Bill Overview
Title: REPLACE Act
Description: This bill requires the President to automatically waive fees to replace critical documents for individuals and households affected by major disasters for which assistance is provided under the Individuals and Households Program.
Sponsors: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by major disasters needing document replacements
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill targets individuals who are affected by major disasters.
- Major disasters include events like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires that lead to significant displacement and loss of property.
- Critical documents include passports and licenses that individuals may lose in these disasters.
- The Individuals and Households Program assists those significantly impacted by disasters in rebuilding their lives, meaning the legislation targets people already identified as in need of help.
- The estimated number of people impacted each year by major disasters globally can vary widely depending on the severity and frequency of such events.
Reasoning
- The policy is specifically aimed at individuals who experience document loss due to major disasters, providing a vital service without financial burden during already challenging times.
- Considering the U.S. experiences multiple disasters annually, this policy would alleviate stress and help about 1 million people who are statistically likely to be impacted in some capacity by major events.
- The common response to disasters involves recovery phases where lost documents might compound difficulties in resuming normal activities, and this policy assists throughout those phases.
- The impact and relevance of fee waivers for document replacement will vary based on personal circumstances, such as frequency of relocation post-disaster and dependency on identification for employment and various services.
Simulated Interviews
School Teacher (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing my license in the hurricane was an added stress I didn't need.
- Waiving the replacement fee would be a huge relief on my already tight budget.
- Anything that helps us bounce back faster after these events should be prioritized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Firefighter (Paradise, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rebuilding is slow; document hassles are avoidable with better policy.
- Waived fees for my passport and license mean less paperwork worries.
- Such support efforts stabilize communities struck by disasters.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Real Estate Agent (Miami, Florida)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm constantly renewing or replacing due to storms; this helps a lot.
- Time and extra expenses add up during recovery phases.
- Eases one aspect of hurricane season worry, aiding my business continuity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Houston, Texas)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Costly to replace essentials repeatedly after floods.
- Seeing this as proactive step in providing equitable recovery.
- Every bit helps, especially during the crunch time post-disaster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preparedness is key; reduced fees are a small but mighty change.
- Essential to maintaining service to patients amidst personal challenges.
- Improves personal resilience and readiness for future incidents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tech Consultant (New York, New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Time and cost savings from policy directly support prompt return to work.
- Leveraging technology can streamline assistance framework this way.
- Such policy aids resilience in densely populated areas experiencing frequent disruptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Naples, Florida)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fixed income makes replacements costly; waivers greatly impact financial security.
- Immediate assistance would eliminate some anxiety about logistics post-storm.
- Policies focused on helping seniors are vital, given our vulnerability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Wildlife Conservationist (Santa Rosa, California)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.5 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fieldwork continuity depends on resolved personal logistics, including documents.
- Waiving costs aligns with broader community restructuring efforts.
- Moderate but meaningful for those in frequent fire zones, facilitating quick recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Worker (Joplin, Missouri)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Insurance barriers make fees daunting; this alleviates a financial hurdle.
- Urgently needed policies like this cultivate long-term resilience for community.
- Boosts assertive crisis response, ensuring smoother return to normalcy.
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 | 6 |
Freelancer (Boulder, Colorado)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Interdependent local economies benefit when individuals access needed resources quickly.
- Expedites necessary bureaucratic processes post-disaster, keeping earnings momentum stable.
- Builds confidence in preparedness for climate-complicated futures.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $21000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $32000000)
Year 3: $22000000 (Low: $17000000, High: $34000000)
Year 5: $24000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $36000000)
Year 10: $27000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $45000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill focuses on waiving federal fees applicable to replace vital documents for those impacted by recognized disasters.
- The steady increase in frequency and scale of climate-related disasters could drive cost variations.
- Costs related to this policy are relatively low compared to the potential broad societal benefits in disaster recovery.