Bill Overview
Title: Sarah Collins Rudolph Civil Rights Compensation Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes grants for victims of racial violence during the Civil Rights Movement. Specifically, the bill establishes grants through the Department of Justice and the Crime Victims Fund to cover the cost of medical care for individuals who sustained injuries as a result of racial violence between 1954 and 1965. The bill defines racial violence as violence in which a victim or property was intentionally selected based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person.
Sponsors: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Target Audience
Population: People injured due to racial violence between 1954 and 1965
Estimated Size: 5000
- The US Civil Rights Movement is generally considered to have occurred between 1954 and 1965.
- The racial violence events during this period mainly occurred within the United States.
- The target population is those who suffered injuries from racial violence during the Civil Rights Movement, specifically between 1954-1965.
- Events like bombings, beatings, lynchings, and other acts of racial terror were common forms of racial violence during this time period.
Reasoning
- The policy targets individuals who experienced injuries from acts of racial violence between 1954 and 1965, which implies not only direct violence but also chronic health impacts that may have emerged over time due to inadequate medical care during the original injury.
- Considering the historic context and social challenges present during the Civil Rights Movement, medical services were often inaccessible to black Americans and other minorities, causing longer-term health issues that they live with today.
- The budget constraints will limit the policy's ability to provide substantial coverage if the number of impacted individuals goes beyond the estimated 5000 eligible recipients.
- We must consider the psychological as well as the physical well-being impact of the policy, as recognizing and compensating for past atrocities can also have a significant uplifting effect on an individual's overall well-being.
Simulated Interviews
Retired School Teacher (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I never thought anyone would come to my aid because it was so long ago.
- If this policy is true, it would be a blessing because I still have hospital bills...
- More than just money, it's about acknowledgment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired Factory Worker (Jackson, MS)
Age: 85 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can't afford my medications, and this could change that.
- We need this to recognize our struggles during those dark times.
- It's important for my grandchildren to know what happened.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Former Civil Rights Activist (Selma, AL)
Age: 79 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wasn’t sure anyone remembered our struggles.
- This is justice long overdue, especially for those with lifelong injuries.
- I really hope it gets the resources it needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Minister (Montgomery, AL)
Age: 82 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had heart problems ever since.
- Finally, something is being done for us, even if it feels late.
- I hope they really follow through with the funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Community Volunteer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 77 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could help with the medical treatments I can't usually afford.
- It's nice to be remembered after all these years.
- Maybe it will heal some hurt for my community too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired Musician (Memphis, TN)
Age: 73 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy might bring closure.
- Many of us are forgotten, so thanks to this effort we won’t be.
- Financially, it would really help out in these times.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired Nurse (Little Rock, AR)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always felt alone after what happened.
- This might finally bring some peace of mind.
- I don't want my grandchildren to think anything was for nothing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Retired Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 74 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is about dignity and making sure we are not forgotten.
- I would use the support for my ongoing physical therapy costs.
- I have hope this will happen in my lifetime.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Civil Rights Historian (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 78 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This acknowledgment would be a relief.
- I'm afraid that it's just another promise.
- It shows the next generation that our struggles mattered.
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 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retired Auto Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 76 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- After all these years, something might really change.
- Feeling remembered and supported gives me hope.
- I need help with hospital expenses that have been piling up.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $3500000000)
Year 2: $2500000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $3500000000)
Year 3: $2500000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $3500000000)
Year 5: $2500000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $3500000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Accurate targeting of beneficiaries may be challenging due to historical record limitations regarding victims of racial violence from 1954 to 1965.
- Ensuring fair and efficient distribution of grants could require robust administrative oversight to prevent fraud.
- The policy may attract public interest and scrutiny regarding the sufficiency and timeliness of compensation relative to historical injustice.