a foreign entity; any person with significant responsibility to control, manage, or direct a foreign entity; any person, wherever located, who is a citizen or resident of a country controlled by a foreign entity; and any corporation, partnership, association, or other organization organized under the laws of a country controlled by a foreign entity.

G. Foreign entity of concern means any foreign entity that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); included on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Interior; owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction, direction, or otherwise under the undue influence of a government of a covered nation (as defined in section 2533c(d) of title 10, U.S.C.); alleged by the Attorney General to have been involved in activities for which a conviction was obtained under 18 U.S.C. 37 (commonly known as the ``Espionage Act''); 18 U.S.C. 951 or 1030; (iii) 18 U.S.C. 90 (commonly known as the ``Economic Espionage Act of 1996''); the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.); sections 224, 225, 226, 227, or 236 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2274- 2278; 2284); or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or  determined by the Secretary if State, to be engaged in unauthorized conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of Atlasia under this Act.  

H. Metallurgy means the process of producing finished rare earth products from concentrated rare earth elements.

I. Processed or refined means any process by which raw rare earth metals are changed, mixed, or otherwise manipulated to render the metal usable for manufacturing everyday items, including computer chips or circuit boards.

J. Rare earth element means a natural element associated with the metallic element scandium, with atomic number 21; the metallic element yttrium, with atomic number 39; or any of the series of 15 metallic elements between lanthanum, with atomic number 57, and lutetium, with atomic number 71, on the periodic table.

K. Rare earth metals means beryllium, cerium, cobalt, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, graphite, holmium, lanthanum, lithium, lutetium, manganese, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, tantalum, terbium, thulium, tungsten, ytterbium, and yttrium.

TITLE II: STRATEGIC RESERVE

1. It is the policy of Atlasia to provide for the establishment of a strategic rare earth metals and rare earth metal products reserve.

2. Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Internal Affairs and the Secretary of State shall determine the strategic requirements of Atlasia regarding stockpiles of rare earth metals and processed and refined rare earth metal products; and the requirements for such metals and products to support Atlasia for one (1) year in the event of a supply disruption. In determining this need, they shall take into consideration the needs of the Armed Forces, the defense industrial and technology sectors, and any places, organizations, physical infrastructure, or digital infrastructure designated as critical to the national security of Atlasia.

2. Not later than two (2) years after the determination is made, the government shall take such actions as are necessary to procure all types of rare earth metals and processed and refined rare earth metal products in appropriate quantities to support the strategic requirements described in the determination.

3. $10 billion is hereby appropriated for such purposes. Any unneeded funds shall be deposited back into the treasury after two (2) years.

TITLE III: COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING

1. The Secretary of State shall require that any contractor that provides to the Department of State a system with a rare earth metal permanent magnet disclose, along with delivery of the system, the provenance of the magnet.

2. A disclosure under this title shall include an identification of the country or countries in which the rare earth metals used in the magnet were mined; the rare earth metals were refined into oxides; the rare earth metals were made into metals and alloys; and the magnet was sintered or bonded and magnetized.

3. If a contractor cannot make the disclosure required by this title with respect to a magnet, the Secretary shall require the contractor to establish and implement a supply chain tracking system in order to make the disclosure not later than 180 days after providing the magnet to the Department of State.

TITLE IV: NO CHINESE METALS IN MILITARY SYSTEMS

1. The Secretary of State shall require that, for any contract entered into or renewed on or after December 31, 2025, for the procurement of a system the export of which is restricted or controlled under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), no rare earth metals processed or refined in the People's Republic of China may be included in the system.

2. The Secretary may waive the restriction under this title upon a determination that rare earth metals of sufficient quantity and quality are not available at reasonable prices from sources outside of the People's Republic of China; and such a waiver is in the interests of national security.

TITLE V: UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

1. Not later than ninety (90) days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, shall initiate an investigation under title III of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411 et seq.) to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of the Government of the People's Republic of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, or innovation with respect to rare earth metal mining, separation, metallization, alloying, or magnet manufacturing, or related processes, are acts, policies, and practices described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 301 of that Act (19 U.S.C. 2411).
 

[Joseph Cao]

TITLE VI: DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

1. The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to provide Federal financial assistance to covered entities to incentivize investment in covered facilities, subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose.

2. In order for a covered entity to qualify for financial assistance under this title, the covered entity shall demonstrate to the Secretary that the covered entity has a documented interest in constructing a covered facility; or expanding or technologically upgrading a facility owned by the covered entity to be a covered facility; and with respect to the project for which the covered entity is seeking financial assistance, the covered entity has been offered a covered incentive; made commitments to worker and community investment, including through training and education benefits paid by the covered entity; and programs to expand employment opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals; secured commitments from regional educational and training entities and institutions of higher education to provide workforce training, including programming for training and job placement of economically disadvantaged individuals; and an executable plan to sustain a covered facility without additional Federal financial assistance under this subsection for facility support.

3. The Secretary may not approve an application submitted by a covered entity unless the Secretary confirms that the covered entity has satisfied the eligibility criteria; determines that the project for which the covered entity is seeking financial assistance is in the interest of Atlasia; and has notified the President before making any commitment to provide an award of financial assistance to any covered entity in an amount that exceeds $10,000,000; or if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, that the covered entity is a foreign entity of concern, or is substantially controlled thereby.

