Bill Overview
Title: VOICE Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to promote digital citizenship and media literacy among veterans by awarding grants to eligible entities, which include civil society organizations and congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.
Sponsors: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans
Estimated Size: 18000000
- The bill is specifically focused on veterans, aiming to improve their digital literacy and cybersecurity skills.
- There are approximately 18 million veterans in the United States as of recent reports.
- The bill involves civil society and congressionally chartered veterans service organizations that will outreach to veterans.
Reasoning
- The bill primarily targets veterans to enhance their digital skills, meaning the direct impact will largely be on this group.
- Veterans come from diverse backgrounds, including various ages, genders, and careers post-service, creating a wide range of potential interviewees.
- About 18 million veterans are present in the U.S., but only a subset will directly engage with the program based on need, interest, and outreach.
- The program's budget suggests significant reach, but the impact intensity will vary according to prior digital skills and program engagement level.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide the digital skills I need to keep up with modern technology.
- I'd participate in local training if offered by a trusted veteran service organization.
- I'm concerned about the actual availability of these programs in my area.
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 |
IT Specialist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative seems more beneficial to veterans new to digital tools.
- I might engage if they offer advanced cybersecurity workshops.
- The policy seems valuable, though its impact on me will be minimal.
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 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Small Business Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhancing my cybersecurity knowledge would benefit my business.
- I hope the program also supports older vets like me in understanding new threats.
- I aim to utilize any practical workshops or resources offered nearby.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the focus on digital literacy, but most offerings seem elementary for me.
- The policy might help plenty of older veterans struggling with basic tech.
- I'd attend specialized content, like coding or cybersecurity directly related to veteran interests.
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 |
Security Consultant (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such policies help bridge the digital gap for vets struggling with everyday tech.
- I'd be interested in capacity-building roles rather than as a participant.
- Programs focusing on more specialized tech needs would enhance the current structure.
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 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 74 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle with technology, so this policy sounds promising if accessible.
- I am eager but need consistent hands-on support to actually learn.
- Worries about the accessibility of such programs, given my remote location.
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 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Office Manager (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program might aid me in the professional tech skills growth I've wanted.
- Ensuring broad availability across locations is a priority to my peers.
- I'd actively seek out more ways to enhance skills offered by vetted veterans organizations.
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 |
Freelance Writer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies increasing accessibility to digital resources are great.
- I'd partake only if they fit into my schedule and provide advanced content.
- The focus should include both basic and creative digital competencies for complementary growth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The use of digital tools in education is vital, so extra training could be beneficial.
- I'm interested in workshops that explore digital teaching methods.
- I'd like to see an emphasis on practical, real-world applications of digital skills.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems more tailored for those with fewer digital skills.
- I could contribute by mentoring or sharing advanced knowledge in workshops.
- These efforts are good at bridging the gap, though they offer little personal gain to me.
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 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $105000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $125000000)
Year 3: $110250000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Year 5: $121550000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill focuses on a large population of approximately 18 million veterans, thus requiring a substantial initial setup and outreach effort.
- Coordination with veteran service organizations will be key for effective program rollout and reaching the target audience.
- Digital literacy and cybersecurity education will likely require ongoing updates to training materials and workshops to address evolving technological threats.