Darcy+Becker

Darcy Becker

State: Pennsylvania

State Capital: Harrisburg

Political Party: Moderate

__Congress Member__ A member of Congress who I agree on with issues is Allyson Y. Schwartz. An issue I agree with her on is regarding Crime and Law Enforcement. Representative Schwartz supports the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is an act that grants law enforcement the capability to prevent and charge hate crimes involving hate against Americans because of their gender, disability, race, color, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation. I believe the act should be active in all states due to our nation's society. Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz also supports the COPS program, in order to put 50,000 more police officers on the streets throughout the entire country. I believe that if more police officers are supplied on the streets in our country, less crime will take place. In order to do so, high support will need to be reached for the COPS program. In Pennsylvania, Officer Danny Faulkner had been murdered. She supports the Officer Danny Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Act. The act supplies a Pell Grant to children who have had a parent or guardian die related to completing their duties for law enforcement.

__Edorsement for President__ For 2012, referring to the Candidate Comparison worksheet results, I believe Barack Obama should be President. President Barack Obama and I share similar opinions on numerous issues. As of now, he has doubled our nation's investment in scholarships and financial aid. Since he has done that, this gives an advantage to students in middle-class families. Students in middle-class families have more ability attend college to be active in our nation's jobs. President Obama is also working on improving under performing schools to help encourage students to continue in their education. The No Child Left Behind act was put into place by President George W. Bush and has continued to be interpretated by President Barack Obama. I believe our nation's students should succeed in their education and build our future to complete a positive outlook to look forward to. Another issue I support of his is pertaining to Equal Rights. The Disabilities Act has been revised by the Department of Justice. This act states that facilities will be created and/or reconstructed to fit American needs.

__Mock Congress Bill__ HB65 Don't Let the Students Suffer __Sponsors__
 * Darcy Becker of Pennsylvania (Moderate)
 * Jacqueline Caputo of New York (Moderate)

This bill proposes that schools with lower test scores and poor educational materials should receive government funded help. If a school has less money provided for education, if need be, the state government must provide funds for those schools. This bill also proposes that all students should receive the chance to have an equal learning opportunity. Schools that need necessary supplies for students to increase learning potential will be given it by the government. Schools that are in need of help will receive it by having teachers that are guaranteed to help the students. Also, a learning path will be created for teachers and students to follow. This idea will benefit certain schools, because it will help the students learn and help them achieve higher percentages on tests. In order to place government funding in certain schools, certain average test scores in the grade will provide immediate attention. If put into law, this bill has high potential at succeeding with helping schools with lower test scores.

People should vote for mine and Jacqueline's bill, because in order to prepare our generation of children for the future, the children must receive a worthy and helpful education. In order to improve state testing scores, in public schools, Jacqueline and I believe that schools with lower testing scores, below a 65%, should receive extra government funded help. She and I believe, too, that schools with poorer educational supplies should receive necessary learning materials. Increasing state testing scores places more trust in our future generation. Jacqueline and I firmly believe that poorer schools should receive more government funded help.

__Economy__ Agricultural: The agricultural economy of Pennsylvania consists of dairy products, poultry, cattle, nursery stock, hogs, hay, mushrooms. Industry: The industrial economy of Pennsylvania consists of food processing, chemical products, machinery, electric equipment, and tourism.

__Top Biggest Employers__ The top biggest employers are:
 * 1) Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart is the largest private employer and largest retailer in the world. Wal-Mart has over two million employees. Wal-Mart is a corporation that hosts chains of known department and warehouse stores.
 * 2) University of Pennsylvania: The University of Pennsylvania is the largest college in Pennsylvania. According to [], the University of Pennsylvania currently has 43,252 students attending there. The University of PA is known to be a Colonial College.
 * 3) Giant Food Stores: Giant Food Stores has stores located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is an American supermarket chain.

__5 Interesting Facts About Pennsylvania__
 * 1) In 1909, the first baseball stadium was built in Pittsburgh, PA.
 * 2) Hershey, PA is known as the chocolate capital of the United States.
 * 3) In 1946, Philadelphia became home to having the first computer.
 * 4) The Liberty Bell is located in PA.
 * 5) During the Revolutionary War, Betsy Ross made the first American flag.

