Legislation sponsored by Ron Paul

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U.S. Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul.
U.S. Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul.
Ron Paul with campaign manager Lew Moore (left) and campaign chairman Kent Snyder (center) at a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Ron Paul with campaign manager Lew Moore (left) and campaign chairman Kent Snyder (center) at a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Ron Paul, a Republican United States Congressman from Lake Jackson, Texas and 2008 U.S. presidential candidate, sponsors many more bills than the average U.S. representative, such as those that abolish the income tax[1] or the Federal Reserve; many do not escape committee review. While Paul's press secretary Jeff Deist has noted, "We don't kid ourselves about the chance of passage of a lot of these bills," some, like his term limits legislation, have been described as "ahead of their time".[2] Except where indicated, all named bills below were originally authored and sponsored by Paul.

Contents

[edit] Foreign policy

[edit] Nonintervention

  • Kosovo, 1999-2000: Prohibits the Department of Defense from using troops in Kosovo unless specifically authorized by law.[2]
  • Constitutional War Powers Resolution of 2001. HJ 27, 2001-03-06. Repeals the 1973 War Powers Resolution (WPR) entirely, prohibiting presidents from initiating a war without a formal declaration of war by Congress.[3]
  • Iraq Resolution declaration of war. Motion in re HJ 114, 2002-10-02. In order to prevent Congress from yielding its Constitutional authority to declare war to the executive branch, which does not Constitutionally hold that power, gives Congress the opportunity to declare war on Iraq, rather than merely "authorizing" the president to deploy forces without a declaration of war.[4] Paul said that he would not vote for his own motion, but that if his fellow members of Congress wished to go to war in Iraq, they should follow the Constitution and declare war.
  • Iran and Syria: HConRes 43, 2007-01-23. Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should implement Recommendation 9 of the Iraq Study Group Report. Urges the President to implement Recommendation 9 of the Iraq Study Group Report, recommending direct engagement with Iran and Syria toward constructive results.
  • Sunset of Public Law 107-243 Act of 2007. HR 2605, 2007-06-07. Establishes a sunset clause for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. As one of six Republicans to vote against the Iraq Resolution (which authorized military force for stated purposes without declaring war), Paul also inspired the founding of a group called the National Peace Lobby Project to promote a resolution he and Oregon representative Peter DeFazio sponsored to repeal the war authorization in February 2003. His speech, 35 "Questions That Won't Be Asked About Iraq",[5] was translated and published in German, French, Russian, Italian, and Swiss periodicals before the Iraq War began.[6]
  • Constitutional War Powers Amendments of 2007. HJ 53, 2007-09-25 (cosponsor). Replaces the 1973 War Powers Resolution with law ensuring the "collective judgment of both the Congress and the President" in use of war powers.

[edit] International organizations

[edit] Borders and immigration

  • Terror Immigration Elimination Act of 2007. HR 3217, 2007-07-27, originally HR 488, 2003-01-29. Limits the issuance of student and diversity immigrant visas in relation to Saudi Arabia, countries that support terrorism, and countries not cooperating fully with United States antiterrorism efforts.
  • Birthright citizenship: HJ 46, 2007-06-13, originally HJ 46, 2005-04-28. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to deny United States citizenship to individuals born in the United States to parents who are neither United States citizens nor persons who owe permanent allegiance to the United States. Clarifies the Fourteenth Amendment in accord with Paul's opposition to birthright citizenship.
  • Trans-Texas Corridor: HR 5191, 2008-01-29. To prohibit the use of Federal funds to carry out the highway project known as the "Trans-Texas Corridor".

