Bill Overview
Title: To require the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on a plan to characterize the asbestos risk of former Air Force defense sites, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill requires the Department of the Air Force to develop and submit to Congress a report on a plan to characterize the asbestos risk of defense sites formerly used by or under the jurisdiction of the Air Force.
Sponsors: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by asbestos at former Air Force defense sites
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill targets former Air Force defense sites which were used within the United States and potentially abroad.
- The people affected would include current residents, workers, and visitors of these sites due to possible asbestos exposure.
- Asbestos exposure can impact human health significantly, thus anyone frequenting these sites could be affected.
- The global population affected will include people outside the US on any former foreign defense sites managed by the Air Force.
- Any personnel or residents living or working near these sites globally may also be impacted.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets individuals located at or around former Air Force defense sites, potentially impacted by asbestos. This includes residents, workers, or frequent visitors.
- Given the program's cost constraints, the reach and extent of the program's impact could be limited to addressing the most critical sites or the ones with the highest populations at risk.
- The demographic diversity of the US in terms of age, gender, occupation, and location should be considered to accurately simulate the varying impacts across different individuals.
- Most directly, the impact would be due to informed awareness and potential mitigation efforts that could result from understanding the asbestos risk.
Simulated Interviews
Elementary School Teacher (Dayton, Ohio)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am concerned about any potential health risks from living near the base.
- Any plan to understand and mitigate such risks is important to me, especially for my family's health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Civil Engineer (Riverside, California)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think assessing these risks is critical, especially because asbestos can complicate construction and renovations.
- From a professional standpoint, having this information is vital.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Air Force Veteran (Valdosta, Georgia)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a veteran, I'm interested in the health implications this may have on my peers.
- It's good to see steps being taken to evaluate and mitigate potential risks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Air Force Personnel (Eielson, Alaska)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation seems overdue.
- I've always been worried about the effects of my long-term exposure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Environmental Scientist (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This report could be a valuable resource for environmental studies and proactive measures.
- Eager to see if results will influence future policies or environmental standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Omaha, Nebraska)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Asbestos health risks should not be underestimated, better data collection is crucial.
- It might help us prepare and address some respiratory health issues we've seen.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Military Spouse (Destin, Florida)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm grateful for any efforts aimed at protecting military families from health hazards.
- Information from the report could lead to needed changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Maintenance Worker (Dover, Delaware)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing potential risks is critical for my job safety.
- I support any initiative that addresses these types of hidden dangers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Local Politician (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This report is an important step for accountability and public health.
- It assists in advocating for further governmental interventions if necessary.
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 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cafe Owner (Bellevue, Nebraska)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This kind of report might not directly impact my business, but it's reassuring that safety measures are being addressed.
- Some of my customers are military families who appreciate health transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Compliance with environmental standards and safety regulations is vital.
- The accessibility and quality of data on former sites will significantly impact costs.
- Potential for increased public and regulatory scrutiny due to the exposure of asbestos risks.