4. In reviewing an application submitted under this title the Secretary may consider whether the covered entity has previously received financial assistance under this subsection; the governmental entity offering the applicable covered incentive has benefitted from financial assistance previously provided under this subsection; the covered entity has demonstrated that the covered entity is responsive to the national security needs or requirements; if practicable, a consortium that is considered a covered entity includes a small business concern, notwithstanding 13 CFR 121.103; and the covered entity intends to produce finished products for use by the government of Atlasia, the defense industry, or critical energy infrastructure.

5. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall prioritize awarding financial assistance under this title to a covered entity that utilizes raw material feedstock sourced from one (1) or more offtake agreements with entities that are not foreign entities of concern; utilizes raw material feedstock sourced from two (2) or more entities; offtake agreements; or geographic locations; utilizes concentrated rare earth elements sourced from two (2) or more entities; offtake agreements; or geographic locations; and intends to produce finished products for use by the government of Atlasia, the defense industry, or critical energy infrastructure.

6. The Secretary may request records and information from a covered entity that submitted an application under this title to review the status of a covered entity. The covered entity shall provide the records and information requested by the Secretary.

7. The Secretary shall determine the appropriate amount and funding type for each financial assistance award provided to a covered entity under this title. The total Federal investment in any individual project receiving a financial assistance award under this subsection shall not exceed $500,000,000, unless the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, recommends to the President, and the President agrees, that a larger investment is necessary to significantly increase the proportion of reliable domestic supply of finished rare earth products relevant for national security and economic competitiveness that can be met through domestic production; and to meet the needs of national security.

8. A covered entity that receives a financial assistance award under this title may only use the financial assistance award amounts to finance:

A. the construction of a covered facility (including equipment) or the expansion or technological upgrade of a facility (including equipment) of the covered entity to be a covered facility, as documented in the application, as determined necessary by the Secretary for purposes relating to the national security and economic competitiveness of Atlasia;

B. to support workforce development for a covered facility;

C. to support site development and technological upgrade for a covered facility; and

D. to pay reasonable costs relating to the operating expenses for a covered facility, including specialized workforce and essential materials.

9. For all financial assistance awards of more than $10,000,000 provided to covered entities, the Secretary shall, at the time of making the award, determine the target dates by which a covered entity shall commence and complete the applicable project. If the covered entity receiving a financial assistance award of more than $10,000,000 does not complete the applicable project by the applicable target date, the Secretary shall progressively recover up to the full amount of the award. In the case of projects that do not meet the applicable target date, the Secretary may waive the requirement to recover the financial award provided for the project after making a formal determination that circumstances beyond the ability of the covered entity to foresee or control are responsible for the delay.

10. Before entering into an agreement with a foreign entity to conduct joint research or technology licensing, or to share intellectual property, a covered entity that has received a financial assistance award shall notify the Secretary of the intent to enter into such an agreement; and may only enter into such an agreement if the Secretary determines the foreign entity is not a foreign entity of concern. The Secretary shall recover the full amount of a financial assistance award provided to a covered entity if, during the applicable term of the award, the covered entity knowingly engages in any joint research, technology licensing, or intellectual property sharing effort with a foreign entity of concern that relates to a technology or product that raises national security concerns, as determined by the Secretary, on the condition that the determination of the Secretary shall have been communicated to the covered entity before the covered entity engaged in the joint research, technology licensing, or intellectual property sharing.

11. A covered entity to which the Secretary awards Federal financial assistance under this subsection shall enter into an agreement that specifies that, during the 5-year period immediately following the award of the Federal financial assistance, the covered entity will not make shareholder distributions in excess of profits.

12. Funding awarded under this act shall be divided as equally as is practicable between each of the three (3) Regions.

13. Any recipient of funds under this Title shall adopt and implement a Cybersecurity Plan approved by the President that is capable of adequately protecting the facility funded by this act as well as any other property owned, controlled, or managed by the recipient.

14. Any recipient of funds under this act shall be considered contractors for purposes of the Stopping Sino-Espionage Act.

15. Funding for this title is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the following amounts: $1.5 Billion for fiscal year 2023; and $200 Million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027.

TITLE VII: PROMOTING SAFER FOREIGN SUPPLY CHAINS

1. It shall be the policy of Atlasia to encourage countries that are allies of Atlasia to eliminate their dependence on non-allied countries for rare earth metals to the maximum extent practicable.

2. To assist in this title, the Secretary of State shall provide funding through a common funding mechanism to support the development and adoption of secure rare earth supply chains. The Rare Earth Sourcing Trust Fund (RESTF) is hereby created for such purpose.

3. Amounts in the RESTF shall be available to the Secretary of State, on and after the date on which the Secretary enters into an arrangement or agreement with the governments of countries that are partners of Atlasia, as determined by the Secretary of State, to participate in the common funding mechanism. Before entering into an arrangement or agreement, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior, shall ensure that any government that will participate in the arrangement or agreement maintains export control licensing policies with respect to exports of finished rare earth products substantively equivalent to Atlasia with respect to restrictions on such exports to the People's Republic of China.

4. The Secretary of State may establish a common funding mechanism, in coordination with the governments of countries that are partners of Atlasia, that uses amounts from the RESTF to support the development and adoption of secure rare earth supply chains, including for research and development collaborations among countries participating in the mechanism; and supplementing bids by foreign entities that are not foreign entities of concern to secure offtake agreements with entities that mine rare earth elements.

