Bill Overview
Title: Atrocity Accountability Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense to review risks related to its provision of security assistance to certain countries identified as being at high or medium risk for atrocities.
Sponsors: Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-53]
Target Audience
Population: People living in countries identified as high or medium risk for atrocities
Estimated Size: 10000000
- The operation of the Department of Defense affects international security dynamics.
- Security assistance from the US can bolster or diminish regimes involved in atrocities.
- This bill targets countries identified as at high or medium risk for atrocities.
- There are global standards and organizations tracking atrocities, such as the UN or human rights organizations, which can help categorize countries.
- The population affected would be those in countries where the US has significant military aid or security partnerships.
Reasoning
- This policy would likely be most impactful on individuals involved in defense, international relations, and policy advocacy, as it reflects a shift in how the U.S. might engage with other nations embroiled in potential atrocities.
- Americans with educational or career ties to international law, military service, or human rights might see either positive or negative reflections in their work, affecting their wellbeing scores.
- The general populace may not feel direct impacts; thus, most impacts are expected to be 'low' or 'none' unless directly related to the international military aid operations.
- Limited budget constraints imply the policy will be more about strategic shifts rather than massive operational changes.
Simulated Interviews
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy provides crucial oversight to prevent U.S. complicity in human rights violations.
- This policy could lead to more ethical foreign policies overall.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Military Officer (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy ensures accountability, but could complicate our international operations.
- I worry how this might affect our alliances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Academic (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could improve U.S. global standing in human rights.
- I'm interested to see how effective this oversight is.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Journalist (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Bringing more transparency could bring change, but it's not guaranteed.
- I'm skeptical about actual implementation.
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 | 5 | 5 |
Defense Contractor (Florida)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could affect our business model.
- It may lead to more stringent regulations, which could either be good or bad.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Peace Activist (Montana)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step forward to reducing atrocities by reconsidering military engagements.
- It aligns with the pacifist movement ideals.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired (Illinois)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The need for such policies is clear given past complications with international commitments.
- This could lead to healthier international dynamics.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Oregon)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy helps those in need abroad but it doesn’t directly affect my daily life.
- It's good to see steps for accountability, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
College Student (Massachusetts)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a fascinating subject for my studies.
- Could this affect my potential career opportunities in foreign policy?
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Georgia)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not sure how this affects my daily life, but transparency is always good.
- There's a sense of satisfaction knowing steps are being taken.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $31200000, High: $83200000)
Year 3: $54080000 (Low: $32448000, High: $86528000)
Year 5: $58320000 (Low: $34992000, High: $93184000)
Year 10: $70000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $112000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $160000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill reinforces international human rights commitments of the US.
- It promotes accountability in the provision of military aid to ensure it does not support regimes involved in atrocities.
- There may be diplomatic repercussions with countries affected by changes in US military aid.