Bill Overview
Title: Recognition of the 1995 Jordan Extradition Treaty with the U.S. Act
Description: This bill prohibits using federal funds for any activity in Jordan unless the President determines that Jordan's government has recognized the validity of the 1995 extradition treaty between Jordan and the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Target Audience
Population: Global citizens involved with or affected by the U.S.-Jordan extradition relationship
Estimated Size: 10000
- The bill impacts U.S. federal activities in Jordan by imposing funding restrictions if Jordan does not recognize the extradition treaty.
- American businesses and NGOs operating in Jordan could face operational challenges if federal funding is restricted.
- The treaty primarily concerns extradition issues and affects those in the legal system, such as extradition lawyers, law enforcement, and judiciary members.
- Individuals within the U.S. or connected to U.S. interests in Jordan involved in legal cases requiring extradition to or from Jordan are directly affected.
- If the treaty is recognized or enforced, potential fugitives or individuals facing legal challenges could be extradited, impacting their legal status.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically affects Americans involved with federal activities in Jordan, including businesses, NGOs, and legal entities. These stakeholders might experience operational challenges due to funding restrictions.
- Only a subset of the estimated 3 million global citizens involved with the U.S.-Jordan extradition relationship will directly feel the effects of the policy.
- We need to consider those directly involved in or impacted by extradition cases.
- The interviews should represent various perspectives, including those directly in the legal field, business operations, and general community in Jordan.
- For individuals not directly affected by extradition or funding restrictions, the impact of the policy is minimal or none.
- Budgetary constraints limit the reach and depth of the program, focusing more on strategic federal operations and direct legal concerns rather than broad societal impact.
Simulated Interviews
Business Owner (Amman, Jordan)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the treaty is not recognized, it will complicate my business dealings with federal contractors. My operations rely on both U.S. and Jordanian approvals.
- I hope the federal restrictions do not affect business stability, though I fear a possible impact on logistics and overall operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
International Lawyer (Washington D.C., USA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential recognition of the treaty could increase my workload as extradition cases may start moving faster.
- It's a crucial step towards clarifying legal routes for clients, impacting how cases will be managed or postponed.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired Veteran (Los Angeles, USA)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am worried the federal restrictions will pull funding from the charity's projects in Jordan.
- It feels like the community projects that foster goodwill might suffer due to a political issue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Graduate Student (New York, USA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could be an interesting point of study for my research, especially how it affects U.S.-Jordan relations.
- I am curious about its ripple effects, though personally, it doesn’t change much in my life immediately.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
U.S. Embassy Official (Amman, Jordan)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could strain some bilateral projects if funding becomes an issue, impacting diplomatic relations we’ve built over years.
- It's critical to communicate effectively between the parties involved to mitigate confusion or operational halts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
NGO Program Manager (Chicago, USA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We rely on grants that might be compromised if funding is halted due to the treaty issue.
- The local programs are crucial, and this uncertainty could put them at risk.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Federal Contractor (Houston, USA)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If funding is restricted, many routine operations could see delays, and this impacts both my work and personal stress levels.
- There's a larger impact beyond contracts—it affects the career stability for professionals like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Public Policy Analyst (Miami, USA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognition of the treaty might resolve longstanding legal ambiguities, influencing both government and private sectors.
- I expect interface between the countries will shift inevitably, particularly where U.S. funding and legal circumstances interact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Extradition Consultant (San Francisco, USA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognizing the treaty is pivotal for streamlining extradition processes. This could potentially open up new business avenues.
- It brings a much-needed clarity to legal routes and impacts our operational preparedness.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Professor (Boston, USA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it is interesting academically, the immediate practical impacts for me are minimal.
- The case of U.S.-Jordan relations under this scrutiny offers new teaching material but otherwise doesn't change my day-to-day work.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill's interaction with international norms and diplomatic relations might bear considerations beyond fiscal costs.
- Ensuring balanced execution of federal budget restrictions in Jordan if treaty recognition is not confirmed could require careful monitoring and enforcement.
- Potential legal ramifications and reciprocal actions by Jordan in response to enforced funding restrictions need to be addressed and managed.