Bill Overview
Title: Harriet Tubman Day Act
Description: This bill establishes Harriet Tubman Day as a federal holiday.
Sponsors: Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
Target Audience
Population: People in the U.S. impacted by the establishment of a new federal holiday
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The establishment of a federal holiday affects all residents of the USA because federal offices and many businesses often close.
- A federal holiday can impact the scheduling for schools, businesses, government agencies, and public services.
- This specific holiday may have a broader cultural and educational impact, encouraging reflection and discussions on Harriet Tubman's role in American history and the abolition of slavery.
Reasoning
- The Harriet Tubman Day Act establishes a new federal holiday, impacting work and school schedules across the U.S. This holiday can potentially improve cultural understanding and provide people an extra day for rest or leisure, improving general well-being.
- Although the budget is substantial, the primary financial impact is related to economic slowdown due to reduced productivity on a federal holiday, which may not directly affect all citizens' well-being. Some may see benefits while others are unaffected.
- By simulating diverse interview profiles, we capture a range of attitudes towards the holiday, from those who may see increased cultural engagement and opportunity for leisure, to those unaffected due to non-holiday related work, like essential services.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about the recognition of Harriet Tubman. It allows for more educational opportunities around her legacy.
- The day off will let me organize special events at my school, so I'm quite supportive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retail Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Another federal holiday makes child care more challenging when I'm scheduled to work.
- I don't think it'll impact me much unless retail gets a holiday too.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Harriet Tubman Day is a great addition. It gives me a chance to relax and reflect on important historical figures.
- I’ll use this day to focus on personal projects.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Truck Driver (Dallas, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I usually work on holidays, so this doesn't change my schedule much.
- It will be interesting to see how the public engages with the history, though.
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 |
Corporate Executive (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This holiday bears cultural significance, and it will allow for additional family time.
- It may affect project timelines, but overall, the company supports such initiatives.
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 |
College Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thrilled about Harriet Tubman Day! It's relevant to my studies and offers a day of reflection.
- I hope to organize peer discussions and college events on this day.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
IT Specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A new holiday is a good opportunity to catch up on reading about Harriet Tubman's life.
- The only change will be an extra day to relax.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Harriet Tubman Day gives me a chance to be more active in community events.
- I plan to participate in organizing those events.
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 |
Nurse (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This doesn't affect my job much, since hospitals don't follow standard holidays.
- It's good for cultural awareness, but my personal life probably won't change.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new holiday is an opportunity to promote social justice.
- I'll take advantage of the day off for volunteering in related activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 3: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 5: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 10: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 100: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Key Considerations
- Federal holidays generally incur a cost due to lost productivity rather than savings.
- Cultural, social, and educational impacts may lead to non-monetary benefits that are not quantified here.
- Increased consumer spending during a holiday can offset some of the economic impacts of office closures.