The Preamble is our mission statement
A legislative summary of the Trump–Biden Peace Plan
As an organizer with the American Union, I talk with a lot of people in grocery store parking lots. Everyone needs to eat, so there’s a good cross section of humanity, and people are often willing to chat for a few minutes, or at least listen while they’re loading groceries into their car. The basic pitch is simple—imagine we had functional government in Washington. What would you like to see them do? (I don’t recall ever getting any pushback on the implication that Congress is dysfunctional.)
Sometimes there’s tribalism—people want to kick one party out and replace it with the other party. Sometimes there’s a general disgust with the entire institution—people want to kick ALL OF THEM out. And a non-zero amount of people describe in graphic detail exactly how they would violently remove those Congressmen from office. But none of these answer the fundamental question. If you could replace all 535 members of Congress, what would you want them to do?
The Preamble is our mission statement
This was the question the Framers wrestled with while writing the Constitution in 1787: what should government do? At the beginning of the 4,400 word framework we still use today, they outlined five duties for the new nation to focus on. After 237 years, we’ve lost our way—the American Union can help us get back on track.
It’s easy to come at reforms from a mindset of scarcity: only little, minor changes are possible, to be taken in incremental steps. But, as the Phoenix Cycle demonstrates, America in 2024 is at a tipping point where big, sweeping changes are not just possible, but inevitable in the next few years. The Trump–Biden Peace Plan is a legislative proposal that comes from a mindset of abundance; offering dozens and dozens of reforms, largely grouped around addressing Dr. King’s triple evils of poverty, racism, and militarism.
Ready to dig into policy? The Preamble and its five duties are the framework for the American Union’s set of demands for the upcoming election. Think big.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect American Union,
Establish justice by reforming the criminal justice system,
Ending mass incarceration includes police reforms, prosecutorial reforms, and prison reforms. This section is divided into three subtitles, each bearing the name of a victim of injustice.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would reform law enforcement policies and procedures:
● In general, these reforms would immediately apply to federal law enforcement officers (LEOs), with federal Byrne grants or COPS grants reduced or withheld from states starting in October 2026, unless they enacted corresponding state laws.
● Federal LEOs would be required to take a training course establishing a clear duty to intervene when any LEO is using excessive force against a civilian, with states incentivized to mandate the same training.
● Federal LEOs would be prohibited from using deadly force, except as a last resort after de-escalation techniques and less lethal force had been attempted, and only if there was no substantial risk to third parties. States would be incentivized to enact the same policy.
● A public, searchable, national police misconduct registry would be established, making grants to states conditional on their submission of the relevant information as well as meeting national certification standards for employing LEOs.
● Chokeholds and carotid holds would become a civil rights violation, with states incentivized to do the same.
● LEO’s qualified immunity for civil rights violations would be removed; suits could now be brought against federal agents (Bivens claims); and the burden of proof for prosecuting violations would become acting “knowingly” or “recklessly,” instead of the current “willfully.”
● Forced entry for federal warrants would be restricted to daytime hours (6am-10pm), and unless a judge authorized a no-knock warrant; repeated knocking and identification would be required first. States would be incentivized to enact a similar policy, including an end to the issuance of no-knock warrants in drug cases.
● Funded by a tax on lawyers, a program providing transferable vouchers for legal services to anyone arrested would ensure universal and immediate access to basic legal knowledge.
The Weldon Angelos Prosecutorial Reform Act would reform the prosecutorial system, end the federal war on drugs, and amend other statutes:
● Federal cash bail would be ended. States would be incentivized to meet decreasing annual targets for the percentage of cases where cash bail was used from 75% down to no more than 10% by 2029.
● Civil asset forfeiture would be eliminated on the federal level, and restricted on the state level.
● All mandatory minimums would be struck from the United States Code, and federal judges would be prohibited from using acquitted conduct for sentence enhancements.
● The Espionage Act of 1917 would be reformed to require specific intent to cause harm, protecting whistleblowers and journalists who are often charged under this law.
