Bill Overview
Title: Territorial Representation in the Senate Act
Description: This bill allows each U.S. territory (American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) with local legislative approval to be represented in Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the Senate who shall be elected by the people qualified to vote for officials of the territory. Further, the bill establishes qualifications for the office of delegate, authorizes the government of the territory to determine the election procedure, and provides that each delegate shall receive the same compensation, privileges, and immunities as any other member of the Senate.
Sponsors: Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People residing in U.S. territories (American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)
Estimated Size: 3915000
- The bill impacts residents of all U.S. territories, which include American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- Citizens in these territories would gain representation in the U.S. Senate through non-voting delegates.
- People in these territories are U.S. citizens (except American Samoans who are U.S. nationals), therefore affecting their representation in federal legislative processes.
- The bill does not impact U.S. states or residents solely of U.S. states as they already have Senate representation.
Reasoning
- The policy directly impacts U.S. territories, which have a combined population of around 3.9 million. This group includes diverse demographics, including varied ages, occupations, and perspectives about representation in Congress.
- Since the policy concerns non-voting delegates to the Senate, U.S. states are not directly affected, but the residents of territories may experience an increase in perceived representation which could impact their wellbeing.
- The budget constraints focus primarily on integrating these delegates and their offices into the existing legislative infrastructure, which limits the immediate, tangible benefits to the average citizen, beyond improved representation.
- To simulate varied perspectives, we include directly impacted individuals from the territories, as well as those less affected, such as residents of a state, who might not see any changes to their wellbeing scores.
Simulated Interviews
School Teacher (Puerto Rico)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having representation in the Senate would finally give us a voice in federal issues that affect Puerto Rico directly.
- It's frustrating when policies affecting our island are decided without our input.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Guam)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a voice in the Senate would help bring attention to issues like economic aid and military presence, which affect my business.
- I hope this leads to more investment in our local economy.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Healthcare Worker (American Samoa)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We often feel forgotten in federal policies, especially in healthcare.
- Having a delegate could push for better healthcare decisions for us.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
College Student (Northern Mariana Islands)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's exciting to have any form of representation, even if non-voting, as it validates our political concerns.
- This change could be a stepping stone for full voting rights.
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 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Virgin Islands)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've served the military and the country, it's about time we get some representation.
- I'm cautiously optimistic that this could lead to more support for veterans here.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Federal Employee (Washington D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this policy doesn't impact me directly, I think it's a step towards equality in representation.
- More inclusive representation might influence crafting better-informed policies.
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 |
Teacher (Northern Mariana Islands)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a delegate, even non-voting, could push for educational reforms and more resources.
- I’m hopeful this change will bring progress in educational support.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Taxi Driver (Puerto Rico)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel this move can eventually lead to improved infrastructures since our issues can be better heard.
- Having someone push our needs is definitely a plus.
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 |
Software Developer (Guam)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Technology policies and infrastructure could see improvements, which are crucial for my job.
- Our representation will ensure our needs are discussed on a national level.
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 | 8 | 7 |
Fisher (American Samoa)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this representation means better support for our fishing rights and industry, which is our lifeline.
- It's a small step, but hopefully meaningful.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- Integration of Territorial Representation could improve legislative advocacy for U.S. territories.
- Administrative adjustments will be required to accommodate new delegates into the Senate infrastructure.
- While offering representation, the delegates would lack voting power, which might limit their effectiveness compared to state senators.