5. In establishing and sustaining a common funding mechanism, the Secretary of State shall seek to leverage amounts from the RESTF to secure contributions to the mechanism from the governments of countries participating in the mechanism, including with respect to cost sharing and other cooperative measures leading to the development and adoption of secure rare earth supply chains. The Secretary shall promote efforts among countries participating in the mechanism to establish transparency requirements for any subsidies or other financial benefits (including revenue foregone) provided to rare earth firms located in or outside such countries; to establish processes similar to the process of the Committee on Foreign Investment in Atlasia under section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4565) for intervening to preempt foreign entities of concern from investing in, purchasing, or assuming control of entities, intellectual property, and equipment that are created by or benefit from investments by the mechanism;  to establish consistent policies with respect to countries that are not participating in the mechanism; and do not meet established transparency requirements; to promote harmonized treatment of finished rare earth products and verification processes for raw materials or products being exported to a country considered a national security risk by the government of a country participating in the mechanism; to establish consistent policies among the governments of countries participating in the mechanism and common policies among countries that are not participating to address nonmarket economy countries as the behavior of such countries pertains to rare earth elements; to align policies with respect to supply chain integrity and security, including with respect to protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights; and to promote harmonized foreign direct investment screening measures and export control policies with respect to rare earth elements to align with national, multilateral, and plurilateral security priorities.

6. None of the funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title may be provided to a foreign entity of concern.

7. $10 billion is hereby appropriated for such purposes.

TITLE VIII: DOMESTIC MINING AND WORKFORCE

1. The Secretary of Interior through the Geologic Survey shall conduct and compile an inventory of domestic supplies of rare earth elements and metals that could be mined.

2. Any environmental impact statement (EIS) for the mining of domestic rare earth elements and metals shall be made within 45 days of request and any federal permit for the mining of domestic rare earth elements and metals shall be approved or denied within 90 days of submission. The person requesting the EIS or permit may pay a reasonable expedited processing fee to ensure such reviews are timely made.

3. As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Interior shall establish an initiative under which the Secretary shall work with the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Critical Minerals Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, the private sector, institutions of higher education, and workforce training entities to incentivize and expand participation in graduate and undergraduate programs, and to develop workforce training programs and apprenticeships, relating to advanced rare earth element mining, separation, processing, metallurgy, and advanced equipment maintenance capabilities.

4. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations (or consortium of such institutions or organizations) to support basic research that will accelerate innovation to advance critical minerals mining strategies and technologies for the purpose of making better use of domestic resources and eliminating national reliance on minerals and mineral materials that are subject to supply disruptions.

5. $1 Billion is hereby appropriated for such purposes.

TITLE IX: ENACTMENT

1. Unless otherwise specified herein, this act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 9-1-1-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

OFF-SITE RESIGNATIONS ACT

1. If a sitting Senator shall be involuntarily incapable of making posts on TalkElections forum and such Senator wishes to resign from office prior to the expiration of his or her term, then such Senator may submit notice of his or her intention to resign to no less than three (3) sitting Senators, at least one (1) of which must be in such Senator's party, if applicable, and one (1) of which must be the PPT.

2. Any sitting Senator contacted pursuant to this act may make a public post of such intent to resign, and shall include in such post a screen capture of the resignation transmitted by the resigning Senator.

3. Upon the certification of such resignation by two (2) other sitting Senators, including the posting by such Senators of screen captures of the resignation transmitted by the resigning Senator, the resignation shall become effective immediately.

4. Upon suspicion that the resignation is fraudulent, any Senator may appeal to the Supreme Court for a determination of the accuracy of such resignation.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 9-0-0-9 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

SARBANES-OXLEY REFORM ACT

SENATE BILL

to relax burdensome regulations on smaller companies

Be it enacted,

SECTION I: NAME

1. This act shall be called the Sarbanes-Oxley Reform Act.

SECTION II: EXEMPTION FOR SMALLER COMPANIES

1. The regulation requiring all publicly traded companies with an aggregate worldwide market value at $75 million to conduct a PCAOB approved audit each year shall be amended to exempt all such companies with an aggregate worldwide market value of $700 Million or less. Nothing in this section shall affect any criminal penalties for any crime committed by the publicly traded company. 17 CFR 240.12b-2 shall be amended accordingly.

SECTION III: TIME

1. This Act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

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

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

RETIREE INCOME PROTECTION ACT

1. Any financial service provider who invests and manages a 401(K) plan hereby possess a fiduciary duty to make investment decisions as a reasonably prudent investor would for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the investments. Accordingly no such officer, agent, or employee shall make investment decisions for a 401(K) plan that prioritize the proprietary funds of the financial service provider or unreasonably increases administrative costs for the fund or investment fees for the financial service provider when such decision is made for a purpose other than benefiting the beneficiaries of the investments.

2. Any 401(K) plan with assets totaling less than $5 Million shall be prohibited from incurring an expense ratio exceeding 1.05% of assets.

3. Any 401(K) plan with assets totaling more than $5 Million but less than $20 Million shall be prohibited from incurring an expense ratio exceeding 0.8% of assets.

4. Any 401(K) plan with assets exceeding $20 Million shall be prohibited from incurring an expense ratio exceeding 0.5% of assets.

5. No financial service provider shall offer a revenue sharing agreement to intermediaries for choosing a fund that exceeds 0.25% of fund management costs.

6. Any 401(K) plan shall annually disclose to all investors in such fund any fee, expense, or administrative cost incurred annually in the management of such fund. This includes but is not limited to any revenue sharing cost.

7. Any employee with an existing 401(K) plan provided by an employer who takes a job with a new employer shall be permitted to transfer the value of the existing equity in the 401(K) plan into a 401(K) plan offered by the new employer with no tax consequence. Employers shall nor charge for such transfer. If the new employer does not offer a 401(K) plan, then the employee may convert the value of the existing equity in the 401(K) plan into a fixed-payment annuity upon retirement with no tax consequence.

