RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Minimum Wage

Congress.gov: S.2488, “Raise the Wage Act of 2023”
ProCon.org: “Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?”
U.S. Department of Labor: “History of Changes to the Minimum Wage Law”
Wharton School, University of PA: “Why Raising Minimum Wage Has Long-Term Costs”
CommonDreams.org: “Sanders, Scott Unveil $17 Federal Minimum Wage Bill”
RaisetheMinimumWage.com: “Why the U.S. Needs at least a $17 Minimum Wage”

Issue 2: Secure the Border Act

Congress.gov: S.2824, “Secure the Border Act of 2023”
U.S. Congressional Budget Office: “H.R.2, Secure the Border Act of 2023”
Senate.gov: “Cruz Introduces Senate Companion to House-Passed Secure Border Act”
WhiteHouse.gov: “Statement of Administration Policy – Secure the Border Act 2023”
WaPo OpEd, Fareed Zakaria: “Democrats Should Admit They’re Wrong on Immigration”
ImmigrationForum.org: “Bill Analysis — Secure the Border Act of 2023”
House.gov: “Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Introduces ‘Secure the Border Act 2023’”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Minimum Wage

1. Do you support or oppose gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour? If you were speaking to a person who disagreed with your position, what would you say to persuade them to see your side of the issue?
2. Some proponents of raising the federal minimum wage say the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour traps people in poverty. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. If you were a business owner, would you want the minimum wage to increase? Why or why not?
4. What is your personal view on whether to raise the federal minimum wage? Use relevant reasons from your life experiences as well as research.
5. Who bears the costs of a higher minimum wage? (Hint: In addition to businesses who have higher labor costs, this could also include workers who suffer reduced hours as well as young job seekers who find it difficult to find a job.)

Issue 2: Secure the Border Act

1. Some people believe a good way to slow illegal immigration is to fine U.S. businesses who employ illegal immigrants. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. In Fareed Zakaria’s Op-Ed (link above), Zakaria states that to gain control of illegal immigration, the president should suspend admission of asylum seekers to the U.S. since asylum has become a way to game the system. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. Do you believe there is a relationship between illegal immigration and crime? Why or why not?
4. What would happen if we erased all country borders and let people live wherever they wanted?
5. When is immigration helpful to a country and when is it harmful?

RESEARCH LINKS

AM RADIO uses amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions. AM broadcasting was established in the 1920s, and AM radio remained the primary method of broadcasting for the next 30 years until television became widespread in the 1950s.

Issue 1: AM Radio
Congress.gov: S.1669, “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023”
Fox News: “Officials Sound Alarm on Carmakers Dropping AM Radio in New Vehicles”
The Hill: “Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Legislation Requiring AM Radios New Cars”
Inside Radio: “Farm Broadcasters Make Case For AM Radio As A Rural Life Issue”
Washington Post: “End of a Love Affair: AM Radio is Being Removed from Many Cars”
wearebroadcasters.com: “82 Million Americans Depend on AM Radio”

Issue 2: Medicare for All
Congress.gov: S.1655, “Medicare for All Act”
The Nation: “The Blind Spot in Medicare for All”
Physicians for a National Health Program: “The Medicare for All Act of 2023”
ProCon.org: “History of Universal Health Care”
NYT OpEd: “The Dangers of Medicare for All”
House.gov: “Jayapal, Dingell, Sanders Introduce Medicare for All Act of 2023”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: AM Radio

1. What are the arguments for and against Congress requiring automakers to include AM radio in new vehicles? Decide how you stand on the issue, then see if you can argue the other side’s position.
2. According to the Nielsen Company, AM radio listeners tend to be older (about one-third of them are over age 65). As a young person, do you think AM radio is still useful? Why or why not?
3. Lawmakers say AM radio is a critical source for receiving broadcast emergency information. As Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said, “When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your [car’s] AM radio.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
4. Automakers say that cell phones are much better at broadcasting emergency alerts than AM radio. With today’s smartphones, is AM radio still necessary? Why or why not?
5. AM radio is free to all drivers of cars that have it. Given this fact, how does AM radio compare to other modes of communication such as cell phone and internet reception?

