Bill Overview
Title: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023
Description: This bill provides FY2023 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and several related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, the Office of the Special Trustee For American Indians, Departmental Offices, and Department-Wide Programs. The bill also provides appropriations to the EPA and the Forest Service. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the bill provides appropriations for the Indian Health Service, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The bill provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Commission of Fine Arts, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Presidio Trust, the World War I Centennial Commission, and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
Sponsors: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Target Audience
Population: People living in the United States
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The bill funds various departments and agencies that deal with the environment, cultural institutions, and services related to Native American populations.
- The Department of the Interior, the EPA, and the Forest Service directly impact public lands and natural resources, affecting people who use these lands for recreation, habitation, or economic purposes.
- The Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs directly impact Native American populations.
- Cultural and educational institutions like the Smithsonian, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities have broad public impacts through education, arts, and culture.
- Approximately 332 million people live in the United States, all of whom may be indirectly impacted by environmental policies.
- People working in or using services from any of the directly mentioned agencies and commissions will be directly impacted.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts public lands, Native American populations, cultural institutions, and agencies focused on environmental management and safety.
- The budget heavily restricts the potential scale of changes seen by individuals not directly associated with these specific concerns, implying most of the general US population's wellbeing will not see immediate drastic impacts.
- Given its broad but shallow reach due to budget constraints, the benefits will likely be higher among Native American communities, users of public lands, and patrons or employees of cultural institutions established or funded by the policy.
- The Cantril wellbeing scores were devised by considering both direct and indirect impacts of policy involvement. Direct benefits (e.g., health services, cultural engagement) predictably increase scores, but the broad target group is unlikely to witness major score changes due to limited direct policy interactions. Resources are primarily divided across infrastructural investments rather than monetary incentives towards every individual.
- Considering the estimate of 332 million impacted indirectly, but only a fraction directly, a commonness score was devised to indicate how typical the simulated individual's situation applies to the larger population.
Simulated Interviews
Wildlife Conservationist (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding can improve the resources we have for conservation projects.
- Additional support for land management is crucial amidst climate challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Environmental Engineer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The EPA's additional funding will vitalize ongoing environmental safety programs in cities.
- I'm optimistic but uncertain about longer-term funding continuity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Park Ranger (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This budget should enhance visitor experiences and promote environmental education.
- Enhancements in park infrastructure will make significant positive impacts on daily operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Billings, Montana)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Investment in parks will enhance visitor facilities, a benefit to my lifestyle.
- I am concerned if the changes introduced will affect accessibility of certain areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased funding might enhance museum programs beneficial to student learning.
- Challenges remain with ensuring all children can access the improved resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cultural Program Director (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding stability aids in maintaining cultural programs.
- Long-term viability remains uncertain until full audience engagement is restored.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Special Education Advocate (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 65 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Betterment in educational infrastructure can significantly impact Native American youth.
- Funding distribution should be equitable to reach all communities in need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Indigenous Healthcare Worker (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The allocation to the Indian Health Service can streamline patient care processes and resource allocation.
- I expect some improvement, but larger systemic issues need ongoing attention.
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 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
College Student (New York City, New York)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope for more student-friendly programs and exhibits at institutions like the Smithsonian.
- The broad reach of funding can potentially improve educational experiences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Research Scientist (Austin, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding can aid in more effective research and data dissemination.
- The last decade has seen fluctuating budget allocations; it's crucial for our work.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $60000000000 (Low: $58000000000, High: $62000000000)
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 appropriations set spending priorities but may create dependencies for future funding needs.
- Each agency's appropriations will need to be effectively managed to deliver expected services and achieve policy objectives.
- Fluctuations in economic conditions could affect the planned outcomes of funded programs.