Bill Overview
Title: He Did That Act
Description: This bill requires the President to report within 30 days to Congress about existing authorities for stabilizing and lowering gas prices.
Sponsors: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison [R-NC-11]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by gas price stabilization measures
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill impacts individuals who rely on gasoline for transportation and other daily activities.
- Gas prices influence the cost of goods and services, affecting everyone, especially commuters and industries dependent on transportation.
- The bill indirectly affects global oil markets, influencing international populations.
Reasoning
- The bill primarily focuses on stabilizing gas prices, which in turn impact people who are highly dependent on vehicles for daily commuting. Therefore, the interviews include a range of individuals from different locations and occupations that rely heavily on gasoline.
- Given the limited budget, the policy may have a minimal direct impact on individual gas prices but could have symbolic implications or prompt secondary actions from market players and consumers.
- Since the policy might not lead directly to immediate or large-scale actions affecting prices, its perceived impact on wellbeing is likely to be low unless subsequent measures directly influence gas markets and consumer prices.
- Individuals interviewed include a mix of common commuters, public transportation users less affected by gas prices, and people in rural areas who might feel the impact more acutely.
Simulated Interviews
Truck Driver (Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that helps reduce gas prices is welcome, but I doubt real change will happen soon.
- Cost of gas is a huge part of my expenses, so I'm hopeful but skeptical.
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 |
Elementary School Teacher (California)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If gas prices stabilize, it could free up more of our budget for other necessities.
- I feel uncertain about the government's impact here, given past trends.
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 | 6 | 6 |
Freelance Writer (New York City)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Gas prices don't affect me much directly because I use public transport, but I hope it helps curb inflation indirectly.
- Focusing on public transit improvements would probably help more in cities.
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 |
Factory Worker (Illinois)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- High gasoline prices make everything else cost more, so any relief could be significant.
- I've seen many promises come and go; I'll believe it when I see it impact my paycheck.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired Teacher (Florida)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had to cut back on trips to see family because of gas prices. Any help is appreciated.
- I've seen these measures announced before. Let's see if it really changes anything this time.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Rancher (Wyoming)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The unpredictability of gas prices impacts my ranch operations. More stability would be great.
- I hope this leads to real relief for rural areas that depend so heavily on gas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Developer (Oregon)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Gas prices don't affect me much during the week, but I see the broader economic impact.
- I'm more worried about how this affects product prices due to shipping and logistics.
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 (New Mexico)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a nurse, I can't avoid commuting; affordable gas helps me manage my budget better.
- I hope the policy encourages more fuel-efficient initiatives too.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Georgia)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cheaper gas would really help me stick to my budget as a student.
- Hope this means there are future plans for more sustainable options.
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 | 7 | 7 |
Grocery Store Manager (Michigan)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As gas prices soar, so do transportation costs for our store – stabilizing would help us a lot.
- Optimism but seen many policies; they need to trigger real change.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- This policy involves minimal direct costs but aims to influence policy concerning a significant economic sector, potentially affecting millions of consumers.
- The effectiveness in achieving gas price stabilization depends largely on the subsequent policies implemented after the reporting process.
- Indirect effects on GDP and tax revenues are highly speculative and contingent on broader regulatory measures and market reactions.