Bill Overview
Title: American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the President to terminate U.S. membership in the United Nations (U.N.) and all affiliated bodies. It also ends U.S. participation in all U.N. conventions and agreements. Funds may be appropriated to facilitate U.S. withdrawal from the U.N. No funds may be made available for contributions or payments to any U.N. body. No member of the U.S. Armed Forces may serve under U.N. command, and no funds may be used to support U.S. Armed Forces participation in U.N. military or peacekeeping operations. The bill also repeals diplomatic immunity for officers and employees of the U.N. and for officers and employees of foreign government missions to the U.N. The bill repeals various acts related to the U.N., including the United Nations Participation Act of 1945, the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act, the United Nations Environment Program Participation Act of 1973, and joint resolutions establishing U.S. membership in the World Health Organization and the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Sponsors: Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]
Target Audience
Population: Global population affected by changes in U.S. participation in the U.N.
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The United States is a significant contributor to the UN both in terms of funding and military support. Terminating membership would impact global diplomatic balance.
- U.S. withdrawal from the U.N. could lead to significant changes in funding and support for U.N. initiatives, potentially impacting global health, education, and security efforts.
- The bill's implementation would involve reassignment or removal of U.S. military and diplomatic presence in U.N.-related missions.
- Repealing diplomatic immunity could change the dynamics of international relationships in the U.S.
Reasoning
- The United States has a significant presence in the U.N., both financially and diplomatically. The implementation of this policy would directly affect military personnel involved in U.N. missions, employees of bodies like WHO or UNESCO, and other citizens engaged in international diplomacy or NGOs tied to U.N. frameworks.
- Some U.S. citizens might not experience a direct impact but could see indirect effects through changes in international relations, global health initiatives, and educational programs supported by U.N. affiliations.
- While the initial budget is substantial, its focus is on disentangling the U.S. from U.N. involvement, which includes reevaluating military allocations, supporting personnel transitions, and potentially restructuring diplomatic resources.
Simulated Interviews
Diplomat at the UN (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ending U.S. membership in the U.N. threatens global collaboration on key health issues.
- I am concerned about my job security and future career in diplomacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 8 |
Oil industry executive (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the move for strengthening U.S. sovereignty, bringing back control over national resources.
- The policy could reduce unnecessary international constraints on American businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Military officer (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could disrupt my current role and career progression.
- There is uncertainty about future U.S. military engagements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Public health researcher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing U.S. funding and support in WHO may impact global health research and initiatives.
- I'm concerned about potential job loss if projects are defunded.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Political analyst (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a step back in international diplomacy, impacting U.S. authority globally.
- The policy might lead to geopolitical instability.
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 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 9 |
Retired teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With U.S. withdrawal, many U.N. supported educational programs could suffer.
- This policy does not align with values of cooperation and development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Undergraduate student in international relations (Boulder, CO)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could narrow career opportunities in international spaces.
- I'm worried about reduced U.S. influence in global cooperation efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Business owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes in international agreements could affect trade dynamics negatively.
- Uncertainty over tariffs and import duties worries me.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Tech startup founder (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy might lead to stricter or conflicting international regulations.
- Could face challenges in data-sharing agreements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
NGO director (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ending U.S. involvement in the U.N. could drastically cut my NGO's funding.
- This threatens essential educational and cultural exchange programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 2: $1000000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $1500000000)
Year 3: $500000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $750000000)
Year 5: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $300000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill's impact on global diplomatic relations could lead to retaliatory actions from other nations, affecting U.S. trade and foreign policy.
- The U.S. would need to consider alternative platforms for international cooperation on issues addressed by the UN.
- Long-term diplomatic and economic consequences could outweigh short-term financial savings from UN withdrawal.
- Repeal of diplomatic immunities could affect the safety and efficacy of U.S. diplomats overseas.