Issue 2: Medicare for All

1. Costs of private health care in this country have long been rising; two-thirds of bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical debt. Is our current health care system working for “We the People?” Why or why not?
2. Should health care in the U.S. be a right or a privilege to citizens? Discuss.
3. Proponents of Medicare for all say even if Americans’ federal taxes had to rise to pay for it, they would save money by no longer having to pay for employer-provided health insurance premiums, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Do you agree? Why or why not?
4. Opponents of Medicare for All say that government cannot effectively run the Postal Service or VA health system without losing money; thus, it would be a mistake to assume it could run the country’s health care system. Do you agree? Why or why not?
5. What are the arguments for and against Congress passing a Medicare for All national health care program? Decide how you stand on the issue, then see if you can argue the other side’s position.

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Supreme Court Term Limits
Congress.gov: H.R.4423 “To establish process for appointment Supreme Court Justices”
fixthecourt.com: “On Supreme Court Term Limits”

Formal group photograph of the Supreme Court as it was been comprised on June 30, 2022. Seated from left are Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Justices Samuel A. Alito and Elena Kagan.
Standing from left are Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

Brookings Institution: “Term limits can tackle the Supreme Court’s crisis of legitimacy”
Alliance for Citizen Engagement: “Pros, Cons of Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices”
constitutioncenter.org: “Did Founders want term limits for Supreme Court Justices?”
Louisville Political Review: “The Case Against Supreme Court Term Limits”

Issue 2: Welfare Drug Testing
Congress.gov: H.R.204 “Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act”
clasp.org: “Drug Testing and Public Assistance”
worldpopulationreview.com: “Welfare Drug Test States”
usatoday.com: “Viral Post Errs in List of States Requiring Drug Tests for Welfare”
legalmatch.com: “Welfare Drug Testing Legality”
Heritage Foundation: “Reforming the Food Stamp Program”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Supreme Court Term Limits

1. Would Supreme Court term limits contradict Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which states justices shall “hold their Offices during good Behaviour?” Why or why not?
2. Critics of Supreme Court term limits say it is an effort to grab the power Democrats have lost. How do you respond?
3. Since the drafting of the Constitution, the legislative and executive branches of government have become more democratized. For example, senators are elected directly by voters in the states they represent. Should the judiciary undergo similar reform? Why or why not?
4. Would term limits create a situation where justices are incentivized to rule in their self-interest during the final portion of their term to be more appealing to future employers? Why or why not?
5. Opponents of Supreme Court term limits say unlimited judicial terms serve the goal of distancing the high court from political manipulation. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Issue 2: Welfare Drug Testing

1. State legislators have argued that drug testing is often required by employers, so it is reasonable to also require it for welfare recipients. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. Drug testing welfare recipients is expensive. Do you think it is worth the cost? Why or why not?
3. Does your state require drug testing for recipients of welfare programs like SNAP, TANF, etc.? Research the answer if you don’t know. Do you agree with your state’s policy?
4. Do you believe the poor are more likely than other groups (such as seniors) who receive government money to use drugs? Why or why not?
5. Proponents of drug testing welfare recipients argue that drug testing helps identify people who can benefit from substance abuse treatment. Is there a convincing link between welfare recipients and drug use? Why or why not?

RESEARCH LINKS

THE IDEA OF THE 32-HOUR (OR FOUR-DAY) WORKWEEK has been bandied about for decades in the U.S. As far back as the 1950s, The New York Times reported that then U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon—a Republican—predicted the coming of the four-day or 32-hour workweek in our nation. In a Sept. 23, 1956, NYT article, reporter William M. Blair wrote, “Vice President Richard M. Nixon foresaw tonight for the ‘not too distant future’ a four-day workweek and a fuller family life for every American.”

Issue 1: 32-Hour Workweek
Congress.gov: H.R.1332 “Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act”
The Hill: “33 Companies Tested 4-day Week. None Are Planning to Switch Back”
shrm.org: “Is the 32-Hour Workweek Feasible in the US? Experts Weigh In”
New York Times: “Trial Run of 4-Day Workweek Wins Converts”
KXAN.com: “60 School Districts in Texas Have Made Switch to 4-day Weeks”
Higher Ed Dive: “Inside One College’s Move to a 4-day Workweek”

Issue 2: Gas Stoves
Congress.gov: S.240 “Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act”
U.S. Oil and Gas Association: “Hands Off My Stove”
Fox News: “Democrat Led Cities Already Moving Forward on Gas Stove Bans”
USA Today: “Gas Stove Bans Explained: Why Are They Suddenly Controversial?”
Wall Street Journal: “Banning Gas Stoves by Regulation”
Fox News: “’Hands Off My Stove:’ Group Pushes Back Against Gas Stove Bans”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: 32-Hour Workweek

1. How do you think having a shorter workweek would affect workers’ productivity? Would it rise, fall or remain the same? Why?
2. If your school changed to a 4-day week, how would that affect your life? For instance, you might have less time for an after-school job. What are other ways such a schedule might affect your life?
3. How might a shorter workweek be good or bad for the environment? Explain.
4. In Japan, Microsoft trialed a four-day workweek and saw improvements in workers’ productivity and job satisfaction. Do you think this would work in the U.S.? Why or why not?
5. How did the COVID pandemic change American workers’ expectations about work/life balance? Explain.