8. Any beneficiary shall be entitled to initiate a beneficiary derivative class action lawsuit against any officer, agent, or employee violating this act to seek damages and legal costs.

9. This act shall take effect ninety (90) days from the date of passage.

Passed 11-0-0-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

STOP PRISON RAPE ACT

1. It shall be a separate felony punishable by restitution and imprisonment for no less than fifteen (15) years and no more than life for any person who while incarcerated in any federal prison or correctional facility to commit rape, sexual assault, or infected sexual battery. For purposes of this paragraph, infected sexual battery shall include the intentional infection of another person with an STD regardless of means of transmission, or exposing another person to a bodily fluid with the intent that such exposed person be required to recieve a rape or STD test by correctional employees. Any person convicted of an offense in this paragraph shall be isolated from the general population during their period of incarceration. It is the position of the government of Atlasia that such isolation shall not constitute cruel or unusual punishment. Any person convicted of violating this paragraph shall be required to register as a sex offender and shall be ordered to attend an appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling.

2. It shall be a misdemeanor punishable by no more than one (1) year imprisonment for any person while incarcerated in any federal prison or correctional facility to engage in consensual sexual acts with another incarcerated person. Any person convicted of an offense in this paragraph may be isolated from the sexual partner during their period of incarceration. It is the position of the government if Atlasia that such isolation shall not constitute cruel or unusual punishment.

3. It shall be a misdemeanor punishable by no more than one (1) year imprisonment for any correctional employees to engage in consensual sexual acts with a person who is incarcerated in any federal prison or correctional facility. If the correctional employee engages in non-consensual criminal sexual acts with an incarcerated person, including committing rape, sexual assault, or infected sexual battery against the incarcerated person, such crime shall be punished according the same general guidelines for such crime. For purposes of this paragraph coercing or threatening an incarcerated person to engage in sexual acts, including but not limited to threats of unfair treatment or supervision during incarceration or denial of privileges during incarceration, shall be deemed a non-consensual criminal sexual act. Any person convicted of an offense in this paragraph may be isolated from the sexual partner during their period of incarceration. It is the position of the government of Atlasia that such isolation shall not constitute cruel or unusual punishment.

4. If any person who is incarcerated in any federal prison or correctional facility makes known to a correctional employee that he or she believes he or she has been exposed to or infected with an STD, such prisoner shall be tested at no expense. The prisoner shall have the exclusive right to determine to whom the test results are shared with.

5. If any person who is incarcerated in any federal prison or correctional facilitybecomes pregnant during incarceration, unless the prisoner identifies the father, all former or current male correctional employees at the place of imprisonment shall submit to a paternity test. Any pregnant prisoner shall be afforded appropriate healthcare and protections by the prison or correctional facility to ensure the safe and healthy development and delivery of the baby. Any baby born to a prisoner shall, within two (2) weeks, be placed into the temporary custody of a guardian according to the law of the Region from which the prisoner last lived. No prisoner who delivers a baby while imprisoned shall have their parental rights permanently terminated merely for being imprisoned at the time of the baby's birth.

6. Any public computer terminal accessible by federal prisoners is hereby required to install internet browsing filters to screen out material that is obscene or pornographic or adult entertainment as defined by law. This shall not apply to home arrest.

7. Any library accessible by federal prisoners is hereby prohibited from making available any book or material that is obscene or pornographic or adult entertainment as defined by law.  This shall not apply to home arrest.

8. Any prison store, canteen, or exchange operated by any federal prison or correctional facility for the benefit of prisoners is hereby prohibited from selling or making available any book or material that is obscene or pornographic or adult entertainment as defined by law. This shall not apply to home arrest.

9. It is hereby prohibited for any federal prisoner to possess material that is obscene or pornographic or adult entertainment as defined by law while incarcerated. Any such material discovered by correctional employees shall be confiscated. This shall not apply to home arrest.

10. It is hereby prohibited for any federal prisoner to call a phone sex hotline while incarcerated. This shall not apply to home arrest.

11. It is hereby prohibited for any federal prison or correctional facility to host, sponsor, permit, or allow any event or entertainment that is obscene or pornographic or adult entertainment as defined by law. This shall not apply to home arrest.

12. No federal prisoner shall be eligible to receive erectile dysfunction medicine while incarcerated. Any erectile dysfunction medicine discovered by correctional employees shall be confiscated. This shall not apply to home arrest.

13. Nothing in this act shall be interpreted as prohibiting any federal prison or correctional facility from maintaining a policy of allowing conjugal visits by spouses to prisoners.

14.  No federal prisoner shall be charged a fee for the reasonable use of menstrual products or toilet paper, nor shall any visitor to a federal prison or correctional facility be required to remove or refrain from using any menstrual products while present in such prison or correctional facility.

15. For purposes of this act, adult entertainment shall include but not be limited to burlesque, cabaret, and drag performances.

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

Passed 10-0-1-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

UNSAFE DYES REGULATION ACT

1. As used in this act, insect-based dye means artificial dye derived from the cochineal insect, commonly identified as carmine, carminic acid, cochineal, cochineal extract, E120, Natural Red 4, crimson lake, or carmine lake.

2. It shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $10,000.00 and disgorgement of profits for any person in interregional commerce to sell, manufacture for sale, import for sale, or advertise for sale, any food product or drug intended for human consumption that contains insect-based dye.

