Bill Overview
Title: Military Threat Awareness Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to make publicly available reports on the military capabilities of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Each report must be made available in unclassified form on a publicly accessible DOD website. DOD may use or add to any existing reports to respond to the reporting requirement.
Sponsors: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals interested in military capabilities of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill requires the DOD to release reports about the military capabilities of specific foreign nations.
- These reports will be made available to the general public, meaning it can impact anyone with internet access and an interest in military capabilities of these nations.
- Military analysts, researchers, policy makers, and educators globally may use these reports.
- US military personnel and defense contractors may also be significantly interested in the content of these reports.
- Citizens of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia might find the reports influential for understanding how they're perceived on the global stage.
Reasoning
- The Military Threat Awareness Act is designed to make information on foreign military capabilities accessible to the public. This policy mainly benefits individuals interested in geopolitical issues, defense policies, and national security. It can impact not only military personnel and policymakers but also educators, students, and civilians with an interest in these topics.
- The target population includes analysts, researchers, academics, military personnel, and civilians with access to the internet—the policy is particularly impactful to those who are directly involved in national security or have a significant interest in it. The psychological aspect of feeling more informed or secure can influence their perceived wellbeing.
- Budget constraints suggest a focus on digital dissemination, which is cost-effective. The figures (10 million in Year 1 and 20.05 million over 10 years) suggest a moderate-sized project not requiring extensive investment. Given the target of 5 million Americans, we expect a wide but shallow impact per individual, mostly limited to a sense of being better informed.
Simulated Interviews
Military Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new policy will allow me to access detailed and updated information for my analyses without relying on secondary sources, which is crucial for accuracy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Journalist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having accurate military information straight from the DOD enhances my reporting quality significantly, but it's crucial that such information doesn't compromise strategic advantages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
High School Teacher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a great addition to my teaching resources. It will help me provide up-to-date information to my students.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Software Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find military affairs interesting, and having access to reliable information is beneficial, though it does not directly impact my life.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Military Officer (Fairfax, VA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can support a well-informed public, which is essential for democratic discussion. However, I'm concerned about how sensitive this information might appear.
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 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Undergraduate Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to these reports is a fantastic resource for my studies and will provide real-world insights beyond textbooks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might make it easier for retirees like me who follow world events and politics but I worry about potential propagation of public anxiety.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Policy Maker (New York, NY)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having transparent data can help in policy formulation, ensuring decisions are based on accurate information. Nonetheless, the choice of unclassified reports must be cautiously handled to protect national interests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Data Analyst (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The data provided by this policy can be used to inform our analysis and reports. It's a valuable tool for accountability and advocacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Security Consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The access to these reports allows for better threat assessment and preparedness in our sector, though the practical impact on day-to-day tasks is limited.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $1000000)
Year 10: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $300000)
Year 100: $10000 (Low: $5000, High: $20000)
Key Considerations
- Releasing unclassified military assessments might influence international perceptions and relations with the mentioned countries.
- The cost estimates reflect primarily administrative and IT costs associated with fulfilling the bill’s requirements.