A Resolution Regarding Juvenile Crimes
1. Whereas, the juvenile crime rate in recent years has declined, reaching the
2. same level as 25 years ago, before the crack-cocaine fueled crime waves of
3. the late 1980s and early 1990s, and
4. Whereas, thousands of juveniles are being tried as adults in adult courts, and
5. Whereas, this leads to excessively harsh punishments that traumatize youths,
6. and
7. Whereas, many youth are abused sexually and/or emotionally in prison, and
8. Whereas, these factors contribute to the embitterment of ex-convicts, which in
9. turn contributes to the cycle of repeat offenders, and
10. Whereas, this in turn only exacerbates criminal activity, and
11. Whereas, we would like to see the decrease juvenile crime rate continue,
12. and
13. Whereas, the youth that were not sentenced to adult sentences have a
14. much better chance of escaping the penal system,
15. Therefore Be It Resolved by the Congress here assembled that the
16. federal government encourage states to require that juveniles, those under
17. 18 years of age, to be tried and sentenced in the juvenile courts for all crimes,
18. and that this encouragement take the form of incentives offered as federal
19. grants to those states that comply to support their prison system.
Respectfully submitted,
IN 8th Dist. Rep. Matthew R. Hahn (R)
A Resolution Regarding Increase in Teacher Salary
1.Whereas, teachers prepare the future leaders of America, and
2. Whereas, public schools in the U.S. continue to suffer a severe shortage of
3.qualified teachers willing to teach under current pay, benefits, and working
4.conditions, and
5. Whereas, the American Federation of Teachers reports that average teacher pay lags
6. $10,000 to $15,000 behind average pay for jobs requiring comparable skills and
7. knowledge in the private sector, and
8.Whereas, state increase average teacher pay by 30% after inflation in order to
9.solve the teacher shortage, and
10.Whereas, roughly 20% of U.S. teachers have been assigned to teach in fields for
11. which they lack appropriate subject-matter training, according to .the State Board
12. for Educator Certification, and
13.Whereas, half of all new U.S. teachers leave within the first five years of
14.employment, often leaving for jobs that pay significantly better,
15. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a tax increase be imposed in the U.S. to provide a 16.30% 16.increase in teachers' salaries and provide teachers with better benefits to better the
17.schools and our education system.
Respectfully submitted,
IN 8th Dist. Rep. Matthew R. Hahn (R)