3. It shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $10,000.00 and disgorgement of profits for any person in interregional commerce to sell, manufacture for sale, import for sale, or advertise for sale, any cosmetic intended for human use that contains insect-based dye, unless such cosmetic contains upon its exterior packaging a warning label informing purchasers that such cosmetic "contains an insect-based dye that may cause severe allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock.".

4. This act shall take effect 120 days after the date of passage.

Passed 8-2-1-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

SUPERFUND AMENDMENT ACT

Senate Bill
to limit pollution on federal property

1. This Act shall be called the Superfund Amendments Act.

2. 42 U.S.C. 9620(a) is hereby amended to require that each department, agency, and instrumentality of Atlasia shall be subject to, and comply with, at facilities that are or have been owned or operated by any such department, agency, or instrumentality, Regional or State substantive and procedural requirements regarding response relating to hazardous substances or pollutants or contaminants, including State hazardous waste requirements, in the same manner and to the same extent as any nongovernmental entity.

3. Atlasia hereby expressly waives any immunity otherwise applicable to Atlasia with respect to any Regional or State substantive or procedural requirement referred to in this act, including immunity from injunctive relief, civil penalties, criminal sanctions.

4.Unless otherwise specified herein, this act shall take effect 120 days from the date of passage.

Passed 8-4-0-6 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Not a big fan of making laws that restate existing precedent as a general rule, particularly since nobody appears to actually have been moved to consult the original law in the event they might have wanted to change it, but since it does at least touch on several issues from recent months I suppose it is good to have a clearer picture of where legislative precedent stands.

HARNESS THE MULES ACT

1. No voter may deliver their ballot early or by mail, email, PM, off-site drop box, or other means. Ballots shall only be valid if posted in the appropriate Voting Booth Thread during the election period.

2. No ballot may be delivered to the Voting Booth Thread by a proxy or ballot harvester.

3. It shall be a misdemeanor to offer a bribe or thing of value in exchange for a vote. For purposes of this paragraph, a thing of value includes but is not limited to a bottle of water, however a thing of value shall not include a public promise to support a specific policy, appoint a certain person, or mutually support or vote for a specific candidate.

4. No federal, Regional, State, or local electoral board, office, or official in Atlasia shall solicit, accept, use, or dispose of any money, grants, property, or services given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding voter education and outreach programs, voter registration programs, or any other expense incurred in the conduct of elections. This provision shall not be construed to prohibit the operation of a polling place or voter satellite office in a facility furnished by a private individual or nongovernmental entity that otherwise meets the requirements for polling places or voter satellite offices provided by law or acceptance of a federal government grant.

5.This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 6-4-1-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Incredibly a version of this bill passed the House in 2019 with presidential support and almost passed the Senate before it got torpedoed and then forgotten about. I consider the current situation vis-a-vis the legalization of most of our formerly illegal immigrant population to be more than adequate as far as the actual people are concerned, and echo what Griffin and Yankee both said in the course of debate that the onus here falls entirely on contractors and business to obey the law as it stands in Atlasia, rather than continuing to hire what has effectively become slave labor, as UNL also amended in and I commend her for pointing it out. The protections for all workers, legal and illegal, are as strong as can be made in order to have a semblance of incentive for federal contractors to follow the laws that they're subject to same as the rest of us.

WORKER WAGE PROTECTION ACT

1.  Any organization seeking or holding federal Atlasian government contracts or accepting federal funding 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 or funding 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.

4. Any organization seeking or holding federal Atlasian government contracts or accepting federal funding which is found to knowingly use forced labor or slave labor for government contracts will be suspended indefinitely upon the discovery of it occurring.

5.This act shall take effect sixty (60) days from the date of passage.

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

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Good stuff! Great stuff, in fact. Can't say much more about this manifestly good bill that hasn't already been said.

USE IT OR LOSE IT ACT

1. If the holder of any federal copyright, patent, or trademark of any intellectual property renounces such copyright, patent, or trademark, or formally expresses the intent to permanently halt and discontinue the use, production, licensing, or redistribution of any intellectual property secured by such copyright, patent, or trademark, such copyright, patent, or trademark shall be null and void and the intellectual property secured thereby shall become a part of the public domain.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 12-2-0-4 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill

EMMETT TILL-VICKI WEAVER ANTI-LYNCHING ACT

1. The crime of lynching shall constitute a violation of the constitutional and civil rights of Atlasians and shall be classified as a felony punishable as a premeditated murder is punished under federal law in all States and external territories of Atlasia.

2. A person has committed the crime of lynching when he knowingly, as part of a mob commits an act of violence upon the body of a person, which shall result in the death of such person. For purposes of this definition, a mob shall be any collection of people, assembled for the purpose and with the intention of committing an assault, a battery, a kidnapping, or a murder upon any person or an act of violence, without authority of law or in direct violation of the law.

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

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

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill

COMMUNITY STANDARDS ACT

1. The following terms shall be defined as follows:

A. Child Abuse material includes any obscene material other than child pornography that depicts a minor, or a representation of a minor, who is implied to be, or appears to be engaging in sexual activities, or in the presence of a person engaging in sexual activities, any depiction or representation of the genitals, breasts, or buttocks of a child for primarily sexual purposes, or a victim of torture, cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment. Grooming materials shall be considered child abuse material. Shoticon and lolicon material shall be considered child abuse material if such material meets the definition of child abuse material.

B. Exploitatively sexualizes children means photographing or filming an actual minor actor or model while such minor is nude or wearing only underwear; is removing clothing or dancing in an erotic or overtly sexualized manner; is simulating sexual acts or masturbation; is being touched in a sexual or otherwise inappropriate manner by another; or is performing in a sexually exploitative child pageant.

