Bill Overview
Title: Lunar New Year Day Act
Description: This bill establishes Lunar New Year Day as a federal holiday.
Sponsors: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Target Audience
Population: People who celebrate Lunar New Year globally
Estimated Size: 15000000
- The Lunar New Year is celebrated by several Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other East Asian communities.
- Making Lunar New Year a federal holiday would directly recognize the cultural practices of these communities.
- There are approximately 1.4 billion people in China alone who traditionally celebrate Lunar New Year.
- Other countries where Lunar New Year is widely celebrated include Korea and Vietnam, adding hundreds of millions more to the potential global population impacted.
Reasoning
- Considering the target population, the policy would directly impact Asian American communities who celebrate Lunar New Year.
- Given the budget, the policy will need to cover the costs associated with recognizing a new federal holiday, including costs to businesses and federal agencies.
- Not all of the 15 million estimated Asian Americans will be equally affected; cultural significance may vary among individuals.
- Some members of the broader American population may also be indirectly affected or positively receptive to the cultural recognition, potentially impacting overall societal wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about this recognition. It feels like an acknowledgment of our culture.
- My family already takes a day off to celebrate, but having it as a holiday means no one needs to use vacation days.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Bank Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a step in the right direction for Asian communities in the U.S.
- For us, having a recognized holiday could boost participation in cultural events.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Designer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my family doesn’t celebrate extensively, having a public holiday would be nice.
- It could help reconnect some with cultural roots.
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 |
Elementary School Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognizing Lunar New Year could serve as an educational tool for students to learn about other cultures.
- It's a great initiative for inclusivity in our diverse community.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's heartening to see such recognition by the government.
- I've been advocating for cultural holidays for decades.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad we're recognizing more diverse traditions.
- It might encourage me to celebrate more actively.
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 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Restaurant Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s great for business and for our community atmosphere.
- I expect more people to join in the celebrations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This holiday could make it easier for our family to celebrate together without work or school conflicts.
- It acknowledges my spouse's culture, which feels positive for us.
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 |
Lawyer (Boston, MA)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not a big deal for me personally, but it’s a welcome acknowledgment.
- Happy to see the traditions being recognized, though I might not celebrate.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
HR Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhancing cultural holidays can widen understandings within workplaces.
- It's good for Asian communities and can enrich the work culture.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $4000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $4500000000)
Year 2: $4000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $4500000000)
Year 3: $4000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $4500000000)
Year 5: $4000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $4500000000)
Year 10: $4000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $4500000000)
Year 100: $4000000000 (Low: $3500000000, High: $4500000000)
Key Considerations
- A new federal holiday typically costs around $500 million to $1 billion for federal employers due to lost productivity and wages.
- Recognition of cultures through federal holidays can enhance national integration and promote cultural appreciation among diverse populations.
- The economic impacts are diversely felt, with some communities potentially benefiting economically from increased spending associated with the celebration.