The nine-step plan for ending the federal drug war is detailed in this post, but can be summarized:
● The United States would withdraw from UN treaties that bind us to the drug war, and the Controlled Substances Act would be repealed January 1, 2026, leaving states, which are laboratories of democracy, free to enforce or repeal their own drug laws as they see fit. Completed sentences for federal drug crimes would be expunged, and those currently incarcerated could ask for a sentence review.
● The FDA would establish purity and labeling rules for the sale of formerly illegal drugs, or "recreational intoxicating products," and a 12% sales tax would be imposed. Legitimate businesses that engage in the sale of recreational intoxicating products would no longer be prohibited from utilizing the banking system.
● A Drug War Restorative Justice Office, using funds from the sales tax, would provide grants for substance use treatment and other community services.
The Matthew Charles Prison Reform Act would humanize incarcerated Americans, recognizing our innate ability for self-improvement:
● The use of solitary confinement as punishment would be restricted, in line with the UN’s Nelson Mandela Rules, to 15 consecutive days, or 30 days in 60. States would be incentivized to enact the same policy in two phases, by October 2026 and 2027.
● Federal prisoners would be eligible for a sentence review: after serving more than 10 years; for drug offenses which had been repealed; or if sentenced to a mandatory minimum which had been eliminated. A sentence reduction would require a finding that the person was not a danger to others, ready for reentry, and the finding was in the interests of justice. Consideration of a victim’s statement would be required.
● To correct the recent Shinn v. Ramirez decision, 28 U.S.C. 2254(e) would be amended to permit evidentiary hearings after a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel.
● To correct the recent Jones v. Hendrix decision, 28 U.S.C. 2255 would be amended to permit hearings after a court makes an error in reading the statutes.
● The Bureau of Prisons would be required to help people leaving incarceration obtain identification documents.
● The use of for-profit prisons by the federal government would be phased out.
● The Prison Litigation Reform Act, which created a higher bar for access to the legal system for the incarcerated, would be repealed, along with grant programs to the states that incentivize higher incarceration rates.
● Education being a proven way to reduce recidivism, eligibility for federal Pell grants would be fully restored for the incarcerated.
Insure domestic tranquility with a 10-year truce on wedge issues,
Guns and abortion are used as wedge issues to drive the American people apart. This legislation focuses on addressing root causes in order to bring down needless deaths, which all Americans should want to see. This section contains a compromise on guns and abortions, where each side receives concessions in exchange for not introducing any bans for 10 years.
● The Hyde Amendment, which prohibits using federal funds for abortion, would be codified into law.
● Access to abortion through viability (around 23 weeks) would be codified, including pharmaceutical options by mail through a repeal of the Comstock Act.
● Universal background checks for gun sales would be enacted, with a firearm registry explicitly not authorized.
● Bump stocks would be banned.1
● No federal bans on guns of any type, or any federal bans or further restrictions on abortions could be introduced for a decade. It would be a criminal misdemeanor for members of Congress to break the truce, which would be repealed after 10 years.
Provide for the common defense by reducing the military-industrial complex,
America has exceeded our constitutional mandate. Ending the endless wars has two major components: reducing our global military footprint and budget (which is greater than the world's next 10 largest defense budgets combined), and improving our moral standing on the world stage
Reducing America’s global military footprint includes:
● The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which was passed after 9/11, would sunset in 240 days. Congress would be free to pass another one if needed.
● The 2002 AUMF, authorizing the Iraq war, would be repealed along with its 1991 predecessor.
● The military budget would be cut 10% annually in fiscal years 2026-2029, reducing spending by 1/3rd and about $1 trillion less than projections. Congress would need a 2/3rds super-majority to override this provision.
● The 1033 program, which transfers military surplus to local police departments, would be repealed.
● The Secretary of Defense would be directed to hold referenda around the 750 foreign military bases, asking the local population if they want the US military presence to remain. If not, the base would be closed within two years of enactment.
