Bill Overview
Title: Investigate Russian War Crimes Act
Description: This bill allows the United States to provide funding for the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the funding is solely for the ICC's investigation into the situation in Ukraine. Specifically, this bill allows funding for such a purpose as an exception to an existing prohibition against making federal funds available to the ICC unless the United States becomes a party to the ICC pursuant to a treaty.
Sponsors: Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-53]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by the conflict and war crimes in Ukraine
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill is focused on the investigation of war crimes, which predominantly targets justice and accountability for crimes impacting the civilian population affected by the conflict.
- The bill will fund ICC investigations in Ukraine, where the conflict has displaced significant numbers of people and resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
- The global population most impacted will include individuals from Ukraine, as they are the direct victims of the alleged war crimes under investigation.
- The US contributes to the ICC investigation financially, potentially influencing international policies and priorities concerning international criminal law.
Reasoning
- The policy largely affects individuals concerned with international human rights and law rather than the general population.
- Many Americans may not see a direct impact but act from a place of extrinsic motivation or moral duty, influencing their perception.
- Those in fields related to international law, advocacy, and justice organizations may feel more directly connected to the outcomes of such policies.
Simulated Interviews
Human Rights Advocate (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the funding as it will strengthen the pursuit of international justice.
- It aligns with our organization's goals to hold perpetrators accountable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
International Law Professor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding allocation is a positive step for global justice and US engagement in international law.
- It brings practical examples to educate students about the impacts of international policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this policy doesn’t directly affect me, I believe in supporting global peace initiatives.
- I think this use of taxpayer money is justified.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Developer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel neutral about it as it doesn’t affect my daily life.
- I see potential benefits in how it may indirectly promote stability worldwide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Military Veteran (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need for international legal frameworks from my experience abroad.
- Such funding shows commitment to preventing future conflicts.
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 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see proactive measures in international conflict resolution.
- This is a case study I can personally follow closely for academic growth.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Oil Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am indifferent as this doesn't affect my industry or daily work routines.
- International policies seem distant from personal concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Environmental Lawyer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this as it underscores the importance of our role in global justice.
- International cooperation is critical for solving world problems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Barista (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s promising to see potential accountability for war crimes.
- Investing in international law might lead to long-term peace benefits.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a distant issue but worthwhile if it leads to more stable global markets.
- Using funds for international justice is alright, as long as it’s efficient.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy could impact U.S. diplomatic relations positively by reinforcing commitment to international justice.
- The one-time or limited nature of the funding agreement prevents long-term budgetary entanglement, but requires regular assessment against strategic foreign policy objectives.
- Public perception of taxpayer funds utilization for international bodies like the ICC might influence legislative support and public opinion.