[edit] Terrorism

[edit] Economy

[edit] Taxes

  • Tax Free Tips Act of 2007. HR 3664, 2007-09-25, originally HR 4408, 1998-08-05. Provides that tips shall not be subject to income or employment taxes.
  • Public Safety Tax Cut Act. HR 3303, 2007-08-01, originally HR 3124, 1999-10-21. Creates tax credit for police officers and professional firefighters, and makes public safety volunteer benefits nontaxable.
  • Cost of Government Awareness Act of 2007. HR 3601, 2007-09-19, originally HR 4855, 2000-07-13. Eliminates employer withholding tax and replaces it with monthly installment payment of income tax by employees, finding that withholding taxes are inherently deceptive and unfair and that they "hide the true cost of government from taxpayers, making tax increases more feasible".
  • Taxpayers' Freedom of Conscience Act of 2007. HR 1095, 2007-02-15, originally HR 1548, 2003-04-01. To prohibit any Federal official from expending any Federal funds for any population control or population planning program or any family planning activity.
  • Property tax: HR 4293, 2007-12-05, originally HR 5860, 2006-07-20. Creates income tax deduction for real property taxes.
  • Abolition of income tax: HJ 23, 2007-02-07. Proposing an amendment the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the United States Government from engaging in business in competition with its citizens. Repeals the Sixteenth Amendment, income tax, estate tax, and gift tax, and limits the government only to Constitutionally authorized enterprises. Paul had proposed similar legislation in 1999-2000 and in 2001.[2]
  • Lutetium oxide: HR 3731, 2007-10-02. To suspend temporarily the duty on lutetium oxide, an ingredient in laser crystals.

[edit] Inflation

  • Affordable Gas Price Act. HR 2415, 2007-05-21, originally HR 4004, 2005-10-06. To reduce the price of gasoline by allowing for offshore drilling, eliminating Federal obstacles to constructing refineries and providing incentives for investment in refineries, suspending Federal fuel taxes when gasoline prices reach a benchmark amount, and promoting free trade.

[edit] Sound money

  • Coinage Act of 1983. Called for new legal-tender gold and silver coins. Ahead of its time, this Act anticipated the successful Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, which led to the minting of American Gold Eagles.[7]
  • Gold standard, 1983: Attempted to reinstate the gold standard.[7]
  • Coinage legislation, 1984: Sought to require Congressional approval of any new coinage and paper money designs, and formal retention of all test notes from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.[7]
  • Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act. HR 2755, 2007-06-15, originally HR 1148, 1999-03-17. Abolishes the Federal Reserve Board and repeals the Federal Reserve Act.
  • Honest Money Act. HR 2756, 2007-06-15, originally HR 2779, 2003-07-17. Repeals 31 U.S.C. 5103, the legal tender law that currently mandates acceptance of Federal Reserve notes as legal tender, in accord with hard money policy.
  • Sunshine in Monetary Policy Act. HR 2754, 2007-06-15, originally HR 4892, 2006-03-07. Requires the Federal Reserve Board to continue to publish the M3 monetary aggregate on a weekly basis. The Federal Reserve ceased publishing M3 statistics as of March 23, 2006, explaining that it costs a lot to collect the data but does not provide significantly useful information.[8]
  • Make No Cents Until It Makes Sense Act. HR 4127, 2007-11-08. To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the further minting of 1-cent coins until the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System certify in writing that there is not a surplus of 1-cent coins already available for use in transactions, and for other purposes. The U.S. Mint currently spends $.014, which is more than the face value, for each copper-clad zinc U.S. cent it produces.[9] Paul joked, "We can't even afford a zinc standard anymore."[7]
  • Free Competition in Currency Act of 2007. HR 4683, 2007-12-13. Strikes sections 486 and 489 of title 18, United States Code, due to "prosecutorial abuse".[10] The Code sections effectively restrict private minting, and were cited by the FBI as justification for its November 2007 raid of Liberty Services, and its seizure of property allegedly including nearly two tons of precious metals and copper — much of which had been independently minted by Liberty Services with Paul's image.[11] Paul commented, "If we don't do something about the dollar, the market will. I would like to legalize competition in currency."[7]
  • Tax-Free Gold Act of 2008. HR 5427, 2008-02-13. To provide that no tax or fee may be imposed on certain coins and bullion. Prohibits taxation on gold, silver, platinum, palladium, or rhodium bullion and transactions, and state taxation on gold and silver legal tender currencies and instruments in interstate or foreign commerce.

[edit] Social Security

[edit] Constitutional rights

[edit] Freedom of religion

  • Religious Freedom Amendment. HJRes 78, 1997-05-08 (cosponsor). Clarifies the "right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience" to include the right of prayer in public schools and other public property, and to prohibit state establishment of religion or requirements to participate in prayer.
  • See We the People Act.

