Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations

Task Force Description

State legislators and their constituents are stakeholders in many of the most important national and international issues of the day. The members of the Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations Task Force believe in the power of free markets and limited government to propel economic growth in the United States and around the globe, and that these guiding principles are just as relevant overseas as they are in America. On the issue of Homeland Security, the Task Force engages state leaders on a variety of topics, including cybersecurity, school security, emergency preparedness, border security, and more.

The Task Force brings together state legislators, policy experts and industry representatives to develop model policy to increase exports, safeguard intellectual property rights, promote the nation’s security, and restore the Constitutionally-designated balance of power between the states and the federal government.

The Task Force has considered and adopted model policy on the very initiatives that grow the U.S. economy, create American jobs and unleash the innovative policy-making capacity of all 50 states. Model policy to address the finalization of a truly free-market Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as well as leverage America’s growing ability to export domestically produced energy are among those in the International policy portfolio. However, American ingenuity and the intellectual property (IP) underpinning it are the engines driving U.S. economic growth. Underscoring the important role that strong IP rights play in creating high-paying American jobs and spurring America’s innovation economy round out the Task Force’s International model policy library.

Real solutions to America’s challenges can be found in the states – America’s fifty laboratories of democracy – not in one-size-fits-all federal government policies that disregard regional differences and local community needs. The nation has drifted away from our Founding Fathers’ vision by concentrating more power with national government structures. Overregulation and redundant bureaucracy that hinder economic growth, a ballooning national debt that threatens our nation’s security, and federal mismanagement of our country’s most precious resource – the lands within America’s borders – have been the consequences of this federal overreach. The Task Force has adopted model policy supporting the use of Article V of the U.S. Constitution as a tool to restore appropriate control to the states including the proposal of a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ALEC has established the Center to Restore the Balance of Government to serve as a resource to state on setting priorities on state sovereignty issues and to provide the tools lawmakers need to champion policies that lead to state control over state issues.

This unique partnership between those interested in international issues and those whose primary focus is federalism has served Task Force members and the model policy adopted in the Task Force well. Our models are discussed at the highest levels of U.S. federal and state governments, and foreign governments and international bodies are familiar with ALEC model policy related to their regions.

In order to capitalize on the specialized knowledge of the Task Force members we have formed three subcommittees: Federalism, Intellectual Property and National Security. Subcommittee Chairs are specialists in their respective disciplines having worked on these issues within their legislatures and/or in their careers outside the legislature.

Meeting Information

Thursday, July 17

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET

Call to Order

Welcome, Approval of the Minutes and Introductions

Presentation: Counteracting A Growing Threat in Our Cities – an Emerging Technology Approach

Model Policy Consideration: Use of AI Firearm Detection Software in Municipalities

Presentation: Taiwan Is Open for Business with America

Model Policy Consideration: Resolution to Strengthen US-Taiwan Economic Cooperation

Model Policy Consideration: State Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits for Congress’ Inflationary Overspenders

Presentation: An Update on E-Verify in the States

Model Policy Consideration: Act to Strengthen Existing State Human Trafficking Statutes

Presentation: Standing Up to Adversarial Influence in Our States

Model Policy Consideration: Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration and Transnational Repression Act

Model Policy Consideration: State Act to Prevent Foreign Adversaries from Owning Real Estate

Model Policy Consideration: Resolution on the Importance of Strengthening the United States’ Medical Supply Chains with Trusted Trading Partners

Model Policy Consideration: Constitutional Amendment Voter Approval of New Property Taxes

Model Policy Consideration: State Constitutional Amendment To Oppose New State Taxes, Increased Spending, and Debt Without Voter Approval

Presentation: One Key to Combatting Antisemitism Is Education

Model Policy Consideration: Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act

Model Policy Consideration: Resolution on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

For the Good of the Order/Adjournment

Draft Policies

All Model Policies

Constitutional Amendment Voter Approval Of New Property Taxes Draft

WHEREAS, the primary drivers of property tax increases are both rising property value assessments and increased tax rates. WHEREAS, increased local government spending causes the local governments to administratively deploy property assessments to increase property tax revenues. WHEREAS, the current “no property tax” movement asserts that real property owners do…
State Constitutional Amendment To Oppose New State Taxes, Increased Spending, and Debt Without Voter Approval Draft

WHEREAS, States through their respective constitutional amendment processes should adopt fiscal responsibility amendments that (I) impose limits on the amount of money government can tax and spend, (II) tie the growth of state revenue to a rate of population growth plus inflation, and (III) require any increases above an established…
Resolution Recognizing The Seriousness Of The National Debt And Its Threat To National Security Draft

WHEREAS, In March 2025, the outstanding public debt of the U.S. totaled more than $36 trillion, with public debt equaling 124 percent of gross domestic product and the debt owed per citizen rising to $107,000; WHEREAS, More than $8 trillion of the federal debt is owned by individuals not located…
Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act Draft

For An Act To Be Entitled: An Act to create the recognizing Judea and Samaria Act; to prohibit state agencies from using the term “west bank” in official government materials; and for other purposes. Subtitle: To create the recognizing judea and samaria act; and to…
State Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits for Congress’ Inflationary Overspenders Draft

BE IT RESOLVED Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of the State of {insert state} is proposed and agreed to by this, the {insert name of state legislature}, and is referred to the next Legislature for reconsideration and agreement. Section 2. ARTICLE XX, SECTION XX OF THE CONSTITUTION OF…
Resolution to Strengthen US-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Draft

WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan enjoy a robust trading partnership; and WHEREAS, American and Taiwanese industries are highly complementary, and a bilateral trade agreement would facilitate cross-border commerce ensuring mutual market access and enabling legal harmonization in digital trade, intellectual property, medical device…

+ All Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations Model Policies

Personnel

Kansas Rep. Pat Proctor
Public Chair
Douglas Petersen
PhRMA
Private Chair
Karla Jones
Director

Issues

Task Forces

Policy Centers