AP GOV MODEL CONGRESS 2022

Committee: Financial Services: Principal Author: Casey Adams

Bill No.: Delegation:

Title of Bill:
Children’s Welfare Act

BE IT ENACTED BY THE HULL MODEL CONGRESS

1 Preamble: WHEREAS children’s poverty is exponentially increasing and disproportionately

2 minority populations; the national annual average meal debt is $262 million per year;
3 1.54 million students pay full price for lunches they cannot afford; the national average cost for
4 daycare is $1230 per month and the average single mother makes $25,130 and their male
5 counterparts $39,616 annually; children lose up to 40% of their learning gains over the
6 summer when not enrolled in summer enrichment programs; an estimated 74% of women
7 cannot afford to take maternity leave and as such must return to work sooner than
8 recommended, impacting the child’s early development; It is shown that quantifiable changes
9 can be made with the support of Congress to promote the general welfare of children aged
10 between 0-18.
11
12 SECTION 1: Expanding budgeting for special education programs;
13 Currently, the federal budget for special education is $13.3 billion, and the total amount spent
14 on special education nationally is $77.3 billion. By raising the budget to $19 billion, the
15 federal government takes the pressure off of states to provide for these students with the
16 following standards: $1,500 must be allocated to the education of each student
17
18 SECTION 2: Summer enrichment programs
19 Currently, there exist schools that encourage their students to participate in various
20 summer enrichment programs. Currently, less than 10 % of school-going children attend
21 school-led summer enrichment programs. The number is still very low or non-existent among
22 the minority. The federal government requires increasing the special education budget to
23 provide federal funding to all public schools with summer enrichment programs.
24
25 SECTION 3: Continuing the free or reduced lunch program;
26 Minorities disproportionately cannot afford lunch which continues to strain their quest for
27 an education. By ensuring that these learners get access to free or subsidized lunch, schools
28 shall record less absenteeism and reinforce the right to education.
29
30 SECTION 4: Parental support;
31 Poverty rates for new parents are on the rise, hence why it is necessary to support parents.
32 Sub-SECTION A: Maternity leave;
33 A. 40% of their average salary in their highest paying quarter or
34 $180/week, whichever is lower, for the first 12 weeks postpartum
35 B. 33% for the following 20 weeks after, or $160/week whichever is
36 lower
37 C. 8-month of job-protected leave in which they are guaranteed their
38 same position after returning to their current place of work after
39 working for that employer for 6 months or 1,200
40 hours or whichever comes first
41 D. From months 8-10, can choose daycare or supplemental salary
42 Sub-SECTION B: Paternity leave;
43 A. 8-month job-protected leave for all fathers or male guardians in
44 which they are guaranteed the same position after returning to
45 their current place of work after working for more than 6 months or
46 1200 hours or whichever comes first.
47
48 SECTION 5: Registration of School Children/Beneficiaries
49 All schools shall register all the students right from the Elementary School level to the Highs
50 School level for the food program. The schools shall also provide a separate register for all
51 students whose parents/guardians opt out of the plan after being convinced that the
52 parent’s/guardians are capable of providing for their children adequately and at all times.
53
54 SECTION 6: This bill shall go into effect 91 days after passage.