Issue 2: Gas Stoves

1. Why do you think gas stoves have become such a “hot topic?” What is the underlying issue? Explain.
2. Regarding gas stoves, CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr. said, “Products that can’t be made safe can be banned.” Republications charged that the statement was a weaponization of the federal bureaucracy. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. Trumka later clarified that regulations restricting gas stoves would apply to new products only (not gas stoves currently in people’s homes). Does this change your opinion? Why or why not?
4. Read the pro/con quotes for the gas stoves issue on p. 3 of the Student Forum newsletter. Whose opinion do you agree with more? Explain why.
5. Do you think it’s unfair to tell people which appliance they can and can’t use? Why or why not?

RESEARCH LINKS

THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE (SPR) is the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil. Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, these federally owned oil stocks are stored in massive underground salt domes (or caverns) along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico.

Issue 1: Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Congress.gov: H.R.21 “Strategic Production Response Act”
U.S. Department of Energy: “Strategic Petroleum Reserve Quick Facts”
WaPo: “What Is the Strategic Oil Reserve and Can It Lower Prices?”
Axios.com: “How the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Works”
Politico.com OpEd: “Tapping the Oil Reserve Is Bad Policy”
WSJ.com: “Why Is Biden Tapping the SPR and Will It Bring Lower Gas Prices?”

Issue 2: D.C. Statehood

Congress.gov: S.51 “Washington, D.C. Admission Act”
Brennan Center for Justice: “D.C. Statehood Explained”
Senate.gov: Hearing, Cato Institute Statement – “Examining D.C. Statehood”
statehoodresearchdc.org: “Democracy Deferred: D.C.’s Two-Century Struggle”
League of Women Voters: “FAQs About Statehood for the People of D.C.”
Politico: “Your All-Purpose Wonk’s Guide to Why D.C. Statehood Is So Hard”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Strategic Petroleum Reserve

1. President Biden’s recent release of oil from the SPR succeeded in reducing the cost of gasoline for Americans. Yet the SPR has dropped to its lowest level since 1985 in less than a year. Did Biden make the right decision? Why or why not?
2. The SPR wasn’t technically designed to help the U.S. government manage the price consumers pay for gasoline, but it has been used that way by multiple administrations. Does this make it “okay” for administrations to tap into it for that purpose?
3. H.R.21 limits the drawdown of petroleum in the SPR until the Department of Energy develops a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production. Should alternatives to oil and gas production, such as renewable energy options, also be considered as solutions? Why or why not?
4. Is releasing emergency oil reserves when there are no fuel shortages or lines at the pump worth what might come next? Is the benefit to the American public worth the risk?
5. What is your perception of President Biden’s motives for tapping the SPR to lower gas prices? Are his intentions politically motivated? Why or why not?

Issue 2: D.C. Statehood

1. How do you think the inclusion of D.C. as a state might impact the future of the country?
2. D.C. citizens pay high taxes but do not have representation in Congress. Is statehood the right solution to this problem? Why or why not?
3. If admitted, D.C. would have the highest proportion of Black residents of any state. Does this fact make D.C. statehood a civil rights issue? Why or why not?
4. What do you think? Should D.C. become a state? Explain your reasoning.
5. What are the arguments for and against D.C. statehood? Which do you believe are the strongest, and which are weaker?

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: TikTok Ban

SINCE ITS LAUNCH, TIKTOK has become a popular meeting place for under-25-year-olds, but recently the social media app is the subject of a slew of state bans and a U.S. national security probe.