__Reasons to Visit Pennsylvania__
 * 1) State College, PA features Pennsylvania State University. The college is home to the Nittany Lions. The University Creamery features ice cream that is said to be the best in the world. In State College, PA, there are also state parks and attractions located there.
 * 2) Longwood Gardens is located 30 miles away from Philadelphia. Considered to be one of the most premier gardens in the United States, Longwood Gardens is located on 1,050 acres. It is open all year around.
 * 3) Hershey, PA, known as the sweetest place on Earth, includes much fun and numerous attractions. Located in Hershey, PA is The Hershey Story. At The Hershey Story, visitors will endure an inspiring journey on Milton Hershey's lifetime.
 * 4) Located in Philadelphia, PA is Independence Hall. It is a historical sight that begins at the Court Room to show how lawyers from opposing sides shared tables and books. From there, the scene takes place in the Assembly Room to show George Washington's "rising chair."
 * 5) The Philadelphia Phillies are the Major League Baseball team in Philadelphia. Their baseball team's name, as of now, was created in 1883. Their opening day for 2012 is April 5th. The Phillies home stadium is Citizens Bank Park.

__Issues__ I personally believe texting is not worth getting injured, even dying for at times. In our Mock Congress, I believe this should be a major issue mentioned and considered in writing our bills.
 * 1) Banning of Junk Food: I believe obesity is a major problem in America, pertaining to eating choices. In third quarter, there had been a discussion regarding states banning junk food in schools, including at lunch and in vending machines. First off, I believe the government should take into consideration about what could or could not happen. If the government does decide to pass a law of this, the government needs to consider about how it could affect the economy. With vending machines, large incorporations could take a negative turn by losing places to distribute their food. Although there could a law passed against banning junk food in schools, students still have the capability of eating junk food at home or elsewhere. I personally believe states should ban certain junk food. A compromise could be made by replacing numerous junk food choices with a salad bar at lunch. President Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, has been encouraging healthy eating, since her husband got elected in 2008. As well as encouraging children to eat healthy, she has been promoting staying/getting fit. The project she has created is called Let's Move! "The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake," said First Lady Michelle Obama. In Seattle, junk food was banned in vending machines seven years ago. The junk food that was banned included candy bars, chips, and soda. Seven years ago, when the junk food was available in the vending machines, the profit from purchasing the items provided the schools with over $200,000. Now, the schools earn $17,000 in profit; the food provided in the vending machines changed from candy bars, chips, and soda to water, juice, granola bar and baked chips. Schools in Seattle, though, have been reconsidering the ban and wondering if the ban on junk food has gone too far. My thoughts on this issue are I believe schools should ban certain junk food but not all.
 * 2) Capital Punishment: I believe the death penalty should not be an option anymore for punishment. There are 34 states that allow the death penalty. The other 16 states, including Washington D.C., have banned the death penalty. Reasons behind banning the death penalty because citizens have been falsely accused and convicted of such crimes, only to be proven innocent by the improvement of forensics. Since the death penalty is included in more than half of our nation, citizens can be wrongly convicted and given the death penalty, but later, due to the improvement of forensics, the convicted suspect could be proven innocent. Simply, an innocent person could be convicted and put to death. I believe convicted suspects should be put in jail/prison, rather than given the death penalty. According to [], "Since 1973, 140 people in 26 states have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence."
 * 3) Texting and Driving: I believe those who text while driving should be punished. Washington D.C. and 29 states have banned texting while driving. In 2008, around 6,000 people died from texting and driving, and over a half a million people were injured. Statistics when texting while driving include:
 * Texting and driving increases a driver's chance of getting into a car accident by 23 times more likely.
 * A driver's reaction time decreases by 23%.
 * Being able to steer decreases by 91%.
 * Injuries caused by texting while driving happen to around half a million of people each year.
 * According to a study at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, "Of all cell phone related tasks- including talk, dialing, or reaching for the phone- texting while driving is the most dangerous.
 * Virginia Tech Transportation Institute also states that texting and driving is the same as driving blind for five seconds.
 * Highway Safety Fatality Facts states that because of texting and driving, at least 11 teens die a day.
 * National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has compared texting and driving to drinking four beers then driving.

__Bibliography__ [|50 States: Pennsylvania] [|Harrisburg, PA] [|Top Grossing Companies] [|Longwood Gardens] [|Barack Obama & Joe Biden: 2012] [|Independence Hall] [|Longwood Gardens] [|Phillies' Schedule] [|Philadelphia Phillies] [|The Hershey Story] [|Junk Food- A Reconsideration] [|Let's Move!] [|Seattle Schools] [|Death Penalty] [|Texting and Driving] [|Texting and Driving: Statistics] [|Texting and Driving] [|Texting and Driving] [|Wal-Mart] [|University of Pennsylvania] [|Laptops for Bill]