D. Grooming materials means a cartoon, animation, image, or series of images depicting a child engaged in the fondling of the sexual or genital parts of another or the fondling of his sexual or genital parts by another, masturbation, sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, object sexual penetration or other sexual acts.

E. Illegal obscenity means any obscene item that is prohibited by federal or applicable Regional law.

F. Potentially hazardous bodily fluid means urine, feces, blood, semen, bath water, farts, other body fluids, and any item contaminated by such fluids including but not limited to used syringes, hypodermic needles, condoms, tampons, sanitary pads, bandages, diapers, medical tests, clothing, and tissues.

G. Sexually exploitative child pageant means a  competition between minor children that focuses on judging and ranking the physical appearance and attributes of the contestants, as well as but not limited to personality traits, intelligence, talent, and answers to judges' questions as a judged criteria. For purposes of this section a drag show in which minors are participants shall be considered a sexually exploitative child pageant.

2. The prohibitions on manufacturing, financing, distributing, transporting, selling, or transmitting illegal obscenity in interstate or international commerce shall include obscenity prohibited by the laws of any Region in which such illegal obscenity is received. 18 U.S.C. § 1460 - 1470 shall be amended accordingly.

3. It shall be unlawful to knowingly manufacture, finance, distribute, transport, or sell, in interstate or international commerce, any child sex doll, unwashed underwear, socks, or children's clothing, or any potentially-hazardous bodily fluid. This shall not include the transportation or distribution of such items for the purpose of bona fide medical purposes, santization, or disposal.

4. It shall be unlawful to knowingly manufacture, finance, distribute, transport, or sell, in interstate or international commerce, any vending machine that dispenses illegal obscenity, child abuse material, unwashed underwear, socks, or children's clothing, or any potentially-hazardous bodily fluid, or to knowingly manufacture, finance, distribute, transport, or sell, in interstate commerce, any such prohibited item for such a vending machine. No such vending machine shall be located on federal property.

5. It shall be unlawful to knowingly direct, manufacture, finance, distribute, transport, or sell, in interstate or international commerce, any child abuse material or commercial photographic or videographic media that exploitatively sexualizes children.

6. Unless otherwise modified by law, a violation of this act shall be a felony punishable by imprisonment for no more than five (5) years, a fine of no more than $100,000.00, restitution, and disgorgement of profits.

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

Passed 11-0-0-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

OBSOLETE PROGRAMS SUNSET ACT

SENATE BILL

to eliminate dumb programs

Be it enacted:

SECTION I: NAME
a. This act shall be referred to as the Obsolete Programs Sunset Act

SECTION II: REDUNDANT, OBSOLETE, OR UNNECESSARY PROGRAMS

1. Authorization for the following programs shall expire on January 1, 2024:

   a. Forestry Service International Programs, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Agriculture.

   b. The Agricultural Mediation Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Agriculture.

   c. All projects carried out by the Agricultural Transportation Services Division, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Agriculture.

   d. The Rails to Trails Abandoned Railway Corridor Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   e. The Safe Routes to Schools Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   f. The Scenic Turnout and Overlook Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   g. The National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   h. National Scenic Byways Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   i. The Recreational Trails Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   j. Transportation Alternatives Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   k. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Transportation.

   l. The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Energy.

   m. The Natural Disaster Resilience Competition, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Homeland Security.

   n. The Natural Disaster Resilience Grant Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Homeland Security.

   o. The LWCF State Recreational Grant Program, currently administered by the Subdepartment of Interior.

   p. The Nonpoint Source Management Grant Program, currently administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

   q. The Brownfields Opportunity Grant Program, currently administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Passed 8-5-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill

DUMB REGULATIONS REPEAL ACT 21: GUESS WHO'S BACK ACT

TITLE I: FEDERAL PROPERTY AND ADMINISTRATION

1. The regulation prohibiting the washing of fish at certain national forest faucets is hereby eliminated. 36 CFR §261.16(c) shall be amended accordingly.

2. The regulation requiring the disinterment of buried human remains from a federal cemetery upon discovery of evidence that the deceased committed certain crimes is hereby eliminated. 38 USC 2411 shall be amended accordingly.

3. The regulations prohibiting the molesting of a shipwreck in Dry Tortugas National Park is hereby eliminated. 36 CFR §7.27(j)(1) shall be amended accordingly.

4. The regulation prohibiting persons from purchasing or bartering for authentic Atlasian military decorations and medals is hereby eliminated. 18 USC 704(a) shall be amended accordingly.

5. The regulation mandating that all Atlasian coins larger than a dime must depict an eagle on the reverse is hereby eliminated. 17 Stat. 424 shall be amended accordingly.

6. The moratorium on issuing grey whale subsistence hunting permits to the Makah Tribe is hereby rescinded.

7. The regulation criminalizing the disruption of a military funeral within certain fixed distances shall not be construed to apply on public land that is also a traditional public forum. 18 USC 1388 shall be amended accordingly.

8. The regulation criminalizing certain specific noncommercial intrastate activities occuring on portions of public sidewalks or private property is hereby eliminated. 18 USC 248 shall be amended accordingly.

9. The regulation permitting "free-speech zones" and the prohibition of speech in buffer zones near the President, Vice President, or their families is hereby eliminated.  18 USC 1752 shall be amended accordingly.

10. The regulation mandating States and Regions limit billboards on private land adjacent to federal highways or else lose federal highway funding is hereby eliminated. 23 US 131(D) shall be amended accordingly.  

