Bill Overview
Title: Protecting American Sovereignty Act
Description: This bill prohibits the federal government from implementing any obligations upon the United States that may be contained in a draft report by a World Health Organization (WHO) working group on strengthening the WHO's preparedness and response to health emergencies. This prohibition shall also apply to any related or successor reports and recommendations regarding pandemics.
Sponsors: Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by global pandemics and international health policy
Estimated Size: 330000000
- WHO's recommendations impact global health policies, so people involved in health policy implementation will be affected.
- Decisions based on this bill affect international collaborations and treaty adherence, influencing international relations stakeholders.
- The bill affects health emergency responses, impacting global populations vulnerable to pandemics.
- Countries reliant on the WHO's guidance for health emergencies will be indirectly affected by this bill.
Reasoning
- The policy is broad, affecting individuals involved in public health, international relations, and general public awareness regarding pandemics.
- There's a significant emphasis on individuals directly within health policy-making, those in roles that consider international treaties, and general citizenry concerned about pandemic response preparation.
- The cost limit implies direct impacts will be generally limited since the bill doesn't allocate funding for new programs, but rather restricts following international recommendations.
Simulated Interviews
public health policy advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it is critical for the US to have flexibility in responding to health threats.
- While WHO guidance is vital, maintaining sovereignty can also mean tailoring specifics to our national needs.
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 | 7 | 8 |
infectious disease specialist (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A unified international health strategy is key in dealing with pandemics.
- Ignoring WHO recommendations might leave us unprepared for new health threats.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 9 |
nurse (Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that separating from WHO's guidance could lead to fragmented responses.
- Many people rely on WHO for trustworthy health information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
international relations expert (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sovereignty is important, but also makes us rethink international collaborations.
- This policy gives the US a chance to lead with its own initiatives, but it risks isolation.
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 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
retired school teacher (Florida)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the importance in preventing unnecessary global interference, but what about pandemics?
- Will this change benefit the health of future generations?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
general public (Ohio)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Does this mean we won't follow WHO like in past pandemics?
- It's good that we have flexibility, but how will it affect vaccines and responses?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
program manager in NGO for health aid (Illinois)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our programs depend a lot on WHO guidelines and funding flows.
- Without WHO's backing, some aid projects might become complicated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 9 |
government contractor specializing in homeland security (Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Strategically, it gives us room for stronger US-specific responses.
- I hope this doesn't alienate us from effective international protocols.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
university student (Nebraska)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think we're potentially missing out on combined global efforts against pandemics.
- The WHO might have setbacks in holding parties accountable.
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 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
retired military officer (New Mexico)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- National security is a priority, but global pandemics require international collaboration.
- Hope this doesn't limit our agility in health response efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill may affect the U.S.'s international obligations and partnerships.
- Changes to WHO recommendations could influence domestic health policy development.
- Potential impacts on U.S. public health preparedness and response mechanisms should be considered.