Bill Overview
Title: PUNISH Act of 2022
Description: This bill extends sanctions and national emergencies related to Iran established by specified executive orders and limits the authority of the President to waive sanctions related to Iran. The bill requires the Department of State to periodically report whether Iran or any foreign person has supported specified activities, including murder or politically motivated detention in Iran of a U.S. citizen.
Sponsors: Rep. Waltz, Michael [R-FL-6]
Target Audience
Population: People potentially impacted by sanctions related to the PUNISH Act of 2022
Estimated Size: 5000000
- This bill impacts individuals and entities in Iran, as it pertains to sanctions against Iran.
- Sanctions may affect Iranian citizens who rely on foreign goods or currencies that become scarce or expensive due to the sanctions.
- U.S. citizens who are in Iran, or have financial or family ties to individuals or entities in Iran, may also be impacted indirectly by these sanctions.
- Other foreign nationals connected to Iran or doing business with Iran, or those identified under the sanctions as supporting specified activities, could be directly impacted.
- The U.S. Department of State will need to allocate resources for the required reports specified by the bill.
Reasoning
- The policy is likely to have a direct impact primarily on individuals and entities involved with Iran due to its sanctions and reporting components.
- There's a specific focus on Iranian-Americans who may have ties to Iran, be it family or financial, who could be concerned about the policy's effects on their connections.
- Entities engaged in business with Iran might experience financial effects as a consequence of this policy.
- General U.S. population might have a lower impact but could still experience indirect effects if these sanctions lead to broader geopolitical tensions.
Simulated Interviews
Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am worried about the increased sanctions on Iran. It may affect my business, as exporting carpets might become more difficult and costly.
- There is also a concern about the family members back in Iran and how they will cope with the economic difficulties.
- Financial transfers might be harder, affecting both personal and business transactions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Finance Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I understand the importance of sanctions, they complicate financial transactions with Iranian clients, which might affect my job.
- There is also the risk of being personally sanctioned or audited, creating stress over compliance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My biggest concern is how these sanctions might hurt my family in Iran.
- As an international relations student, I am hugely interested in seeing how this policy will play out on a global scale.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Homemaker (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about my siblings in Iran and their wellbeing given the economic impact of more sanctions.
- How will this affect basic goods and medicine availability? These are my biggest concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a significant shift. It will likely influence geopolitical balances in the region.
- While it's targeted, I do question the longer-term impacts on diplomatic relations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Retired (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how easy it will be to visit my family under increased sanctions.
- I'm also worried about potential negative perceptions or bias that may escalate with this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My concern is whether these sanctions could lead to further restrictions impacting tech collaborations and travel to Iran.
- I hope it doesn't affect our partnerships with teams that have Iranian members.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Academic Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will provide plenty of material for research and analysis on U.S.-Iran relations.
- However, I worry about the human aspect and potentially increased tensions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Healthcare Professional (Miami, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm particularly worried about how this will affect medical access and pharmaceuticals for Iranian families.
- These sanctions can have unseen impacts on people's health and wellbeing in Iran.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Journalist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy will create new stories and dynamics worth reporting.
- I'm watching to see how this affects not just Iran, but U.S. foreign policy at large.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $7500000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The potential geopolitical implications if the sanctions lead to increased tensions with Iran.
- The administrative burden on the Department of State and other agencies to ensure compliance.
- Long-term deterrence benefits and their impact on national security.