Bill Overview
Title: DEMAND Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to designate breast pumps and certain lactation supplies as eligible for financial assistance under major disaster relief provisions.
Sponsors: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Target Audience
Population: Breastfeeding individuals impacted by natural disasters
Estimated Size: 60000
- The bill will impact individuals who are breast-feeding and require lactation supplies during natural disasters.
- Natural disasters can disrupt access to necessary supplies for mothers who are lactating, making them a vulnerable population.
- According to global estimates, there are approximately 140 million births around the world each year, and a large proportion of new mothers breastfeed.
- Natural disasters can occur anywhere in the world, affecting various population sizes depending on the severity and location of the disaster.
Reasoning
- The target population of breastfeeding individuals impacted by natural disasters in the U.S. is estimated at 60,000.
- Most of the people who will be impacted by this policy will be breastfeeding mothers in areas prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.
- The budget constraints of the policy mean that not everyone in need may receive assistance, especially in larger disaster scenarios.
- There will be individuals whose wellbeing might not change significantly with or without the policy if they don't experience a disaster during the policy's tenure.
- The policy will have more immediate impacts in the year or two following its enactment as initial support is distributed.
Simulated Interviews
Registered Nurse (Florida)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a mother, I'm always worried about hurricanes cutting off my access to essential supplies like breast pumps.
- This policy would lessen one of the many stressors during hurricane season for us mothers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
School Teacher (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about losing power during fires; having access to lactation supplies would certainly alleviate my concerns.
- This policy puts breastfeeding mothers like me at ease, knowing we're considered in disaster plans.
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 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Stay-at-home Mom (Texas)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is overdue; access to lactation supplies is often overlooked in disaster relief.
- It will definitely help families like mine who have been affected by storms and power outages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Emergency Planner (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this policy as a smart and humane move; breastfeeding mothers need reassurance that their specific needs are met during disasters.
- It provides a structured way for us to consider lactation supplies in planning.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
University Professor (Alabama)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy gives me a bit more peace of mind during severe weather seasons.
- It's good to know that someone is thinking about these specific needs.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Mississippi)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Frequently troubled by flooding, having access to breast pumps is crucial for me.
- The thought alone eases some of the chaos during these times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Paramedic (Louisiana)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being a paramedic during hurricanes is stressful enough, this policy helps remove stress from my personal life.
- Support for lactating mothers is crucial during emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Homemaker (Nebraska)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy comes a little late for me, but it's definitely a good step.
- Mothers in my community will appreciate such an initiative.
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 | 4 | 4 |
Student (Puerto Rico)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Relief during our frequent hurricanes is an absolute necessity; having lactation supplies on hand eases a lot of my burdens.
- This policy aids in easing a very real difficulty during natural disasters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Community Organizer (North Carolina)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I won't benefit directly, I see its value for my community and am supportive of this policy.
- This addresses a critical need that is often overlooked during disasters.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2100000 (Low: $1600000, High: $3150000)
Year 3: $2205000 (Low: $1690000, High: $3307500)
Year 5: $2315250 (Low: $1784500, High: $3472875)
Year 10: $2550840 (Low: $1962950, High: $3810815)
Year 100: $6658740 (Low: $4959950, High: $9988110)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring efficient distribution and allocation of lactation supplies during varied and unpredictable natural disasters.
- Any shift in FEMA focus due to the policy might require reallocating existing budgets or requesting additional appropriations.
- Natural disasters have unpredictable frequencies and impacts, rendering precise long-term fiscal planning more complex.