Bill Overview
Title: American Students Abroad Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of State to periodically share with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) U.S. embassy and consulate reports relating to a death of a U.S. citizen aboard. The CDC must expand programs and activities related to the surveillance of deaths of U.S. citizens abroad.
Sponsors: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Target Audience
Population: U.S. citizens residing abroad
Estimated Size: 375000
- The bill impacts those who are concerned with the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens who travel or reside outside of the U.S., particularly students as they are often part of exchange and study abroad programs.
- The bill involves enhancing the reporting and data analysis of deaths, which implies it aims to impact individuals indirectly by improving safety and awareness measures.
- As the title suggests, there is a particular focus on American students, who participate in international educational and cultural exchange programs.
- The State Department and the CDC are involved in the reporting and monitoring processes, which can benefit in making informed decisions and policies to prevent future incidents.
Reasoning
- This policy specifically targets U.S. citizens, particularly students, who travel abroad and might be concerned about the safety and wellbeing aspects related to their travel. Given the resources defined by the budget, the focus is likely on improving systems that allow for better centralization and distribution of critical safety and health information, potentially influencing peace of mind and decisions related to study abroad programs.
- There are significant limitations on direct personal impact due to the indirect nature of the policy, which concentrates on systemic improvements rather than immediate individual benefits. The most affected individuals would be those with vested interests in international travel policies or those with prior incidents abroad.
- The population affected is generally large as the target is broad (U.S. citizens abroad, especially students), but the depth of impact per individual is small to medium, affecting their sense of security or decisions about studying abroad rather than daily life directly.
Simulated Interviews
University Student (Austin, Texas)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. This policy seems like a good step in making sure everything is safer, which reassures my family too.
- I think knowing that there's more oversight on what happens overseas will give my parents peace of mind. We always worry about unknown risks.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Corporate Lawyer (New York, New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that adds more safety and information sharing is beneficial. As a parent, I worry about incidents happening abroad and the difficulty in getting information quickly.
- I don't think it will change things drastically overnight but knowing that the CDC and State Department have more data to act on is a good move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Freelance Writer (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For frequent travelers like myself, this policy might not directly impact my everyday life, but it underscores a commitment to safety by these agencies.
- I'm glad there is a focus on collecting more data—it might help shape future travel advisories.
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 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (San Francisco, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish this kind of policy was around when I was actively teaching abroad—it certainly provides more reassurance.
- This is a good policy for ensuring critical information is not overlooked, though it's more behind-the-scenes and less immediate in individual impact.
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 | 6 | 6 |
NGO Worker (New York, New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't directly affect me in my line of work, but better health and safety data sharing is always good.
- It's likely more beneficial for new travelers or those not accustomed with international living.
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 | 5 | 5 |
High School Student (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's exciting to think about studying or traveling abroad. Knowing there's better monitoring on safety matters is comforting.
- My parents are a bit hesitant about me going overseas, so this policy helps them feel better about it.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Business Executive (Miami, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of this policy if it means more informed decisions for students and travelers. It's not going to change the world, but it's a solid effort.
- It'll probably matter more to younger people and those directly involved in travel-related decisions.
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 |
Travel Blogger (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see improvements in safety and death reporting systems. This policy should bolster confidence for students and parents alike.
- Practically though, as a traveler, the effects are more indirect—possibly influencing future narratives and safety tips I share.
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 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Returning students and current travelers could benefit from such policies by understanding risks better.
- Though the policy doesn't immediately impact daily life, it can influence perceptions and decisions about returning overseas.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
College Professor (Houston, Texas)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More robust systems for safety and student security abroad are appreciated, and this policy supports that.
- From my position, this policy won't change our routine, but it may influence parental consent and ease concerns.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 2: $2100000 (Low: $1600000, High: $2600000)
Year 3: $2200000 (Low: $1700000, High: $2700000)
Year 5: $2400000 (Low: $1900000, High: $2900000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $2400000, High: $3500000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3500000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The data sharing between the Department of State and the CDC could lead to better insights and potentially safer travel conditions for American students increasing abroad programs.
- There are limited economic impacts as it primarily involves governmental procedural enhancements rather than large-scale economic changes.
- Costs can increase if technological systems require major upgrades or if staffing needs increase significantly.
- Data privacy and security are key considerations due to the sensitive nature of death-related information.