● The Secretary of State would be directed to present Congress with a plan to formally end the Korean War, and to review current restrictions on travel to North Korea.
● On January 3, 2022, the White House released a joint statement with other world leaders, seeking to “prevent an arms race” and make “progress on disarmament.” This legislation would accept that challenge, scaling back planned ICBM upgrades and requiring a 50% reduction in the nuclear stockpile by 2029.
Improving our moral standing on the world stage includes:
● The United States would follow China’s lead in adopting an unconditional “no first-use” policy for nuclear weapons—never as a preemptive attack or first strike, or in response to non-nuclear attack of any kind.
● The use of unilateral economic sanctions as coercive measures against civilian populations would be restricted, with exceptions during military hostilities or as part of a broader coalition. The US currently imposes sanctions on more than 30 countries.
● Current policy prohibiting the acquisition of landmines would be codified, and the US would cease using them on the Korean peninsula by 2029.
● The US would be prohibited from developing, producing, or acquiring lethal autonomous weapons that engage targets without human intervention.
● After two decades of indefinitely detaining men, Guantánamo Bay Military Prison would be closed in 2025. Detainees who have been convicted or with pending charges would be transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Promote the general welfare with the American Union Jobs Program,
Welfare has a specific definition: the state of being or doing well; condition of health, happiness, and comfort; well-being; prosperity. The constitutional duty to promote this can be best met with unconditional basic income (UBI). Under this legislation, over 300 million citizens would get an unconditional American Union Job, a no-strings-attached reminder of our constitutional duties, and as compensation for the value that all of us create.
● The Secretary of the Treasury would be directed to create digital Treasury accounts for each American, along the lines of the existing Treasury Direct program, and issue UBI of $1,400/month to every adult ($16,800 annually), with a cost of living adjustment beginning in 2026.
● Digital accounts would establish a 21st century public payment infrastructure, enabling account holders to transfer money in real time without banking fees, which currently add about 2% to the price of all goods and services in the US.
● American children would receive an apprentice’s wage of $467/month ($5,600 annually), divided evenly between the parents, unless altered by agreement or court order. Expectant mothers could enroll in the program (as sole beneficiaries) at any time, in exchange for not seeking a medically unnecessary abortion.
● The Social Security Administration would oversee the management of the American Union Jobs Program, with administration costs projected at less than 0.5%.
● Wages from an American Union Job would not be considered substantial gainful activity for the purposes of SSDI, and the resource limit for individuals on SSI would be increased to the annual UBI amount.
● No cuts to the safety net are included in this legislation. However, it is expected that many programs will atrophy when there is a safety floor under every American; when that happens they can be reevaluated, consolidated, or eliminated in future legislation.
● If you like your bank, you can keep it! Financial institutions could link existing accounts to a Treasury account, so funds would be directly deposited. The US Postal Service would also be authorized to offer pass-through bank accounts and other basic banking services, just like post offices do in almost every other country.
● American Union Jobs would be paid with Treasury Dollar Bills, digital legal tender issued by the US Treasury, valued at precisely one Federal Reserve Note and exchangeable for such. Issuance of Treasury Dollar Bills would be statutorily limited to UBI payments, approximately $4.5 trillion annually, so that dividends of the economy’s growth are shared with all Americans.
● For Americans unwilling to use their digital Treasury accounts, the sum would be applied as a tax credit the following year.
● To maintain stability in the purchasing power of the dollar, express public policy in the distribution of wealth and income, and address economic costs to our shared natural resources, new taxes would “claw back” approximately half of the issuance of Treasury Dollar Bills.
● Starting in 2026, a 12% subtraction-method value-added tax (VAT) is projected to raise $7.76 trillion over the first four years. The Congressional Research Service has concluded, “The imposition of a VAT would cause a one-time increase in this country’s price level.” A 12% tax would apply to imports, but other than military weapons, exports would be exempt.
● Companies may elect to pay a higher VAT rate through voluntary value sharing; the IRS would promote a public list of the top 200. The sums raised would be used to pay down the national debt, and then be reissued in Treasury Dollar Bills as a year-end bonus to all Americans.
