Bill Overview
Title: Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act
Description: This bill prohibits, with some exceptions, the Department of Defense (DOD) from providing certain support to forces (e.g., foreign forces or irregular forces) engaged in U.S. special operations if DOD has credible information that the force in question has committed a gross violation of human rights.
Sponsors: Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-53]
Target Audience
Population: Foreign military and irregular forces involved with U.S. special operations
Estimated Size: 1000
- The bill targets U.S. special operations and their engagements with foreign forces, impacting those foreign forces that are involved in U.S. operations.
- It specifically addresses forces that have credible allegations of gross human rights violations.
- The bill indirectly influences U.S. military operations and strategic partnerships, which could affect global military collaboration.
- The bill may also influence countries or regions where U.S. special operations forces operate by restricting military aid or collaboration.
Reasoning
- Considering the budget and scale of this military-focused policy, it primarily affects foreign forces and indirectly impacts U.S. military operations. Hence, the direct impact on the general U.S. population's wellbeing is limited, but specific individuals such as defense personnel or those highly engaged in foreign policy might be more affected.
- We estimate the policy's domestic impact on individuals to vary based on their involvement or concern with military operations or international human rights. Most Americans may only experience an abstract or minimal indirect impact, primarily reflected in their views on U.S. foreign policy and human rights advocacy.
- Due to its focus and budget constraints, the policy is unlikely to provide direct monetary or welfare benefits to the domestic U.S. population, but it could change national discourse on human rights and defense priorities, indirectly affecting opinions and possibly general wellbeing over an extended period.
Simulated Interviews
Defense Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy aligns with my belief that the U.S. should not support foreign forces that violate human rights.
- It could complicate some strategic operations, but I think it's necessary for ethical governance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Human Rights Activist (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I strongly support the policy as a step towards prioritizing human rights.
- More such policies should be enacted to prevent violations worldwide.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Oil Executive (Houston, TX)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned how the policy might affect geopolitical stability.
- Limiting military collaborations can have both positive and negative repercussions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Film Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could inspire more work on highlighting human rights abuses.
- I'm glad to see a legislative focus on ethical operations.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm proud that our government is taking a stand on human rights.
- The effects might not be immediately seen, but it's a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these might influence how defense tech is developed.
- It's good to see a focus on ethical guidelines in policy.
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 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support policies promoting fair and ethical practices globally, even in defense.
- I think it aligns well with values of fair trade and human rights.
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 |
College Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might be discussed in one of my classes.
- I'm interested to see how it impacts U.S. foreign policy.
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 |
Public Relations Specialist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see policies looking out for human rights principles.
- This could help highlight important issues in our campaigns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Veteran (Miami, FL)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having served, I know how complex international operations can be, but ethics should always be priority.
- I'm glad to see this approach to uphold human rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5500000 (Low: $3300000, High: $7700000)
Year 3: $6000000 (Low: $3600000, High: $8400000)
Year 5: $7000000 (Low: $4200000, High: $9800000)
Year 10: $9000000 (Low: $5400000, High: $12600000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $42000000)
Key Considerations
- Implementation challenges for monitoring human rights compliance.
- Potential diplomatic fallout with nations affected by U.S. withdrawal of support.
- Impact on the global perception of U.S. commitment to human rights.