Bill Overview
Title: COVID–19 American History Project Act
Description: This bill directs the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to establish a history project to be known as the COVID-19 American History Project to collect and make publicly available individual stories and records of experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The bill includes a requirement to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of those who were affected by the pandemic. The Librarian of Congress may solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to carry out the project, subject to this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide who had experiences or stories related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals globally, in terms of health, economic, and social aspects.
- The project focuses on recording histories and testimonials, affecting those willing to share their experiences.
- Although the bill targets the US, COVID-19 was a global event, impacting billions worldwide.
Reasoning
- The target population involves a diverse range of experiences given the pandemic's widespread impact across the US.
- Considering budget limitations, the project will leverage digital platforms to collect testimonials to keep costs low and outreach broad.
- Individuals with significant COVID-19 experiences or stories and those who are generally engaged in civic or storytelling projects are more likely to participate.
- Not everyone will see a tangible benefit in terms of wellbeing, but for those who find storytelling cathartic, there could be minor improvements.
- We should expect relatively minimal impact on the average person's wellbeing, but certain individuals may have a meaningful experience sharing their stories.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it’s important to document these stories for future generations.
- Sharing my experience would be therapeutic and a way to honor those we lost.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a unique chance to talk about how this changed my education.
- Could help people understand the impacts on students.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retiree (Bismarck, ND)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I like the idea of sharing my perspective and adding my story to history.
- It might feel good to talk about how my community handled it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Restaurant Owner (Dallas, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It might help to share how I managed my business through the worst times.
- Could inspire others in similar industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Public School Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recording what educators went through could be valuable.
- Provides a chance to reflect and share my challenges and achievements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Unemployed (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m not sure sharing my story helps me, but it could be interesting to participate.
- Feels like my struggles are a part of a bigger picture.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Grocery Store Clerk (Miami, FL)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having my story out there acknowledges our efforts as essential workers.
- Validates the risk I took as part of my job.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Caregiver (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it’s crucial to document how this affected vulnerable populations.
- It might be emotionally difficult but worthwhile to share.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For people like me, this is a minor historical footnote, but still worth sharing.
- Some might find it enlightening to hear stories of positive change during the pandemic.
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 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sharing my professional experience could highlight the positive sides of response efforts.
- Recognizes the hard work of many in the scientific community.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- The project requires technological infrastructure and skilled personnel to manage multimedia data.
- Ensuring broad representation across different demographics and experiences during the pandemic will be essential.
- Privacy and ethical considerations must be managed effectively.
- Potential partnerships with academic and historical institutions could enhance the project's scope and funding.