Bill Overview
Title: Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act
Description: This bill expands the Department of State's rewards program to allow rewards for providing information that leads to the identification or location of an entity or individual that knowingly violates U.S. or United Nations sanctions.
Sponsors: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals and entities potentially violating U.S. or UN sanctions
Estimated Size: 5000
- The bill aims to expand the Department of State's rewards program to cover individuals or entities that violate sanctions.
- Sanctions often target individuals and entities in foreign countries, implying an international impact.
- U.S. businesses and individuals engaged in international trade or relations might be impacted due to increased compliance and monitoring requirements.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts individuals and entities involved in international trade, compliance, and foreign policy who may find themselves at risk of violating sanctions, intentionally or unintentionally.
- A small segment of the U.S. population, particularly those in compliance roles within corporations involved in global trade, will have a direct interaction with the policy.
- The budget constraints suggest that significant, direct financial incentives will be limited to a fraction of cases, focusing primarily on high-profile or high-value targets.
- There is also an indirect impact on persons working in related fields such as international law and compliance advisory, potentially increasing their workload and job security.
Simulated Interviews
Compliance Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy may initially increase my workload as we ensure compliance with updated protocols.
- Long-term, successful enforcement should lead to smoother operations as risky activities are reduced.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
International Trade Lawyer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The rewards program will bring more scrutiny, which is beneficial but will also increase stress levels dealing with complexity of cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
International Business Consultant (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This may lead to more opportunities for consulting as companies seek compliance advice.
- There is also a potential risk to operations if clients are found violating sanctions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Foreign Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will definitely add to bureaucratic processes but could improve international compliance.
- Tracking violators will become more structured, possibly increasing effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Export Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring no violations during exports will require additional checks, increasing my stress.
- If the policy is managed well, it can reduce risks of sanctions over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy includes clear guidance for small businesses on international trade restrictions.
- More oversight could be burdensome if not communicated clearly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Logistics Coordinator (Miami, FL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect to face increased compliance demands, which can delay shipments.
- Positive if it leads to safer, rule-abiding operations worldwide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be a strategic tool in national security if executed properly.
- Improvements in securing information and intercepting threats will be key to overall effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Human Rights Activist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad there’s a focus on enforcing sanctions which can support human rights in affected regions.
- Hopeful it will lead to ethical improvements in global trade.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
International Sales Director (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My role will require closer examination of sales routes and client backgrounds.
- Long-term adherence to sanctions can present both challenges and competitive edge.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $11000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $17000000)
Year 5: $14000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $19000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- Impact is heavily contingent on the effectiveness of the expanded program in identifying and sanctioning violators.
- International cooperation will be crucial for effective implementation.
- Possible diplomatic strains with countries hosting entities that frequently violate sanctions.