Bill Overview
Title: Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
Description: This bill authorizes the allocation of certain funds for purposes related to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, requires the Department of State to develop a strategy for prioritizing efforts to increase disaster response and resilience in the Caribbean, and establishes monitoring and reporting requirements. Funds for carrying out the initiative shall be used for purposes that include (1) promoting citizen safety, security, and the rule of law in the Caribbean; (2) prioritizing efforts to combat corruption; and (3) promoting the rule of law in the Caribbean and countering influence from authoritarian regimes. The State Department shall develop a strategy that incorporates specific, measurable benchmarks demonstrating a prioritization of efforts to increase disaster response and resilience through carrying out specified coordination, resilience, and preparedness programs in beneficiary countries. The State Department must also submit an implementation plan that includes a timeline and stated objectives for such actions to be taken.
Sponsors: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Target Audience
Population: People living in the Caribbean Basin
Estimated Size: 4000000
- The bill focuses on the Caribbean Basin, which includes numerous island nations such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and others.
- The initiative aims to promote safety and security, combat corruption, and uphold the rule of law, potentially affecting all residents within these Caribbean nations.
- Disaster response and resilience efforts will target these populations as these areas are frequently affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
- The Caribbean has a population of over 43 million people.
- The impact will largely be on the institutional and societal levels in these countries, possibly reaching every resident to some extent through improved public safety and governance.
Reasoning
- The implementation of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act is expected to directly impact citizens in the Caribbean region by enhancing rule of law, safety, and disaster resilience. However, individuals in the US will experience indirect effects.
- American citizens traveling to or investing in the region may see changes in safety, potentially affecting their willingness to visit or invest.
- Americans of Caribbean descent may also be emotionally or economically impacted by changes in the Caribbean.
- The size limitation of the program's budget implies a need for strategic allocation, potentially affecting specific areas within the Caribbean more than others.
- The commonness score reflects how often you might encounter such individuals in the US population affected by changes in the Caribbean.
- Considering a 10-year plan with substantial funding but targeting a wide geographic area, the impact on individual Americans is likely limited or indirect.
Simulated Interviews
Travel Agent (Miami, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the initiative can positively impact tourism safety in the Caribbean, which is great for my work.
- Ensuring safer environments could increase travel during peak hurricane seasons as response systems should improve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved disaster response can ease my worries about family during hurricane season.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about its implementation due to past government policy failures.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Software Developer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might create more demand for disaster resilience technologies, benefiting my industry.
- It's great to see investments in areas often prone to natural disasters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The initiative may improve infrastructure in Trinidad, which would be beneficial for long-term development.
- I hope to see better corruption controls and safety enhanced back home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Allocating funds carefully could spur sustainable development in the Caribbean.
- I'm skeptical of any lasting effects beyond initial plans without solid plans and oversight.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in seeing how international aid can lead to tangible improvements.
- This could be a case study for my future career in policy-making.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Investor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved disaster resilience would protect my investments against natural disasters.
- Legal reforms might streamline future business operations in the region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Tech Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Smart city tech can flourish with an increase in infrastructure investments under this initiative.
- I see this as a chance to expand tech solutions that enhance safety and disaster response.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Elementary School Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The resilience programs could help communities in Haiti better prepare for future challenges.
- I'm hopeful but also wary if funds are not used effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Musician (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safety and stability are crucial for my tours in the Caribbean.
- If the initiative succeeds, it might make touring less risky and more profitable.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $85000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $110000000)
Year 3: $90000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $115000000)
Year 5: $95000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $120000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $125000000)
Year 100: $125000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- The long-term success of the initiative is highly dependent on cooperation with Caribbean governments.
- External geopolitical factors, such as influence from other nations in the Caribbean, could affect the outcomes.
- Natural disasters disrupting the Caribbean should be considered, as they may require additional funds beyond those initially planned.