Bill Overview
Title: SEVER Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the President to deny an individual's admission to the United States as a representative to the United Nations if the individual is subject to sanctions regarding Iran and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.
Sponsors: Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-22]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals sanctioned due to Iran seeking to enter the US as UN representatives
Estimated Size: 0
- The bill affects individuals who are eligible to represent Iran in the United Nations.
- These individuals must currently be under sanctions related to Iran.
- Individuals must be perceived as a threat to U.S. national security interests.
- The legislation is specific to individuals attempting to enter the U.S. for the purpose of U.N. representation.
Reasoning
- The policy budget is relatively small, indicating it may only allow for limited enforcement actions or monitoring activities, which suggests a targeted impact rather than a broad sweeping change.
- Given the US population is largely unaffected directly by this policy, the simulations should focus more on indirect experiences or perceptions of the policy's implications.
- Since the targeted group is specific to a very narrow set of individuals — those under sanctions related to Iran trying to enter the U.S. for representing Iran in the UN — the American public is unlikely to perceive any immediate, personal impact.
- The interviews will include a sample that responsibly accounts for those unaffected directly yet contains perspectives that capture indirect impacts, like security perceptions or administrative focus shifts.
Simulated Interviews
International Relations Analyst (New York City, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a clear signal of the US stance on national security over diplomatic engagement.
- I believe it may lead to a colder diplomatic environment, particularly in the UN context.
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 Advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act won't affect my daily life but it could set back diplomatic progress yearly.
- There might be an increased perception of isolationism which doesn't align with international cooperation goals.
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 |
Retired Teacher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this law as contributing to an unnecessary hardening of borders, maybe an overreaction.
- I don’t expect it to personally impact me, but it might affect my sense of security in travel.
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 |
Software Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find the policy irrelevant to my life unless it heightens international tensions that affect global trade.
- It's a niche policy that seems more symbolic than actionable on a large scale.
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 |
Oil and Gas Consultant (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This can trigger some unevenness in international relations affecting business communications.
- The policy seems narrowly tailored, and thus, has limited real-world impact on my industry.
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 |
Immigration Lawyer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Direct impact is minimal on my practice.
- I do see it as heightening anxieties among clients worried about political climates.
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 |
Freelance Journalist (Miami, FL)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This doesn’t appear to affect the national dialogue significantly from my perspective.
- Could see it as a story indirectly affecting our global stance if it escalates.
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 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it doesn’t change much day-to-day, but it’s indicative of larger trends in policy.
- It’s interesting more from an academic perspective on how policies shape diplomacy.
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 |
Non-profit Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There could be an indirect effect creating a sense of anxiety among Iranian expatriates.
- Practically speaking, it's more policy rhetoric than reality affecting their everyday lives.
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 |
Academic Researcher (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The implications of such policies are more for diplomats to agonize over than everyday Americans.
- In some respects, it speaks volumes about current national priorities.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 2: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 3: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 5: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 10: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 100: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Key Considerations
- The policy targets a very narrow group, reducing the scope of broad economic impacts.
- Potential administrative costs might arise related to the enforcement and updating entry protocols.
- The legislation does not directly impact U.S. citizens or a wide segment of foreign individuals.