A bill to support nutrition, farmers, the seafood industry, agricultural research, wood energy and innovation, and indigenous self-determination, and for other purposes.

This bill falls squarely within the enumerated powers of Congress. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes to provide for the general welfare, which plainly encompasses support for nutrition, farmers, and agricultural research. Clause 3 empowers Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with Indian tribes; the provisions regarding the seafood industry and indigenous self-determination are legitimate exercises of that commerce power. Furthermore, the bill's support for wood energy and innovation is a proper means …

This bill, while seemingly benign in its stated purposes, reaches far beyond the limited and enumerated powers delegated to the federal government by the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment reserves to the States, or to the people, all powers not expressly granted to the United States. Nowhere does the Constitution grant Congress a general power to support farmers, the seafood industry, or agricultural research. Such matters are properly the concern of the several States, and federal intrusion into these domestic pursuits violates the very principles of limited government upon which this Union w…

The bill's broad purposes touch upon multiple powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8: the general welfare clause, commerce with foreign nations and among the states, and the power to raise and support armies and a navy (for the seafood industry and wood energy provisions). The indigenous self-determination provisions may implicate the treaty power. However, the extent and necessity of each measure must be carefully weighed. Under Federalist No. 10, the government may properly regulate such matters if they affect the general welfare and do not exceed the enumerated powers. The bill must avoi…

This bill provides for the general welfare and addresses matters of agriculture, nutrition, and indigenous self-determination, which fall within the enumerated powers of Congress to regulate interstate commerce and to provide for the common defense and general welfare. The Constitution vests in Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. Furthermore, the necessary and proper clause permits Congress to pass laws that are appropriate and plainly adapted to carrying into exe…