Bill Overview
Title: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Modernization Act
Description: This bill removes gendered pronouns from the United States Code pertaining to the responsibilities of the Archivist and other senior officials at NARA.
Sponsors: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by the pronoun changes associated with NARA's legal responsibilities
Estimated Size: 0
- The bill is related to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a national body that impacts a wide range of governmental and public information management activities.
- The specific change involves removing gendered pronouns from legal texts related to the NARA leadership functions.
- This bill impacts the conventions and practices in document language, aiming for gender neutrality.
- It directly affects those working within or interacting professionally with the NARA because it changes how internal documents are worded and may imply broader inclusivity measures.
- Indirectly, it impacts all US citizens who rely on the impartial and accurate management of national archives, though this particular bill does not change operational aspects of how services are delivered to the public.
Reasoning
- This policy change directly affects employees at NARA and those in legal fields or advocacy groups concerned with gender inclusivity. However, the change is linguistic and does not alter service delivery, impacting very few directly in terms of psychological or operational disruption.
- Given the budget constraints, implementation is likely focused on document editing, potentially involving legal consultants and administrative training, with no funds for public awareness or advocacy campaigns.
- The overall societal impact is minimal due to the policy's niche focus, confined to the internal and professional scope of document management within NARA.
Simulated Interviews
NARA Archivist (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe it's a positive change toward inclusivity.
- This update aligns with our goals to modernize and maintain neutrality in archival language.
- It doesn't change my work processes but makes the language more equitable.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Law Professor (New York City, NY)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change is essential in moving toward more inclusive legal documentation.
- It sets a precedent in addressing implicit gender biases in government documents.
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 |
Advocacy Group Member (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m glad to see legislative language reflect non-binary individuals, even if it's a small change.
- It's a step toward larger legislative inclusion.
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 | 7 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though it doesn't impact my daily life, it’s a move toward greater sensitivity in government language.
- Could influence future academic resources at NARA.
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 Historian (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm indifferent to the change; it doesn't affect my current engagement with historical documents.
- It's mainly procedural.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is more symbolic than practical but it's a positive message.
- Doesn't significantly change my work as a policy analyst.
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 |
Freelance Writer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It doesn’t directly affect me but aligns with progressive policies I support.
- Shows that responses to gender issues are happening at a governmental level.
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 |
Archivist Intern (Boston, MA)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s an educational experience to witness policy changes in action, even small ones.
- Adds to my understanding of archival practices.
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 |
Political Activist (Miami, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Every effort towards gender-neutral language counts and this is an encouraging move.
- Raises awareness about how language shapes perception.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Government Employee (Dallas, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to modernize our legal language, though I doubt it will affect my work.
- Primarily for those in legal and archival fields.
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: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
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
- Legal review and editing are primary cost components.
- Changes improve gender inclusivity in legal language but have minimal financial impact.
- Administrative costs are absorbed within existing budget frameworks.