MidMC November 2012
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Topic Background:
As gas prices and hostility towards oil bearing Middle Eastern countries such as
Saudi Arabia have increased, so has the demand for energy independence. Very recently,
this pressing issue came into play regarding whether or not to implement the Keystone
XL, a pipeline backed by the company TransCanada that would span almost 2,000 miles,
connecting the oil sands in Canada to refineries in Texas and the gulf of Mexico, costing
around $7 billion. However, President Obama, whose consent is required, has blocked its
production for fear of environmental problems it would cause. Although he has blocked
this, a new, similar project can be submitted. Supporters of the pipeline have argued that
it would create thousands of jobs as well as possibly lower gas prices.
Topic Resolution Summary:
One must examine whether the pros outweigh the cons when considering the
Keystone XL. This bill would implement a new, similar construction, overriding
President Obama’s block of the Keystone XL as it would not apply to a new legislation.
Furthermore, the company chosen to build it, though TransCanada will have priority, will
be required to have production of materials for the pipeline, along with construction of
the pipeline itself, be in America so that more jobs are created. The main goal is to lower
gas prices along with creating new American jobs.
Questions to consider:
- Do the cons of the Keystone XL and other similar pipelines outweigh the
benefits?
- How would the creation of a pipeline of this enormity effect communities?
The environment?
- What issue is more important to solve: our environmental problems or jobs
and gas prices?
We are so excited for this year’s Middle School Model Congress and cannot wait to see
you all! We hope you enjoy this experience and come well prepared on our topics, as we
would love to see an in depth discussion of these issues.
For more information on the Keystone XL:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/k/keystone_pipeline/i
ndex.html?8qa, http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html
Feel free to do research on other websites.
-Rachel Keller and Jesse Gugig (your chairs)
MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL CONGRESS
Department: Science, Space, and
Technology
Principal Authors: Rachel Keller
Bill No: 1
Co-Authors: Jesse Gugig
Title of Bill: An Act to Create a 2,000 Mile Oil Pipeline
Whereas regular gas prices are currently about $3.60; Whereas in 2011, 45% of the
oil consumed by the United States was imported, as well as an increase on Saudi
Arabian oil dependence; Whereas Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz have
made the United States increasingly vulnerable; Whereas tensions in the Middle East
may increase the already high oil prices;
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SECTION ONE: Federal Law will mandate that a pipeline connecting oil sands in
Canada with refineries in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico be built.
SECTION TWO: Priority will be given to the company TransCanada for the
permission to build the aforementioned pipeline, but the Department of
Science, Space, and Technology will have the right to consider other company’s
for the job if they wish to have it. Whichever company is granted the building
rights must utilize materials from the United States along with hiring only or a
majority American workers to build the pipeline and make the machinery
necessary for its production.
SECTION THREE: This pipeline will be similar to that of the previously
proposed Keystone XL.
SECTION FOUR: Within the confines of the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, funds will be set aside to aid in the efforts of encouraging the
production of the pipeline.
SECTION FIVE: This bill will take effect in 365 days after passage.
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Topic Background:
With the end of the space shuttle program in America and the rise of private
interest on the subject, it appears that space travel may soon be privatized as opposed to
publicly funded. Under President Obama, NASA has been given reduced funding in the
hopes that private industry would pick up the slack and make advances in the field.
Already the first “tourist trips” into space have taken place, with more seemingly on the
horizon. One company, Bigelow Aerospace, currently owns six space stations. Two
companies, Shackleton Energy Company and Moon Express plan to mine resources from
the surface of the moon, with a third company, Planetary Resources, planning to mine
asteroids in near-earth orbit. Private presence in space is quickly becoming a reality, and
as the government begins to lose its monopoly on space travel decisions need to be made
as towards the regulation of the industry. Meanwhile, NASA continues to be a drain on
American resources and taxpayer money without tangible returns in the economic realm.
Topic Resolution Summary:
In order to balance the budget and to encourage private industry, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration will be entirely shut down.
Questions to consider:
- What are the benefits of NASA? What are the costs?
- Similarly, what are the pros and cons of completely privatizing space travel?
We are so excited for this year’s Middle School Model Congress and cannot wait to see
you all! We hope you enjoy this experience and come well prepared on our topics, as we
would love to see an in depth discussion of these issues.
For more information on topics relating to commercial space travel:
www.bigelowaerospace.com
http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/benefits_of_commercial_passenger_space_travel_fo
r_society.shtml
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/the-pros-and-cons-ofcommercializing-space-travel
Feel free to do research on other websites.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL CONGRESS
Department: Science, Space, and
Technology
Principal Authors: Jessie Gugig
Bill No: 2
Co-Authors: Rachel Keller
Title of Bill: An Act to Shut Down NASA
Whereas the federal deficit is currently charted at over $16 trillion;
Whereas NASA’s operations offer little in the way of monetary return;
Whereas NASA’s latest budget was $16,014 million;
Whereas the private sector is more than willing to take over the exploration of space
with the added benefit of returning revenue both to the country and to the federal
government in the form of taxable income;
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SECTION ONE: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will cease
to receive the bulk of its federal funding once the 2014 budget runs out.
SECTION TWO: Projects currently underway with long-term goals such as the
explorer probes Dawn and New Horizons will be funded at the minimum
amount required to continue paying the staff that watches the probe monitors.
Subsection One: Staff will be downsized to a minimal amount over a period
of several months during the months between the passage of this bill and the
2014 shutdown date.
Subsection Two: Public donations may continue to help fund NASA, and this
extra funding may be run at the Administration’s discretion so long as it still is
applied to their research and ongoing projects, and not towards the
development of new ones.
SECTION THREE: This bill will take effect 365 days after passage.