Drew Sandbo-The effects sports have on children's lives

The background of H.RES.6 was about recognizing the importance of coaches of organized sports, and the roles they play in the young athletes lives. The week of September 13-19, 2009, was designated as "National Coach Appreciation Week" and raising awareness about the role sports play in the lives of young kids, especially coaches. The official goal of the bill was "Recognizing the significant contribution coaches make in the life of children who participate in organized sports and supporting the goals and ideals of National Coaches Appreciation Week" and was proposed by Mike McIntyre from North Carolina, on January 6, 2009. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on September 14th, and no further action has taken place with this bill since then.

The goal of the bill, as stated above, was to "Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Coach Appreciation Week" specifically about how large of roles coaches play in the lives of children they coach in youth organized sports.

The specific means of the bill are very general, only stating that the goal of the bill is to officially:

(1) recognizes the significant contribution coaches make in the life of children who participate in organized sports;

(2) supports the goals and ideals of National Coach Appreciation Week; and

(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Coach Appreciation Week with appropriate recognition, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of sports and coaches in the life of children.

The type of power used to propose and pass this bill is an implied power, not stated directly in the constitution, which is most likely a spin off of the expressed power to "promote the progress of science and useful arts" which extends the power to organized sports, and recognizing the importance of coaches.

Although I think congress stretched the real meaning of this power to propose/pass this bill, I do think it is somewhat within their powers, although the bill doesn't officially make any changes, but rather recognizes a week for coaches which was already created. I also think that this was a worthwhile bill, because it's not implying anything out of the ordinary, yet creates awareness about a National Recognition week that was already created in the US.

Emily Steen-- Mentoring

H.R. 913: To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen mentoring programs, and for other purposes.




Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):

• Mentoring America's Children Act of 2009 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to make miscellaneous changes to the Mentoring grant program under title IV that include: (1) to improve schools awareness of mentoring purposes, (2) corporations, universities, and other entities among program providers, (3) requirement that the mentors help the children succeed into successfully adults, (4) suburban children in high crime areas and children living in high gang involvement, drug use, or dropout areas among those most i need of mentoring, (5) no more than three children per mentor, (6) mandatory information on grant applicants about planning for mentoring mentors/mentees matches and the satisfaction of grant matching requirements that increase from 10% to 50% over the three year grant term.



• This bill has not yet been passed but is in the process to be passed. The current status is that it was referred to the subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Goal of Action:

2/9/2009- Sponsor introduced remarks on measures (CR E222)

2/9/2009- Referred to the House Committee of Education and Labor

3/23/2009- Referred to the Subcommittee of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Specifics/Means of Goal:

(1) Improvement of school collectiveness and character among mentoring's purposes, (2) corporations, universities, and other entities among program providers, (3) a requirement that mentors help children become responsible and successfully adults, (4) suburban children in high crime areas and children living in high gang involvement, drug use or drop out areas among those most in need of mentoring, (5) Limitation of each mentor to no more than three children, and (6) Mandatory information on grant applicants about plans for mentoring mentor/mentee matches and the satisfaction of grant match requirements that increase from 10% to 50% over a three year grant term.


Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):

Implied power under the Elastic Clause which allows them to do all the "necessary and proper" things to improve a child's life and education through mentoring.

Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)

Yes, I do think Congress should do this according to its constitutional powers because every child should have the opportunity to succeed in life. Also every child should have access to a form of mentoring to help them be a better person or succeed in life.

Children and Reading (Priyanka)

H.RES.1111

Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):
Congress decided to pass a bill that would declare March 2 as Read Across America Day to get kids to read more and to honor Theodore Geisel (Dr. Suess) as this day is his birthday. It has passed and been agreed to in the House.


Goal of Action:
The House of Representatives wants to build what they call a nation of readers to keep up with the rest of the world.


Specifics/Means of Goal:
It suggests that parents read with their children for at least 30 minutes on this day and for others to have appropriate kinds of celebrations, ceremonies, and activities to honor this day.


Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
This is an implied power under the Elastic Clause which gives them the power to do what is necessary and proper and they believe that is necessary to get kids to read more.


Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
Yes, I think that this is a good way to both get kids to read more and to honor someone that everyone loves who made reading fun again for kids. I think it's well within Congress' rights to help kids read more.

Fashion Rebeccs Hill

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 803

Background: The Congress decied to take action and implement Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) to help combat the amount of pollution and toxic wastes that the textile industry causes.

Goal of Action: The ESP is a voluntary program that aims to encourage textile and laundry industries to reduce the amount of pollutiona and toxic wastes they emit into the environment.

Specifics/Means of the goal: The program is voluntary but can help companies reach their EPA standards for emissions more efficiantly. The program suggests using safer chemicals, promotes recycling, and the conservation of water and energy.

Type of Power: The powers that Congress are using are in the Commerce Clause, they are regulating an industry which is trade. The power could also be considered covered by the Elastic Clause, whihc gives them the ability to do things that are neccessary and proper, and the management of the environmental crisis going on in the U.S regarding pollution and waste could be considered something thats neccessary for the government to control and regulate.

Analysis: I think the government should promote the usage of greener technologies, and reward companies that ecceed the EPA's standards because the business world is all about making money, so companies uaually aren't willing to cut back on profits to save some trees.

Reminder

If your Google account id does not explicitly identify who you are, make sure to do so in your blog post. Only authors of the blog (your classmates and me) can read this.

Electric Vehicles (EV)

Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?):
For the better welfare of the public by integrating vehicles that are not dependent on gasoline and petroleum in order to cut down on pollution and oil consumption. Air pollution and smog becoming a problem in crowded cities such as Los Angelos, CA. The electric vehicle can help in many ways due to it being a pollution-free vehicle.


Goal of Action:
To establish a program to aid in integrating plug-in electric vehicles in multiple regions or areas.


Specifics/Means of Goal:
To aid the environment in regards to air pollution caused from gasoline powered vehicles as well as oil drilling. Also to aid the efficiency and reliability of the everyday vehicle for the consumer.


Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it?):

Congress is acting on the elastic clause which allows them the ability to promote general welfare by all means, especially relating to pollution and efficiency.





Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?

I believe congress is in all rights to do this in order to aid the public in transportation.

Congressional Powers Assignment

Congressional Powers Assignment

PART A - DUE TUESDAY MARCH 9TH:

Using the Congressional engine on Thomas, identify a congressional action related to your capstone project and fill in the following information.

- Copy and paste the following in a new blog post.
- Label your entry with the topic of your Capstone.

Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):






Goal of Action:





Specifics/Means of Goal:






Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):







Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)






PART B: Comment on two of your classmate's blogs. Consider their analysis; do you agree or disagree? Due Wednesday 3/10/2010.