[edit] Freedom of association

[edit] Right to keep and bear arms

[edit] Habeas corpus

[edit] Limited government

  • Term limits, 1970s: Paul was the first member of Congress to propose term limits legislation in the House,[12] one of several bills considered "ahead of their time" by Texas Monthly magazine.[2]
  • Market Process Restoration Act of 1999. HR 1789, 1999-05-13. Repeals United States antitrust law (which limits cartels and monopolies), with intent to restore market economy benefits.
  • To repeal the Military Selective Service Act. HR 424, 2007-01-11, originally HR 1597, 2001-04-26, cosponsored since HR 2421, 1997-09-05. Abolishes the Selective Service System, prohibits reestablishment of the draft, and forbids denial of rights due to failure to register.
  • Eminent domain: Prevented the Department of Housing and Urban Development from seizing a church in New York through eminent domain.[2]
  • International Criminal Court (ICC): Barred ICC jurisdiction over the U.S. military (2002 amendment).[13]
  • Global tax: Barred American participation in any U.N. "global tax" (2005 amendment).[13]
  • Surveillance: Barred surveillance on peaceful First Amendment activities by citizens (2006 amendment).[13] Individual privacy may be an area of Paul's greatest influence, and he has long worked tirelessly against forms of what he considers to be federal snooping.[2]
  • Sunlight Rule. HRes 63, 2007-01-12, originally HRes 709, 2006-03-02. Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to ensure that Members have a reasonable amount of time to read legislation that will be voted upon. Prohibits votes on legislation from occurring until ten days after its introduction, with the intent of giving lawmakers enough time to read bills before voting on them; allots 72 hours for House members and staff to examine the contents of amendments. Paul charged his fellow legislators with voting for the Patriot Act in 2001 without reading it first; more than 300 pages long, it was enacted into law less than 24 hours after being introduced.[14]
  • Congressional Responsibility and Accountability Act. HR 3302, 2007-08-01. Prohibits federal rules and regulations not enacted into law by Congress, if they result in job loss or exceed specified costs to individuals, corporations, or all persons in aggregate.
  • American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007. HR 3835, 2007-10-15. To restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Proposes to "bar the use of evidence obtained through torture; require that federal intelligence gathering is conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA); create a mechanism for challenging presidential signing statements; repeal the Military Commissions Act, which, among other things, denies habeas corpus to certain detainees; prohibit kidnapping, detentions, and torture abroad; protect journalists who publish information received from the executive branch; and ensure that secret evidence is not used to designate individuals or organizations with a presence in the U.S. as foreign terrorists."[15]
  • See also the limited government and income tax abolition amendment.

[edit] States' rights

  • We the People Act. HR 300, 2007-01-05, originally HR 3893, 2004-03-04. Forbids all federal courts from hearing cases on abortion, same-sex unions, sexual practices, and government display of religious symbols, texts, and images. Makes federal court decisions on those subjects nonbinding as precedent in state courts,[16] and forbids federal courts from spending money to enforce their judgments.

[edit] Abortion

[edit] Stem-cell research

[edit] Education

[edit] Environment

  • A bill to repeal the Soil and Water Conservation Act of 1977. HR 7079, 1980-04-16.
  • Dredging: HR 7245, 1980-05-01. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to remove federal jurisdiction from dumping in private (nonnavigable) waters, and from state dumping permit programs; permits applicants, rather than the Secretary of the Army, to specify disposal sites when requesting permission to discharge dredged or fill material into interstate navigable waters.
  • Fisheries: HR 3735, 1998-04-28. To disapprove a rule requiring the use of bycatch reduction devices in the shrimp fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. Annuls federal mandates that require private fisheries to reduce catches of nontargeted species at their own cost.
  • Environmental Protection Agency: HJ 104, 2000-07-13. Disapproves an EPA rule published on 2000-07-13, relating to proposed revisions to its pollutant discharge reduction program, federal antidegradation policy, and water quality planning and management regulations.
  • Lake Texana dam: Transferred ownership of the Lake Texana dam project from the federal government to Texas.[2]
  • San Jacinto disposal area: HR 4829, 2007-12-18. To authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey the surface estate of the San Jacinto Disposal Area to the city of Galveston, Texas.

