Bill Overview
Title: The Real Emergencies Act
Description: This bill denies the President authority to declare a national emergency, an emergency or major disaster, or a public health emergency on the premise of climate change.
Sponsors: Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]
Target Audience
Population: People vulnerable to climate-induced emergencies
Estimated Size: 100000000
- Climate change impacts global populations, especially in vulnerable regions prone to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, such as small island nations, coastal areas, and regions experiencing severe weather changes.
- Mitigation and emergency response are crucial for populations susceptible to climate-induced events such as hurricanes, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires.
- By limiting emergency declarations related to climate change, affected regions may face slower response times and reduced resource availability during climate-related disasters.
- Much of the world's population could be directly or indirectly impacted through increased vulnerability to climate events.
Reasoning
- The budget constraint limits the number of individuals and regions that can receive adequate preparation and response resources for climate-induced emergencies under the new policy.
- The policy will likely have a significant impact on the well-being of individuals residing in climate-vulnerable areas, where preparedness and response efforts are paramount.
- Since the policy restricts emergency declarations related to climate events, the well-being of individuals in disaster-prone areas might see a decline over the long term if resources are not reallocated through other means.
- We must consider various demographic factors such as socioeconomic status, geographical location, occupation, and previous experience with climate disasters to understand the varied impact across the U.S. population.
- The policy might have no direct impact on individuals who do not reside in or near areas prone to climate-induced emergencies, but indirect effects could ripple throughout connected communities.
Simulated Interviews
Environmental Scientist (Miami, FL)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The inability to declare emergencies due to climate change undermines preparedness efforts in Miami.
- Local governments may face challenges accessing necessary federal support during hurricanes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 6 |
Emergency Management Coordinator (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without federal emergency declarations, it becomes challenging to coordinate resources effectively.
- People's lives may be at higher risk in future storms as support might be delayed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Community Organizer (Portland, OR)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems to be a step backward in climate resilience.
- Our community might struggle with effective disaster response without federal aids during climatic events.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
IT Consultant (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't faced severe weather issues yet, but I worry about potential future impacts.
- I think federal preparedness is crucial regardless of the current policy.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Climate Policy Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could hinder necessary emergency interventions during climate-related disasters.
- Federal restrictions might create bottlenecks in disaster management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am not directly affected by climate events, but I'm concerned about national readiness.
- As we age, anything affecting national policy could indirectly impact us, so it's a worry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It is frustrating and feels like a step back in climate advocacy.
- Young people like me are worried about our future facing decreased support in climate events.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Insurance Agent (Charleston, SC)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Insurance rates and claims might rise if emergency declarations are slower.
- Our clients would stress without fast responses and clearly available resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Public Health Official (New York, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Limited authority for emergency response could risk public health during heatwaves and floods.
- Long-term impacts include a probable strain on health services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
High School Student (Boulder, CO)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We learn in school how important climate response is, and it's scary to think of less support during climate emergencies.
- I worry about what my future looks like with more restrictions on climate readiness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $220000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $330000000)
Year 3: $250000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $380000000)
Year 5: $300000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $450000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $750000000)
Year 100: $2000000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $3000000000)
Key Considerations
- Impacts on emergency response effectiveness for climate-induced disasters.
- Potential shifting of financial burdens to state and local governments.
- Legal implications and potential litigations arising from denied federal emergency declarations.
- The influence of potential natural disasters that will still occur regardless of declaration abilities.
- Potential economic implications for businesses in regions prone to climate change impacts.