Bill Overview
Title: Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet conditions related to notification and planning before terminating certain restrictions on imports and individuals entering the United States. Current law authorizes HHS to restrict entries and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. HHS exercised this authority as part of its COVID-19 response, including to allow for the expulsion of undocumented migrants at the border without any asylum processing. Under this bill, HHS may not terminate the restrictions for (1) at least 60 days after it notifies Congress of the end of the COVID-19 emergency, and (2) at least 30 days after it submits to Congress a plan for addressing the possible influx of migrants or imports resulting from lifting the restrictions.
Sponsors: Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Target Audience
Population: People who might be restricted from entering the US due to public health measures
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill specifically targets public health measures related to border security, which impacts migrants and individuals attempting to enter the United States.
- The global population affected includes individuals from foreign countries who might be restricted from entry into the U.S. for public health reasons.
- Due to the nature of the bill's focus on communicable diseases, all individuals globally who could potentially be subject to such restrictions are considered in the target population.
- Travelers, especially from countries with prevalent communicable diseases, wanting to enter the U.S. will be directly impacted by the health regulations outlined in the bill.
Reasoning
- The given budget constraints imply that the policy must focus primarily on the tracking and management of public health conditions at entry points, rather than broader public health initiatives.
- The policy's impact will likely be most directly felt by individuals and entities who are directly involved with border crossings. This includes migrants, border patrol, health officials, and potentially residents near border areas.
- The commonness of those directly affected is relatively low compared to the general population, but their perspectives are crucial for understanding the nuanced effects of the policy.
- Given the focus on disease prevention, the policy could influence perceptions of safety and health among border communities.
- The potential for longer-term economic impacts, particularly concerning trade and labor supply, needs to be considered, although these effects might not become measurable within the first few years.
Simulated Interviews
Border Patrol Agent (San Diego, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes my job a bit easier by keeping health measures in place.
- It's unfortunate for some families trying to cross but necessary for safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Community Health Worker (Tucson, AZ)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems to delay much-needed reunifications.
- I'm concerned about prolonged uncertainty for those we serve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Freelance Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Extends the focus on health, but might be overcautious.
- Interested in seeing the detailed plans by HHS.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (El Paso, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy could stabilize supply issues, but could also keep some customers away.
- Mixed feelings about trade-offs between security and commerce.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a delicate balance between health security and migration rights.
- Looking forward to analyzing the impact on migration patterns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a necessary measure but feels like it's extending emergency powers unnecessarily.
- Important to see if this sets a precedent for future public health decisions.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Epidemiologist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Prevention of diseases is paramount, this policy helps maintain vigilance.
- Concerned about any negative impact on asylum and migration processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that protects our borders from disease is valuable.
- Concerned about reducing humanitarian support at border crossings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Import/Export Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could influence import trends and policies, but the impact might be minimal for businesses already adapting to COVID-19 regulations.
- Waiting to see more about the specific plans from HHS.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Immigration Lawyer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial to maintain health standards, but also need humane treatment for potential migrants.
- Policy might add delay to entry processes, impacting family reunification efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $3000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $5000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination between HHS and other governmental agencies is critical for effective implementation.
- Potential backlash or legal challenges from humanitarian organizations or impacted industries may arise due to stricter health-related entry restrictions.
- Economic impacts are contingent on trade flow resilience and migrant workforce participation.
- Long-term fiscal impacts depend on the policy's effectiveness in preventing disease transmission and managing border security.