[edit] Health

[edit] Health reform

  • Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2007. HR 3341, 2007-08-02, originally HR 1247, 2003-03-12. Exempts health care professionals from antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers.
  • Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2007. HR 3343, 2007-08-02, originally HR 1287, 2003-03-13. Strengthens health savings accounts and credit for health care costs, carries forward unused health benefits, and repeals threshold on medical expenses deduction.
  • Seniors' Health Care Freedom Act of 2007. HR 195, 2007-01-04, originally HR 580, 2005-02-02, cosponsored since HR 2867, 1999-09-14. Facilitates private contracts under Medicare.
  • Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2007. HR 3344, 2007-08-02, originally HR 4872, 2006-03-02. Creates tax credit to medical care providers against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care, and deduction to hospitals for such care.
  • Enhanced Options for Rural Health Care Act of 2007. HR 1899, 2007-04-17, originally HR 6154, 2006-09-21. Gives specific permission for rural health facilities designated as critical access hospitals to offer assisted living services without losing their designation.

[edit] Tax cuts

[edit] Health freedom

[edit] Agriculture

  • Ag and rural legislation: Cofounded Congressional Rural Caucus, a bipartisan group which promotes legislation to help the agriculture industry and rural communities.
  • Agriculture Education Freedom Act. HR 1720, 2007-03-27, originally HR 3626, 1998-04-01. Makes nontaxable the sale of animals raised and sold as part of an educational program.
  • Seafood: HCR 125, 2007-04-23 (cosponsor). Recognizing the health benefits of eating seafood as part of a balanced diet, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Seafood Month.
  • Unpasteurized milk: HR 4077, 2007-11-05. To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption between states permitting its sale.

[edit] Ballot access

[edit] References

  1. ^ Paul, Ron (September 2007). Ending the IRS. Ron Paul 2008. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gwynne, Sam C. (2001-10-01). Dr. No. Texas Monthly. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  3. ^ Dougherty, Jon (2001-03-13). Bill would restore Congress' war powers. WorldNetDaily. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
  4. ^ Paul, Ron. "Is Congress Relevant with Regards to War?", Congressional Record, U.S. House of Representatives, 2002-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-12-17. 
  5. ^ Paul, Ron (2002-09-10). Questions That Won't Be Asked About Iraq. Congressional Record. U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  6. ^ Murray, Shailagh (2003-03-10). A Far-Right Texan Inspires Antiwar Left. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  7. ^ a b c d e Doyle, Al. "Presidential candidate Paul passionate over hard money: Texas legislator once ran investment coin firm", Coin World, 2007-07-23. Retrieved on 2008-02-14. 
  8. ^ Discontinuance of M3. Federal Reserve (2005-11-10). Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  9. ^ Norris, Floyd. "A Penny for Your Thoughts, and 1.4 Cents for the Penny", New York Times, 2006-04-22. Retrieved on 2007-12-17. 
  10. ^ Paul, Ron. "Statement Introducing the Free Competition in Currency Act", Congressional Record, U.S. House of Representatives, 2007-12-13. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. 
  11. ^ Lesnick, Gavin. "Liberty Dollar office raided", Evansville Courier & Press, 2007-11-15. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. 
  12. ^ "The Libertarian Congressman Is Back", Wall Street Journal, 1997-01-13, p. A18. Retrieved on 2007-09-27. 
  13. ^ a b c Bresnahan, John. "Paul says Americans' freedoms under siege", Politico, 2007-10-10. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. 
  14. ^ Paul, Ron (2007-09-16). The Sunlight Rule. Congressional Record. U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
  15. ^ Tell your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor the American Freedom Agenda Act. American Freedom Campaign (2007-10-15). Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  16. ^ Rhodes, Randi (2007-08-16). Ron Paul interview battles Air America Randi Rhodes Show. Air America. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
  17. ^ Paul, Ron (2007). Life and Liberty. Ron Paul 2008. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  18. ^ Sealover, E. "Ballot initiative would outlaw abortion", Colorado Springs Gazette, 2007-07-16. 
  19. ^ Stevens, A. "'Missing angels' or misogyny?", Women's eNews, Connect Savannah, 2007-06-10. 
  20. ^ H.R. 368 – Family Education Freedom Act of 2001. Home School Legal Defense Association (2002-06-27). Retrieved on 2007-09-13. “Parents and individuals who provide for a child's education should be allowed to keep some of their tax money that would otherwise have been used to fund public education.”
  21. ^ Rep. Paul Introduces Education Package. Education Exchange. Education Policy (1999-03). Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  22. ^ Teacher Tax Cut Act. Congressional Record. U.S. House of Representatives (2003-02-11). Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  23. ^ "Reefer Madness: 'Let's Embarrass Ron Paul'", Austin Chronicle, 2007-05-25. 
  24. ^ "On a high", Economist, 2007-06-21. 

[edit] See also


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