Bill Overview
Title: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
Description: This bill authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) activities for FY2023 and addresses other issues. For example, the bill authorizes the procurement of various items, including destroyers and aircraft; modifies inventory requirements for various Air Force programs; authorizes DOD to furnish electric vehicle charging stations at commissary stores and military exchanges; requires DOD to provide, subject to appropriations, support for the research and development of innovative bioindustrial manufacturing processes; requires DOD to carry out a pilot program to facilitate the transition of certain nontactical vehicles to electric vehicles; requires the Army and the Navy to jointly carry out a pilot program to evaluate the feasibility of using data recorders to monitor the operation of military tactical vehicles; prescribes end strengths for the branches of the Armed Forces; requires the branches of the Armed Forces to notify Congress before taking certain actions regarding reserve units, such as the deactivation or reassignment of such a unit; requires the Army to establish gender-neutral fitness standards for military occupational specialties that are higher than those for noncombat military occupational specialties; requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress recommendations for improving the retention and recruitment of members who specialize in Army air and missile defense systems, and requires the Army to implement the recommendations; requires the GAO to report to Congress a review of a major military health contract after DOD has entered into the contract; temporarily prohibits certain TRICARE programs (health care programs that cover current and former members of the uniformed services and their dependents) from imposing cost-sharing requirements for prescription contraceptives and certain related services; requires the Department of Homeland Security to designate a laboratory as the Chemical Security Analysis Center; requires the Department of the Treasury to take actions to support international initiatives to provide debt restructuring and relief to developing countries; prohibits federal regulators from taking certain adverse actions against a depository institution solely for providing financial services to a cannabis-related business operating pursuant to state or local law; provides statutory authority for an April 27, 2021, executive order raising the minimum wage for the employees of federal contractors; prohibits barring a veteran from federal employment solely because the veteran consumes or has consumed cannabis; imposes data standards requirements on certain federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and establishes the San Gabriel National Recreation Area in California as a unit of the National Park System.
Sponsors: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Target Audience
Population: Global military personnel, defense contractors, and associated civilian employees
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The global military personnel which is estimated to be around 20 million active duty members. This includes forces from countries allied with or against the USA.
- Additional populations impacted would include defense contractors and civilian employees of the military which number in the hundreds of thousands globally.
- The defense industry has a global impact, potentially affecting millions involved across all levels from manufacturing to logistics and development.
- The Act also affects global financial markets by regulating certain operations, potentially impacting millions involved in financial institutions connected with the US economy.
Reasoning
- The policy impacts a variety of populations, but primarily those affiliated with the Department of Defense, military personnel, and defense contractors. Thus, we need to include representatives from these groups, as well as civilian roles indirectly affected by the policy.
- Given the vast budget of the policy, the Cantril wellbeing scores must reflect significant changes for those directly impacted while being more subtle for populations at the periphery.
- Military and safety-related advancements (e.g., electric vehicle infrastructure, transition pilot programs) potentially improve living conditions for enlisted members and their families, suggesting improvements in wellbeing scores.
- Some policy elements, such as provisions for contraceptives and labor standards, directly affect health and wellbeing, contributing to potential rises in scores for specific demographic groups.
- Financial sector implications, such as restrictions on actions against cannabis-related businesses and debt relief initiatives, affect socioeconomic conditions, but their indirect nature suggests less pronounced, longer-term impacts on wellbeing scores.
Simulated Interviews
Navy Officer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems supportive of our community with its focus on electric infrastructure. However, I'm concerned about the longer-term feasibility of some of the transitions.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Defense Contractor Engineer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new requirements for electric vehicles might open up new projects for us. It ensures job stability for the next few years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Army Combat Medic (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Introduction of fitness standards makes sense, though I wonder how they'll adjust for different roles. The policy's vision for the future seems beneficial for newcomers like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Military Healthcare Administrator (Arlington, VA)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The temporary lifting of cost-sharing for contraceptives is a relief for many households. It demonstrates concern for servicemembers' families,
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Financial Analyst (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes in cannabis-related financial regulations might stabilize some markets. It looks promising for job security.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Military Veteran, Federal Employee (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The restrictions on actions against cannabis users for federal employment are reassuring. It encourages more open participation from veterans in federal roles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Civilian IT Specialist for Air Force Base (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Advancements in tech infrastructure sound promising for our roles. It could mean more growth opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Senior Policy Advisor (Washington D.C.)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Debt restructuring efforts for developing countries as part of defense appropriations could alter global alliances. Long overdue, but positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Air Force Pilot (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Modifying Air Force inventory and maintaining end strengths are crucial. I'm glad to see we’re getting the support needed to operate effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Environmental Scientist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Creation of the San Gabriel National Recreation Area is a brilliant step. National park expansions improve both environment and public health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $839000000000 (Low: $811000000000, High: $857000000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The authorization covers a wide range of defense activities impacting various departments and sectors, leading to complex cost considerations.
- Procurement programs are significant cost drivers but also catalysts for economic activity.
- Pilot programs and new standards implementation may induce indirect long-term benefits not immediately quantifiable.