Bill Overview
Title: Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act
Description: This bill establishes a centralized location to publish information on disaster assistance provided by federal agencies. The Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and any agencies providing disaster assistance must make available to the public on a quarterly basis information regarding (1) the total amount of assistance provided by the agency; (2) the amount provided that was expended or obligated; and (3) all projects or activities for which assistance was expended, obligated, or used.
Sponsors: Resident Commissioner González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People who could be affected by disasters worldwide
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill impacts all individuals who are or will be receiving disaster assistance from federal agencies because the accountability and transparency of the use of funds will be improved.
- Individuals in disaster-prone areas may have better access to information regarding federal assistance, helping them understand and prepare for aid they might receive.
- The population includes small business owners, homeowners, and renters who rely on federal disaster assistance programs to recover from natural disasters.
- The act indirectly impacts all U.S. citizens by ensuring that their taxpayer dollars allocated for disaster relief are used effectively and transparently.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to improve transparency and accountability in how federal disaster assistance funds are used, directly affecting individuals who are recipients of such aid.
- This could include small business owners and property owners in disaster-prone areas seeking to understand how well aid for recovery is managed or expedited.
- Indirectly, it affects taxpayers who want to ensure that funds allocated for disaster relief are used effectively, benefiting people by increasing public trust in institutions.
- The policy is limited by budget constraints and focuses on information dissemination, rather than direct financial aid to individuals.
- The scale of impact depends on information accessibility, which could empower small business owners and other beneficiaries to advocate for better use of funds.
Simulated Interviews
Small business owner (Florida)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I like the idea of more transparency in disaster relief funds.
- We need to know where the money is going so it can genuinely help people renew their businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Real estate developer (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency about aid is crucial but doesn't solve immediate needs after disasters.
- Well, it still helps to know how funding is spent on housing projects though.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Teacher (Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It would be reassuring to know these funds are helping schools and communities.
- However, we need more than just knowing where the money goes after a disaster strikes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Insurance agent (Louisiana)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There's been a lack of transparency with recovery funds.
- I hope this pushes for stricter oversight and better results.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nurse (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm all for knowing how aid reaches people in need.
- It's a start, but we need efficient delivery of aid, too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired teacher (New Orleans)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our community needs clarity on where relief funds are going.
- It would help rebuild confidence if we know resources are handled wisely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Social worker (Puerto Rico)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater transparency could lead to better resource management.
- Yet our hands are often tied by the bureaucracy of distributing funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Farmer (Kansas)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding fund uses might help in better planning for future disasters.
- Right now, we need more direct aid and management improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Mississippi)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It'll be good to see where mission-critical funds go for our future safety.
- Meanwhile, I hope this leads to better allocation for urgent needs.
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 |
Tourism manager (South Carolina)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency could make recovery efforts more efficient and fair.
- Although current systems need overhaul beyond data presentation.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $40000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $35000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $55000000)
Year 5: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $40000000)
Year 10: $20000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $35000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $25000000)
Key Considerations
- Initial costs are significant for creating a centralized data platform, including technology and integration across systems.
- Ongoing costs include maintenance, personnel, and continuous data management.
- Potential savings through reduced waste and fraud due to improved transparency.
- Impact on employment may be neutral, with slight increases in tech-related positions for setup and maintenance of the platform.