Congress.gov: “S.5245 – ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act”
Rubio/Gallagher OpEd: “TikTok, time’s up; app should be banned in America”
WSJ.com: “Senate Passes Bill Banning TikTok From Government Devices”
Gizmodo.com: “TikTok Owner Admits Employees Accessed Data of U.S. Users”
TheHill.com: “Lawmakers introduce bill to ban TikTok in U.S.”
Reuters.com: “U.S. lawmakers unveil bipartisan bid to ban China’s TikTok”
TheGuardian.com: “Revealed: How TikTok censors videos don’t please China”

Issue 2: Cryptocurrency
Congress.gov: “S.4760 Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act of 2022”
Overview: “The Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act Closes Gaps”
Marketplace.org: “Your questions about cryptocurrency answered”
cnbc.com: “Congress considers crypto consumer protection bill SBF backed”
Thomsonreuters.com: “Why the crypto economy needs stricter regulations”
coinmarketcap.com: “Impact of FTX’s Collapse Will Go Beyond Its Customers”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: TikTok Ban

1. Although they’re owned by the same company, China’s version of TikTok offers a child-friendly version, with educational videos and a time limit that isn’t offered in the U.S. Do you think it’s possible China is using TikTok to influence a generation of American youth with malevolent motives?
2. Should TikTok be banned in the U.S.? Why or why not? If not, what alternative solutions do you suggest?
3. U.S. lawmakers fear TikTok has become a tool for the dissemination of Chinese propaganda. In fact, sources have claimed that the Islamic State is posting propaganda on the app. Do these facts change your opinion of the situation? Why or why not?
4. Is TikTok merely a fun video app, or something more insidious? If you were a parent, would you allow your kids to use the app? Why or why not?
5. The app contains a great deal of private information about American users and this information is stored offshore. Is TikTok a threat to national security? Is it futile to worry about Chinese government surveillance in an age where all big tech companies (and the U.S. government) are spying on us anyway?

Issue 2: Cryptocurrency

1. Some people believe that cryptocurrencies such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the new financing of the future. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. Certain lawmakers, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), say cryptocurrencies need more regulation. What are the concerns about regulation, or lack thereof, and what do you think needs to be done?
3. Warren says digital currency is not a “good way to buy and sell things and not a good investment and is an environmental disaster.” Is she correct?
4. Should cryptocurrencies have to abide by the same regulations as securities, or should new rules be devised?
5. Given the current lack of regulations on cryptocurrencies, would you feel safe investing all or part of your savings in it? Why or why not?

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Student Loan Debt

STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS in the United States owe a collective nearly $1.75 trillion in federal and private student loan debt as of August 2022, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Congress.gov: H.R.8729 “Debt Cancellation Accountability Act of 2022”
Congress.gov: S.4483 “Debt Cancellation Accountability Act of 2022”
whitehouse.gov: “President Biden Announces Student Loan Relief 4 Borrowers”
GOP House.gov: “Biden’s Student Loan Giveaway to the Wealthy”
GOP House.gov: “CBO: Biden’s Biggest Executive Actions Come with Price Tag”
Wall Street Journal: “Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan to Cancel Debt”
Associated Press: “GOP states sue Biden administration over student loan plan”

Issue 2: Puerto Rico Statehood
Congress.gov: H.R.8393 “Puerto Rico Status Act”
House.gov: “Chair Grijalva Introduces Historic Puerto Rico Status Act”
LatinoRebels.com: “Puerto Rico Status Act Stalls in House, ‘Outside Interests’”
House.gov: “Rep. García’s Statement on His Vote on the Puerto Rico Status Act”
PuertoRicoReport.com: “Supporters Rally for the Puerto Rico Status Act”
CRS: “Statehood Process + Political Status of U.S. Territories”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Student Loan Debt

1. Should any student debt be canceled? If so, who is “deserving” of cancellation, and on what timeline?
2. If all future students were provided with a pathway to a debt-free public college going forward, does that make student debt cancellation more or less reasonable?
3. Why is the question over forgiving federal student loan debt so controversial?
4. How have the opportunities in the job market for someone with a degree changed in the last 10 to 50 years?
5. Is it important to have a significant number of young people attend college, including young people that are going to require loans to afford college?

Issue 2: Puerto Rico Statehood

1. Do you support or oppose H.R.8393? If you were speaking to a person who disagreed with you, what would you say is the strongest argument in support of your position?
2. Should Puerto Rico be granted statehood? Why or why not?
3. What other policies could mitigate the problems seen by proponents of statehood? Explain your answer(s).
4. Should any or all of the other U.S. territories be granted statehood? Why or why not?
5. What other measures might be considered, if any, to resolve Puerto Ricans’ lack of representation in Congress, citizenship, and other concerns?

