Bill Overview
Title: COVID–19 Oral History Project Act
Description: This bill directs the Library of Congress to establish an oral history program in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to collect and make publicly available in a digital format individual stories of events and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The bill includes a requirement to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of those who were affected by the pandemic.
Sponsors: Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-7]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals globally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Estimated Size: 250000000
- The bill focuses on the experiences of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
- The pandemic affected a large portion of the global population, but the bill is specifically about those in the U.S.
- The target population includes people who have stories to share about their experiences during the pandemic.
Reasoning
- The COVID-19 Oral History Project Act is expected to have a low direct impact on individual well-being but may have indirect positive mental and emotional impacts, especially for those who find storytelling therapeutic.
- A diverse range of individuals across the U.S. experienced various hardships and triumphs during the pandemic, which can affect their willingness and ability to participate in the oral history project.
- The policy's impact will vary widely depending on individual experiences and involvement in the project. Those deeply affected or marginalized during the pandemic might find value through increased recognition and storytelling opportunities.
- Given budget constraints, the program size in its first year is likely limited, prioritizing early collections to urban areas or regions with high pandemic impact, and slowly expanding to rural and other less accessible areas as funding and infrastructure grows.
- Not everyone will be involved, reflecting the non-universal appeal or feasibility (e.g., access to recording equipment or internet, willingness to disclose personal stories).
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York City, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important that stories of individuals, especially frontline workers like myself, are documented.
- Sharing these stories can help people understand the reality of the pandemic.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Developer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad my family's experiences could be shared but I don't see major personal gains from this policy for myself.
- I'm interested in listening to the histories collected, though.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired School Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This project feels like a powerful way to give voice to community efforts that made significant impacts.
- Documenting our stories can be an acknowledgment of our collective resilience.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Musician (Austin, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Participating in the project could highlight the struggles of artists and how we adapted.
- It's a small chance, but it might help others struggling with similar challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Detroit, MI)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The opportunity to share my story might provide some closure to the challenges faced.
- Not sure if it would help practically, but it might emotionally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being part of this project could help people in my age group feel heard.
- It's a unique opportunity to share how drastically our education was disrupted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Grocery Store Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stories from essential workers like me should definitely be captured.
- The policy seems like a good way to record the unseen efforts during the pandemic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Healthcare Administrator (Miami, FL)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It feels necessary to share the challenges we faced in healthcare administration.
- Hopefully, these histories will provide insights for future generations.
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 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sharing the scientific effort and hurdles during the pandemic could encourage more understanding of our work.
- I'm interested in how these oral histories could be a resource in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Public School Teacher (Boise, ID)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This project might bring some of the critical education issues during the pandemic to light.
- However, I'm not sure it directly benefits teachers in significant ways.
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 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $9000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $11000000)
Year 3: $9000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $11000000)
Year 5: $8500000 (Low: $6500000, High: $10500000)
Year 10: $7500000 (Low: $5500000, High: $9500000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The initiative serves predominantly as a cultural and historical resource to document the societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Logistical considerations include the geographical diversity of interviews and the technical requirements for broad digital access.
- Ensuring privacy and informed consent of participants will be crucial in the project's execution.