11. The regulation prohibiting AMTRAK passengers who are lawfully complying with all other AMTRAK and federal policies related to the transportation of firearms in stored luggaed from notifying AMTRAK over the internet with at least twenty-four (24) hour notice rather than in person upon arrival is hereby eliminated. The AMTRAK checked firearms policy (2010) shall be amended accordingly.

12. The A.N.T.I.F.A Act is hereby repealed.

13. The regulation defining old age housing communities not subject to the fair housing act by way of example is hereby eliminated. 24 CFR 100.303(b) shall be repealed.

14. The regulation requiring any rental property that is part of the Section 8 program to be annually inspected shall not include any home subject to and compliant with regular inspections under a local rental inspection ordinance in which a uniform Regional Building code has been adopted. 24 CFR 982.405 and 24 CFR 884.217 shall be amended accordingly.

15. The Baby Box Act is hereby repealed.

TITLE II: PAPERWORK AND RECORD-KEEPING

1. The regulation under FERPA requiring protection of confidential student records shall not be interpreted to prohibit teachers from leaving corrected papers or assignments in an unattended pickup location. 34 CFR 99 shall be amended accordingly.

2. Any Federal Firearms Licenseholder who fills in an ATF Form with "Y" for "Yes" and "N" for "No" shall not be prosecuted for falsifying ATF records provided the offered answer is true. 18 U.S.C. 922(m) shall be amended accordingly.

3. The regulation requiring gunsmiths to record any firearm in their possession for more than eight (8 )hours into ATF-required bound books shall be amended to exempt all firearms possessed for five (5) business days excluding weekends. 27 CFR 178.125(E) shall be amended accordingly.

4. Section 5(2) of the Evergreen-Tmthforu LGBTQ+ Rights Act is hereby repealed.

5. The Let Them Do Their Job Act is hereby repealed.

TITLE III WORKPLACES AND TRAINING

1. The regulation prohibiting federal student aid to persons convicted of a drug-related offense is hereby eliminated. 28 USC 1091(r) shall be amended accordingly.

2. The regulation capping apprenticeships on federal contracts is hereby eliminated. 29 CFR 1,3,5 & 7 shall be amended accordingly.  

3. The regulations prohibiting the government from contracting with businesses owned by persons convicted of past felonies are hereby eliminated. 48 CFR § 3009.171-5 and 48 CFR § 3052.209-76 shall be amended accordingly.

4. The regulation criminalizing Bureau of Reclamation employees being late to work is hereby eliminated. Nothing in this law shall limit the available employee disciplinary policies available to federal employers. 43 CFR 422.12(a) shall be amended accordingly.

5. The regulation requiring employers to physically display posters referencing federal minimum wage and hour laws, workplace safety laws, polygraph protection laws, Drug free workplace laws, Discrimination laws, and whistleblower protection laws, shall not apply to employers who:
     a. Distribute all information that is contained on the posters to each employee upon their initial hiring
     b. Maintains a website displaying all information that is contained on the posters
     c. Provides written notice to all employees whenever information contained on the posters is changed by law.

6. Employer policies allowing guns to be stored in locked cars on employee parking lots shall not be interpreted to violate the general duty clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The Letter from Director Roger Clark, OSHA policy regarding violent employee behavior, OSHA Std. Interp. 1226 (D.O.L.), (1992) is hereby rescinded.

7. The regulation mandating employers give out private employee contact information is hereby eliminated. 29 CFR 102.62(d) shall be amended accordingly.

8. Sections 3, 5B, and 6 of the Walter Reuther & Cesar Chavez Solidarity Act are hereby repealed.

9. A business shall only be considered a joint employer of a franchise’s employees only where that employer possesses and exercises substantial direct and immediate control over the essential terms and conditions of employment (such as hiring, firing, discipline, supervision, and direction) of the second company’s employees or exercises direct control (other than limited and routine control) over another employer’s workers. Browning-Ferris Indus. of Cal. v. NLRB, 362 NLRB 186 (2015) is hereby overturned.

TITLE IV: TECHNOLOGY AND CONSUMER GOODS

1. The regulation requiring websites to adopt policies to protect children 13 and under shall not be interpreted as prohibiting online gaming websites from removing age-restricted account features after the account holder reaches adulthood. 16 C.F.R. 312.11(b) shall be amended accordingly.

2. The regulation requiring hybrids and electric vehicles to be loud is hereby eliminated. 49 CFR 571.141 shall be amended accordingly.

3. The regulation criminalizing the recording of movies at a movie theater on a camera or digital device is hereby eliminated. 17 USC 110 shall be amended accordingly.

4. The regulation prohibiting cable broadcasters from broadcasting certain loud commercials is hereby eliminated. 47 CFR 76.607 shall be amended accordingly.

5. Nothing in federal law shall be interpreted as limiting the sale or transfer of pre-1978 mobile homes lacking a HUD manufactured housing certificate.

6. The regulation mandating all lightbulbs sold in interstate commerce contain a label estimating electricity consumption is hereby eliminated. 16 CFR 305.3 shall be amended accordingly.

7. The regulation prohibiting the sale of pool heaters with a thermal efficiency less than 78% shall be decreased to 75%. 42 USC 6295(e)(2)

TITLE V: ANIMALS

1. The regulation prohibiting some transportation of exotic species across State lines shall be amended to permit such species lawfully kept in any State in Atlasia as a pet to be transported across State lines in accordance with the permit application required by 50 CFR 16.22. 50 CFR 16.22 shall be amended accordingly.

