Bill Overview
Title: DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act of 2021
Description: This bill establishes the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council, which shall provide trade and economic security advice and recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This includes identifying concentrated risks and setting priorities for protecting the nation's trade and economic security. The bill also establishes the position of Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security within DHS's Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans.
Sponsors: Rep. Meijer, Peter [R-MI-3]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or impacted by U.S. trade and economic security
Estimated Size: 250000
- Establishing the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council will involve coordination between various sectors involving trade, such as import/export businesses, customs, and security officers.
- Changes may affect businesses directly involved in U.S. trade, as they might have to comply with new security measures or regulations.
- General public will see benefits from enhanced economic security, but the direct impact is more concentrated on those working in trade and economic policy-making.
Reasoning
- The DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act primarily targets individuals in sectors directly connected to trade, security, and economic policies. This includes both government employees and private sector workers involved in international trade.
- The cost and scope limitations suggest the act will not have a vast outreach initially, focusing instead on improving current processes and advising future policy developments.
- Given the target population, the interviews must reflect perspectives from both government and private sector employees. We are particularly interested in understanding subjective wellbeing which could be affected by job security, perceived economic safety, and occupational changes due to the policy.
- Not every individual within the target demographic will feel an impact, as the policy's budgetary constraints mean that the direct changes are likely minimal for many.
- A representative sample would include different job roles, levels of perceived risk, and current attitudes towards trade security.
Simulated Interviews
Customs Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy will enhance our strategic operations, offering better guidelines and risk assessments.
- With a dedicated council, we might receive better support and training, although actual job changes may be gradual.
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 | 9 | 7 |
Import/Export Business Manager (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm wary of new regulations that could complicate our import processes.
- If the council really helps streamline procedures and keeps us informed, it might be a benefit.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
DHS Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy directly aligns with the work I do, giving more structure and focus to our initiatives.
- I anticipate increased collaboration across departments.
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 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Logistics Coordinator (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regulations already burden us, so I'm concerned about added compliance requirements.
- The council might lead to better standards, easing this worry over time if implemented well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
International Trade Lawyer (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The council could create opportunities for clearer guidelines and elevate trade security issues.
- Long-term impacts are unclear but could ease legal complexities for clients.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Senior Import Compliance Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy that helps reduce surprises in regulations is a positive, but I'll need to see results from the council.
- Initial disruptions are expected, but long-term benefits are hopeful.
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 | 8 | 5 |
Freight Forwarding Agent (Seattle, WA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional oversight might bring more paperwork, but improved efficiency is always welcome depending on implementation.
- The new council has the potential to curtail inefficiencies over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Supply Chain Analyst (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The impact will depend on how new measures are integrated into existing supply chain procedures.
- If disruptions are minimized, the long-term perspective seems advantageous.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Economic Policy Researcher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this as a positive move to solidify economic security strategies by aligning trade security with policy.
- The specifics will determine true effectiveness, but conceptually it strengthens our national stance.
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 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Trade Affairs Consultant (Boston, MA)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From what I see, the council could provide actionable insights that are currently lacking in trade policies.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about the actual on-ground changes it might bring.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $31000000 (Low: $21000000, High: $41000000)
Year 3: $32000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $42000000)
Year 5: $34000000 (Low: $24000000, High: $44000000)
Year 10: $38000000 (Low: $28000000, High: $48000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- The council's effectiveness in analyzing and mitigating trade risks is crucial to realizing potential savings.
- Close interagency coordination within DHS and with external trade bodies is key for the successful implementation of this policy.
- Effectiveness will depend on the quality of personnel hired for the council and supporting roles.