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Methane Emissions
Regulations.gov: “EPA’s Proposed Rule on Emissions Guidelines”
Congressional Research Service: “IRA Methane Emissions Charge Brief”
Competitive Enterprise Institute: “Biden Methane Rule Would Cause Decline”
Washington Post: “Biden Unveils New Rules to Curb Methane”
The National Law Review: “EPA Proposes New Methane Regulations”
RMI.org: “Methane: A Threat to People and the Planet”

Issue 2: For the People Act
Congress.gov: H.R.1 – “For the People Act of 2021”
Conservative Action Project: “Conservatives Oppose H.R.1, Fantasy of the Left”
Brennan Center for Justice: “Congress Must Pass the ‘For the People Act’”
Roll Call: “10 Things You Might Not Know about H.R.1”
Heritage Foundation: “H.R.1 Is a Threat to American Democracy”
Fox News: “H.R.1 Imperils Free and Fair Elections, Here Are the Worst Parts”
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) OpEd: “Why I’m Against the For the People Act”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Methane Emissions

1. Where do you stand on whether the U.S. government, and specifically the Environmental Protection Agency, should be doing about global warming and climate change?
2. Why are methane emissions from transportation a problem? Do you have any suggestions for how methane emissions can be reduced?
3. What alternative sources of fuel or other means of transport are available, which would reduce emissions?
4. How does the distance from your school effect your emissions? How did your grandparents travel to school? How do you think your grandchildren will travel to school?
5. Do you think recent changes in climate and weather are more attributed to natural or human causes? Explain your reasons.

Issue 2: For the People Act
1. Do you support or oppose H.R.1? If you were speaking to a person who disagreed with you, what would you say is the strongest argument in support of your position?
2. Does H.R.1 represent federal government overreach into territory best left to the states? Why or why not?
3. Are the bill’s ethics provisions necessary? Why or why not?
4. Are H.R.1’s improvements in access to elections, through ease of registration, early voting, and more accurate voter rolls, necessary? Why or why not?
5. Do the disclosure provisions around political ads and political spending represent a threat to free speech, or a needed opening to identify who is influencing our democracy?

RESEARCH LINKS

The U.S. Supreme Court as composed October 27, 2020, to June 30, 2022. (Front row, L to R) Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Stephen G. Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor. (Back row, L to R) Brett M. Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Issue 1: Protecting Our Kids Act

Congress.gov: H.R.7910 “Protecting Our Kids Act”
Congressional Budget Office: “Estimated Budgetary Effects of Protecting Our Kids Act”
RAND Corporation: “Gun Policy in America — Effects of Minimum Age Requirements”
Pew Trusts: “Few States Seem Ready to Raise Age to Buy Semi-Automatic Rifles”
The Hill: “House Passes Sweeping Gun Package in Largely Party-Line Vote”
Fox News: “House Votes to Set Minimum Age for Buying Semi-automatic Weapons”

Issue 2: Judiciary Act
Congress.gov: S.1141 “Judiciary Act of 2021”
Sen. Roy Blunt Op-Ed: “Don’t Pack SCOTUS, Truth Behind Democrats’ Push for Reform”
Rutgers University: “What Is Court Packing?”
Reason.com: “House Democrats Revive Their Court-Packing Push”
Supremecourt.gov: “The Court as an Institution”
Pacific Legal Foundation: “Court Packing Explained”
Democracy Journal: “Let’s Think About Court Packing”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Protecting Our Kids Act
1. If passed, would the Protecting Our Kids Act would be effective at reducing gun violence and mass shootings in the U.S.? Why or why not?
2. Do you think raising the age from 18 to 21 to purchase semiautomatic weapons would reduce school shootings? Why or why not?
3. Looking at the pro/con quotes made by members of Congress on p. 3 of the newsletter, what do their statements tell you about the bill?
4. Search for #ProtectingOurKidsAct on Twitter and/or other social media sites. How do others’ perspectives help you understand the bill?
5. In Japan there are strict gun control laws and so there is very little gun crime. Should all countries follow Japan to lower gun crime?

Issue 2: Judiciary Act
1. Should packing the Supreme Court ever be considered? Why or why not?
2. Does the current method of waiting until a Justice retires or dies and allowing the current president to appoint a new justice work? Why or why not?
3. If you could wave a magic wand, what would the ideal Supreme Court look like? Consider how many justices, the nomination and approval process, term limits, and other ideas. Support your opinions and argue why this court would be the best.
4. What are the steps in the nomination process for Supreme Court Justices? What constitutional actors are involved?
5. What qualities should a Supreme Court justice have? How much does a candidate’s political ideology influence a presidential nomination today?