2. No person who frees a whale or dolphin tangled or trapped in a fishing net shall be charged with harassing, interfering with or harming a protected marine mammal.

3. The regulation prohibiting foreign showhorses that are temporarily in Atlasia for competitions from having sex is hereby eliminated. 9 CFR 93.301(f)(5)(vii) shall be amended accordingly.

TITLE VI: CHEESE AND OLEOMARGARINE

1. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell margarine if the letters in the word "margarine" aren't at least as bold as the other letters on the package is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR §166.40(c)(3) shall be amended accordingly.

2. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell margarine if the word "margarine" is written in smaller type than any other word on the package is hereby eliminated. 21 USC §331(m) & 21 USC §347(b)(3)(A) shall be amended accordingly.

3. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell mozzarella cheese made with a mixture of cow milk and water buffalo milk is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR §133.155(b)(1) shall be amended accordingly.

4. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell spiced cheese with less than .015 oz. of spice per pound of cheese. 21 CFR §133.190(a)(1) shall be amended accordingly.

5. The regulation prohibiting the sale of spiced cheese with unevenly distributed spices is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR 133.190(a)(3) shall be amended accordingly.

6. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell cheese whiz in a spray can without warning consumers to try and avoid spraying the food in their eyes is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR §101.17(a)(1) shall be amended accordingly.

7. The regulation prohibiting a cheesemaker from selling cheddar cheese where the curd was not matted into a cohesive mass is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR 133.113(a)(3) shall be amended accordingly.

8. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell parmesan cheese that isn't easy to grate is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR §133.165(a) shall be amended accordingly.

TITLE VII: FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS

1. The regulation making it a federal crime to bring chicken to Antarctica and leave it there without eating it, unless you incinerate it or sterilize it before you go is hereby eliminated. 45 CFR §§670.4(e) & 670.7 shall be amended accordingly.

2. The regulation making it a federal crime to import mixed caviar coming from multiple species of fish unless you know exactly how many fish eggs came from each kind of fish Is hereby eliminated. 50 CFR §23.71(g) shall be amended accordingly.

3. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell tomato juice that isn't red enough, unless you expressly warn people that the juice has “poor color” is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR §156.145(b)(1)(i) shall be amended accordingly.

4. The regulation making it a federal crime to leave North or South Carolina with an ear of corn unless it's been shucked is hereby eliminated. 7 CFR §301.80(b)(16) shall be amended accordingly.

5. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell mixed nuts with a picture of the nut mixture on the label if it doesn't accurately depict the relative nut proportions in the container is hereby eliminated.  21 CFR §164.110(f) shall be amended accordingly.

6. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell raisin buns if you use raisin extract in place of the required raisins is hereby eliminated.  21 CFR §136.160(a)(2) shall be amended accordingly.

7. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell salad dressing unless you label it "salad dressing" is hereby eliminated.  21 CFR §169.150(f) shall be amended accordingly.

8. The regulation making it a federal crime to sell bacon made from pork bellies that got heavier after being cured is hereby eliminated.  9 CFR §319.107 shall be amended accordingly.

9. The regulation making it a federal crime for a brewer to refuse to keep records of how much beer gets consumed at their brewery each day is hereby eliminated.  27 CFR §25.292(a)(11) shall be amended accordingly.

10. The regulation making it a federal crime to bottle "Near Beer" if the words "near" and "beer" are in different fonts or colors is hereby eliminated.  27 CFR §25.242(a) shall be amended accordingly.

11. The regulation making it a federal crime for a brewer to not immediately report an "unusual" loss of beer while the beer was being transported between breweries is hereby eliminated. 27 CFR §25.184(d) shall be amended accordingly.

12. The regulation making it a federal crime to bring an empty sack to Puerto Rico if the sack used to have unroasted coffee in it is hereby eliminated. 7 CFR §319.73–2(a)(3) shall be amended accordingly.

13. The regulation requiring all packaged food sold in interstate commerce to include on the label a section calculating the calories from fat. 21 CFR 101.9(c)(1)(i)(F) shall be amended accordingly.

14. Nutrition supplements may include non-FDA approval general wellness information on packaging materials provided the information is preceded by a statement that such information has not been approved by the FDA.

15. The regulation prohibiting the sale of makeup colored with D&C Black No. 2 if it uses more coloring than is "consistent with good manufacturing practice" is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR §74.2052(c) shall be amended accordingly.

16. The regulation requiring Dandruff Shampoo labels to warn not to eat the shampoo is hereby eliminated. 21 CFR 358.750(c)(1)(i) shall be amended accordingly.

17. The Atlasia Wine Official Classification Act of 2020 is hereby repealed.

SECTION VIII: TIME

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

Passed 7-5-0-6 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Another bill.

COMMONSENSE PROGRAM 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:

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 2024 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 2024 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, 2024, authorization to carry out the HOPE VI currently administered by HUD shall expire.

c. On January 1, 2024, authorization to carry out the Housing Counselors Program and Mobility Counselors Program currently administered by HUD shall expire.

d. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, 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, 2024, authorization to carry out the Title X Family Planning Program currently administered by HHS shall expire.

i. Federal funding for fiscal year 2024 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

j.  Prostitution, employment in a brothel, or employment as an adult entertainer shall not constitute available, eligible, or potential employment, work, or jobs for the purpose of work requirements. No person shall be denied any benefit or award with a work requirement for declining or refusing to accept employment as a prostitute, employee of a brothel, or adult entertainer, nor shall any job placement service recommend such employment to any person.

SECTION V: TIMING

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

Passed 7-4-0-7 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT