Bill Overview
Title: The Taliban Sponsor Terrorism Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to designate Afghanistan as a country where the government has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism. (Generally, such a designation imposes various penalties, such as limiting the country's eligibility for U.S. foreign assistance and arms exports.)
Sponsors: Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-3]
Target Audience
Population: People whose wellbeing is affected by Afghanistan being designated as a sponsor of terrorism
Estimated Size: 1000000
- Afghanistan has an estimated population of about 40 million people as of 2021.
- The designation of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of terrorism would likely impact the entire population, given that U.S. foreign assistance and trade partnerships affect national economy and society.
- Individuals in Afghanistan reliant on international aid and economic relations with the U.S. might experience direct effects due to reduced aid and economic opportunities.
- Global and regional security dynamics could be influenced, affecting neighboring countries and regions engaged with Afghanistan.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects people engaged with Afghanistan, such as defense contractors, aid workers, and businesses with interests in the region. Thus, I will include people from these sectors in my simulated interviews.
- The overall population of the U.S. means the impact on individual citizens not involved directly with Afghanistan is diluted. I'll include some interviews that reflect this.
- Wellbeing is subjective and may not change significantly for those not directly impacted, hence scores may remain stable for groups not at the core of this policy.
- Given the budget constraints and the distribution of impact among 300 million adults, many experiences will involve indirect or low impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Defense Contractor (Virginia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel the policy drastically shifts our work landscape.
- It could mean more political instability, affecting my job's nature and contract security.
- Maybe we'll pivot to new military contracts domestically.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
International NGO Worker (California)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will likely affect aid delivery in Afghanistan.
- I'm worried about the repercussions on the Afghan population and how it might redirect U.S. aid priorities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Tech Sector (Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this policy directly affects my work.
- However, any geopolitical instability is concerning for global tech markets.
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 |
Foreign Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Designating Afghanistan as a terrorist supporting state is a significant move.
- This policy will increase our work but also complicate international relations.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Financial Advisor (New York)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy affecting foreign aid can ripple into global markets.
- Increased tension impacts investor confidence, possibly affecting portfolios.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired Military (Florida)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time such a measure was taken.
- This will make everyone more cautious about relations with Afghanistan.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Public School Teacher (Colorado)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems far removed from my day-to-day life.
- I'll update my curriculum on current international politics, though.
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 |
Small Business Owner (North Carolina)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not worried about this affecting my business directly.
- It's more something we watch to gauge the market mood.
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 |
Grad Student in International Relations (Illinois)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This adds a new dimension to current U.S. foreign policy dynamics.
- It provides a rich topic for research and analysis.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Healthcare Worker (Massachusetts)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My job's focus on international health measures keeps me concerned about global shifts.
- Afghanistan's designation might impact health initiatives I engage in.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $71000000)
Year 3: $52000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $72000000)
Year 5: $54000000 (Low: $34000000, High: $74000000)
Year 10: $58000000 (Low: $38000000, High: $78000000)
Year 100: $80000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $100000000)
Key Considerations
- International diplomatic repercussions regarding the designation of Afghanistan as a terrorism sponsor.
- Impact on regional security dynamics in Asia, particularly concerning Pakistan and Indian relations with the U.S.
- Potential for retaliatory actions by the Taliban affecting American security interests.