Bill Overview
Title: To establish a pilot program on research and development of plant-based protein for the Navy, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill requires the Department of the Navy to implement a three-year pilot program to offer plant-based protein options at not fewer than two naval facilities, prioritizing facilities where livestock-based protein options may be costly to obtain or store.
Sponsors: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8]
Target Audience
Population: People directly and indirectly involved with the Navy's plant-based protein program
Estimated Size: 7000
- Naval personnel at facilities with pilot program will realize the most immediate impact, with new dietary options.
- Suppliers of plant-based proteins may see increased demand based on Navy's program choices.
- Communities near selected facilities might experience secondary economic impacts (e.g., job creation, service demands).
- Families of naval personnel might be indirectly affected by changes in dietary options or nutritional outcomes.
- If successful, the program could set a precedent, influencing broader defense department policies eventually affecting more personnel.
Reasoning
- I considered a range of perspectives in the simulated interviews, including naval personnel who are directly impacted by the policy, suppliers who might benefit from increased demand, and families who might experience indirect effects.
- The cost and program size limits were taken into account by focusing on individuals at naval facilities where the pilot program would be implemented, as well as those in related economic sectors around these facilities.
- Given the budget constraints and the broad goal of the policy to improve dietary options, I ensured that the simulated population includes those with various levels of impact, from direct beneficiaries (high impact) to those for whom the policy has no effect (none).
- The commonness scores reflect how frequently such individuals and scenarios might appear in the population, with naval personnel and their families being more common in this context.
Simulated Interviews
Naval Officer (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's good to have more food options, especially healthy ones like plant-based proteins.
- It could be a nice change from the typical meat-based meals we have.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Navy Dietitian (San Diego, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementing plant-based options will be challenging but beneficial for our dietary diversity.
- I hope it encourages healthier eating habits among the sailors.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Plant-based Protein Supplier (Seattle, WA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative could bring a big boost to our business if we become a supplier.
- It's a great opportunity for expanding plant-based diets in the military market.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Sailor (Pensacola, FL)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to have more meal choices especially ones that don't upset my stomach.
- It aligns with my personal health needs.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Navy Cook (Groton, CT)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It'll be interesting to work with new ingredients and diversify our menu.
- Could be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Civilian contractor (Boston, MA)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential expansion in our contracts if we handle plant-based logistics.
- The additional complexity might disrupt current operations initially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Parent of Sailor (Kansas City, MO)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious to see how my son adapts to these new food choices.
- A healthy diet is important, so this could be good for his health.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Community activist (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program aligns with sustainable food practices I've advocated for.
- I hope it sets a precedent for broader military adoption.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Navy Veteran (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs like this can modernize and improve navy nutrition standards.
- It's an innovative step that may benefit active duty personnel.
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 |
Environmental Scientist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with sustainable environmental goals I'm passionate about.
- Well-executed, it could reduce ecological footprints.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $9500000)
Year 2: $8300000 (Low: $7300000, High: $9300000)
Year 3: $8100000 (Low: $7100000, High: $9100000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Scalability and applicability to broader military settings if successful.
- Potential for cost savings in locations with costly livestock-based protein sourcing.
- Assessment of dietary satisfaction and nutritional adequacy will be crucial.