● In addition, the child tax credit would be repealed after being replaced by $5,600 UBI for children, saving an estimated $498 billion over the first four years.
Healthcare related provisions include:
● 18 weeks of paid family leave would be offered and paid for by a 0.25% payroll tax on employees and employers. (This is unrelated to American Union Jobs, which are unconditional; only those with additional employment income would be eligible.) Bringing America’s infant mortality rate down to the European average would save the lives of 9,000 babies each year.
● A public option for health insurance, based on Biden’s campaign promise. Besides giving people an alternative to giant for-profit insurance companies, encouraging the de-linking of insurance and employment will give people more freedom to change jobs without losing access to healthcare.
● The ACA penalties on large employers not offering health insurance would be repealed, reducing the regulatory burden on employers.
● To increase the supply of doctors, the education and residency pipelines would be updated. Additionally, a requirement to negotiate for Medicare part D and part B drug prices would be established, and PBM practices would be curtailed.
Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, by stabilizing government systems and stewarding the environment for our children.
● Universal suffrage would establish voting privileges in federal elections for all Americans, with states incentivized to inform people convicted of a criminal offense about this provision. In addition, prison gerrymandering would be addressed.
● The liberty to travel would be secured by clarifying that the provisions of the REAL ID Act relating to boarding a commercial aircraft only apply to those required by federal law to show ID.
● Social Security would be protected by raising the cap where people stop paying in from the current $168,600 (2024) to 25x the base wages from the American Union Jobs Program, or $420,000.
● The threat of government shutdowns would be ended; continuing resolutions would automatically be enacted if Congress fails to pass a budget.
● Showdowns over the debt ceiling (currently planned for early 2025) would be ended by abolishing the debt ceiling limit.
● To address the recent Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision, 5 U.S.C. 706 would be amended to include the Chevron deference.2
● To address the recent Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors decision, 28 U.S.C. 2401(a) would be amended to clarify the statute of limitations.3
● An overhaul of the immigration and asylum system is needed, but not within the scope of the 2024 legislative package. However, some minor issues are addressed: A path to citizenship for those brought here illegally as children (Dreamers); access to the Registry program for those here more than 10 years; a requirement for large employers to participate in a national eVerify program; and additional funding for border security and immigration courts.
● A carbon fee would be instituted, starting at $20/metric ton and rising at an inflation-adjusted $10 per year, and a carbon border tax would be put into place to make adjustments for products entering and leaving the United States. These are projected to raise $760 billion over the first four years.
● A plastic fee would be instituted on sales of virgin plastic resin, starting at 20% and rising 3% per year, thus encouraging recycling. A flat $.05 fee on individual plastic products would discourage single-use plastics. They are expected to raise $448 billion over the first four years.
Imagine a candidate with this platform…
You’d know there was no way they could accomplish everything, not all at once. But the American Union model is different; it’s not a political party, and does not run candidates for office. Instead, we are a union of swing voters, willing to vote for either Republicans or Democrats who will enact our legislation, striving to make our nation that more perfect union by living up to our Constitutional duties.
The American Union does not play party politics; instead, the game for Congress is Incumbents vs. Challengers. If Congress enacts the Trump–Biden Peace Plan in October 2024, all incumbents are eligible for endorsement and the bloc of swing votes in their district. If Congress refuses, the votes will go against them. When 3.5% of voters join the American Union, we’ll control the balance of power in Washington.
What would you like to see Congress actually do?
End poverty
End mass incarceration
End the endless wars
All of the above
While a satyagraha campaign must raise all its demands and issues at the beginning, there is an exception for new injustices which arise. In this case, it was the the Supreme Court decision of June 14 which un-prohibited bump stocks.
Similarly, this was a new issue after the Supreme Court overturned 40 years of precedent in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo on June 28.
Again, this was a new issue after the Supreme Court upended statutory understanding in Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors on July 1.