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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 79 (Friday, May 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1029-E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

   RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 16TH DISTRICT STUDENT CONGRESSIONAL COUNCIL

                                 ______

                           HON. RALPH REGULA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 12, 1995
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, every year I sponsor a student congressional 
council in the 16th District of Ohio. High school students are selected 
to participate and are assigned issues of national importance to 
research and debate. This year the students were told to formulate 
their own ``Contract With America.''
  The students spent many weeks researching and discussing the annual 
topic. They conclude the project by holding a mock Congress. On this 
final day the students debate and vote on their contract proposals.
  The students considered over 30 pieces of legislation. I am proud to 
insert the following proposals which passed their student legislature 
into the Congressional Record:
  The participating high schools are: Alliance, Central Catholic, Glen 
Oak, Fairless, Fredericktown, Hillsdale, Hoover, Louisville, 
Marlington, Minerva, Northwestern, R.G. Drage, Tuslaw, and West Holmes.
                             Welfare Reform

       It is clear that the current welfare system is slowly 
     destroying the very fabric of our society. The current system 
     encourages both irresponsible behavior and fraud. In an 
     attempt to save the American society by strengthening the 
     American family, encouraging responsibility, and eliminating 
     unnecessary illegal behavior, I urge the passing of this 
     bill.
       A bill to establish guidelines for the Aid to Families with 
     Dependent Children program.
       In order to quality for and receive Aid to Families 
     payments all applicants and recipients must be at least 18 
     years of age, a legal citizen of the United States, and 
     either possess a high school diploma, have passed the 
     Graduation Equivalency Test, or currently be enrolled in a 
     course of study leading to a GED test.
       All applicants or recipients whom the State determines to 
     be addicted to alcohol or any type of drug shall be required 
     to participate in and successfully complete an addiction 
     treatment program. Those applicants and recipients whom the 
     State determines to be addicted to alcohol or any type of 
     drug shall also be subject to random alcohol and/or drug 
     testing.
       All guardians of children whose parent(s) are currently 
     incarcerated shall continue to 
     [[Page E1030]] receive ADFC payments for the care of these 
     children.
       All States shall have the power to require recipients of 
     AFDC payments to
      perform community service, providing that they offer child 
     care to those whom they determine need it.
       All unwed mothers must establish paternity in order to 
     receive AFDC payments. Once paternity is established, AFDC 
     benefits will not increase for those women who are currently 
     on welfare who give birth to additional children.
       All fathers that fail to pay child support shall not be 
     eligible to receive AFDC payments, however, job training and 
     placement assistance shall be offered to these men.
       All States shall be required to terminate AFDC payments to 
     recipients who have received these payments for at least 
     three years. All States shall have the power, however, to end 
     these AFDC payments after one year, providing that they offer 
     a job training and assistance program to their recipients.
       All State-provided job training and placement assistance 
     programs shall be funded through block grants, comprised of 
     the savings generated by denying AFDC benefits to those under 
     the age of 18. All State-provided child care to recipients of 
     AFDC payments may also be funded through these block grants, 
     or States may provide the position of child care 
     administrator as a community service opportunity to those 
     recipients whom must complete a State determined requirement 
     of community service.

Stricter Legislation Regarding Persons on Trial, Punishments, and Their 
                                Appeals

       A bill to have a stricter legislation regarding trials, 
     punishments and appeals of accused persons. If a person is 
     accused of committing a felony, they should be tried as an 
     adult regardless of their age when they committed the crime. 
     There should be stricter psychiatric evaluations for accused 
     persons claiming temporary insanity. Useless questioning or 
     the use of irrelevant evidence should be abolished. There 
     should be stricter punishments for criminals convicted of 
     crimes involving guns, drugs, and other serious felonies. Any 
     criminal convicted of any 3 felonies will be locked up in 
     prison for the rest of their life. Life sentences should be 
     serviced for the remainder of the criminal's life. We should 
     cut back on jail privileges for the white collar criminals, 
     such as tennis courts, exercise rooms, swimming pools, etc. A 
     convicted criminal should only be allowed to receive two 
     appeals. By doing this, it will eliminate the use of tax 
     payers' funding of useless court trials. If released, the 
     criminal must pay court fees.

Mandatory Railroad Crossing Warning Light and Gate Placement and Repair

       This bill would impose mandatory placement of lights and 
     gates at all railroad crossings in use and require immediate 
     repair of all faulty gates and lights.
       A bill to create gates and lights for all railroads in use.
       Sec. 1. The federal government will allocate funds from 
     Department of Transportation to state governments for the 
     building of railroad crossings that are in use.
       Sec. 2. All faulty gates and lights must be repaired 
     immediately. Gates and lights that are not working or are 
     being repaired must have signs posted to notify this to 
     drivers.
       Sec. 3. If a railroad crossing does not have gates of 
     lights then trains must reduce their speed to 25 m.p.h. 
     through the crossing until the installation of gates and 
     lights is complete.
       Sec. 4. If a state does not comply with this bill all 
     federal funding for highways will be cut off for that state.
     

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