Bill Overview
Title: Homeland Security for Children Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland security planning. Specifically, each DHS office and component must take into account the needs of children, including children within underserved communities, in mission planning and execution. DHS must require each office and component to seek advice and feedback from organizations representing the needs of children. The bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify and integrate the needs of children into activities to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other disasters, including by appointing a technical expert to coordinate such integration.
Sponsors: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Target Audience
Population: Children
Estimated Size: 73000000
- The bill specifically focuses on the needs of children in homeland security and disaster preparedness contexts.
- The consideration includes children within underserved communities, indicating a targeted focus on vulnerable populations.
- In 2021, the global population of children (individuals under 18 years) was estimated to be approximately 2 billion.
- The integration of children's needs in homeland security and disaster management across different regions globally means these 2 billion children could potentially benefit from this policy when implemented in other countries as a model.
Reasoning
- The Homeland Security for Children Act primarily targets the needs of children, specifically considering underserved communities, including planning and response for disasters.
- Given the policy's budget constraints, its direct impact would likely be concentrated on initiatives and developments within governmental agencies initially, with indirect effects reaching children through improved policies and infrastructure over time.
- While the act seeks to integrate the needs of children within the Department of Homeland Security's existing framework, its immediate tangible impacts might be less visible to the general public since the changes focus on internal process improvements and long-term planning changes.
- Understanding the diversity within the 73 million children in the U.S., including socioeconomic differences and geographic vulnerabilities, will affect how individuals perceive the policy's impact.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important that children, especially in underserved communities, are considered in disaster planning.
- This policy is a step in the right direction, but I wonder how quickly changes will be seen in schools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Emergency Management Director (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrating children's needs into our planning is crucial, especially with increasing natural disasters.
- This policy will help us align with best practices and improve outcomes for families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Community Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act might improve the resources available for children we work with.
- Success depends on how well DHS implements these changes on the ground.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Government Policy Analyst (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Adjusting homeland security to include children is a necessary policy shift.
- Long-term impacts are hopeful, but monitoring and evaluation are key.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Child Psychologist (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's vital for mental health recovery to have children considered from the planning stage in disasters.
- A policy like this can help mitigate long-term trauma effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad children are being prioritized, but I work indirectly with these policy effects.
- Tech can play a role, so I hope they invest in good tech solutions.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Firefighter (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We encounter many situations where the needs of children are an afterthought.
- This act may help us address these needs better on the field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Farmer (Rural Ohio)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this offer some comfort, knowing we live in a vulnerable area.
- I hope they extend resources to rural areas effectively.
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 | 8 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a progressive step for child welfare within national security frameworks.
- My research aligns with these themes, so it's exciting to see potential policy changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Logistics Coordinator (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supply chain planning can improve by considering children's needs, reducing chaos in emergencies.
- Better planning should lead to fewer resource shortages.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $12500000 (Low: $8500000, High: $15500000)
Year 5: $13000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $16000000)
Year 10: $14000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $17000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- The inclusion of children's needs in disaster and security planning promotes inclusive and equitable preparedness strategies.
- There are initial costs in staffing and operational adjustments at DHS and FEMA, with potential future savings as plans become more effective and efficient.