Bill Overview
Title: Expand eXpertise in China Education and Language Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to use direct hire authority to appoint at least 31 candidates with China-related linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise to the competitive service. The bill requires the State Department to train employees on competition with China and establishes a China strategic advisory board. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the capacity of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to support strategic competition with China.
Sponsors: Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-7]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with China-related expertise and U.S. government employees engaged in foreign policy
Estimated Size: 5000
- The Department of State will be directly impacted as they need to appoint and train employees with expertise related to China.
- Potential candidates in the fields of China-related linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise will be impacted as they have the opportunity to be appointed.
- The State Department employees will undergo training on competition with China, which will impact their roles and responsibilities.
- The U.S. Agency for International Development will be indirectly impacted as the bill requires a study of their capacity.
- The bill impacts the governance and strategic advisory mechanisms related to China within the U.S. government.
Reasoning
- The Department of State plays a crucial role, with the direct hiring of experts affecting staffing composition.
- While the policy directly impacts those with China-related expertise, broader ramifications for foreign policy workers exist.
- Training programs at the State Department will influence the workflow and focus areas for existing employees.
- Though the target population is small, strategic impact is significant with the focus on U.S.-China competition.
Simulated Interviews
Foreign Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think formal training on China will improve our analysis capabilities.
- Hiring more experts is a positive step, but retaining talent is key.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
University Lecturer (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy opens new career paths for academics like me.
- Stable government work is appealing during uncertain times.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
AI Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy includes tech integration for training.
- The emphasis on expertise is important to strategic development.
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 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
China Policy Consultant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training initiatives seem crucial, but must be comprehensive.
- There's potential for increased demand for consultants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am skeptical that new hires will be adequately integrated.
- Innovation within the State Department feels slow.
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 |
International Relations Professor (Austin, TX)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There could be more collaboration between academia and government.
- Funding remains a concern despite the initiative.
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 |
Government Employee (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The study on our capacity will hopefully lead to more efficiency.
- There is a need to streamline our processes in dealing with China.
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 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will create more job opportunities for graduates.
- The focus on China is necessary given global dynamics.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Diplomat (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see the focus on expertise, but implementation is key.
- Advisory boards need to actively guide policy, not just analyze.
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 |
Interpreter (Houston, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy may not impact freelancers directly but could increase demand.
- Need clarity on how these hires will affect existing contracts.
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: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $9000000)
Year 2: $7650000 (Low: $6120000, High: $9180000)
Year 3: $7803000 (Low: $6242400, High: $9363600)
Year 5: $8112120 (Low: $6489696, High: $9734544)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Sufficient resources must be allocated for both initial hiring and ongoing training to fulfill the act's requirements effectively.
- The strategy behind establishing a strategic advisory board should align well with national security and foreign policy goals to ensure it adds substantial value.
- There must be keen attention to recruiting and training the right candidates possessing advanced China-related skills, which may be scarce.
- Coordination among the Department of State, US Agency for International Development, and other relevant bodies is crucial to maximize the act's effectiveness.