Bill Overview
Title: Central American Network for Democracy Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to establish a fellowship program to support a regional corps of civil society activists, lawyers, journalists, and investigators for regional democracy and rule of law activities in Central America.
Sponsors: Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Target Audience
Population: Central American civil society activists, lawyers, journalists, and investigators
Estimated Size: 2000
- The bill establishes a fellowship program aimed at supporting civil society activists, lawyers, journalists, and investigators.
- The primary target population includes individuals from these professions who are based in Central American countries.
- The bill focuses on promoting regional democracy and rule of law, so individuals engaged in these fields within the context of Central American nations will be directly impacted.
Reasoning
- The primary impact of the policy will be on professionals involved in democracy and rule of law activities in Central America, which includes U.S. citizens working in or collaborating with these regions.
- Given the budget and size constraints, the policy will not broadly affect the general U.S. population but will be significant for specialists in international development, human rights law, and regional journalism.
- The impact on self-reported wellbeing will likely be more pronounced among those directly engaged in these activities, through increased job opportunities, enhanced professional networks, and fulfillment from contributing to democracy initiatives.
- For other Americans, indirect benefits such as enhanced understanding of Central American issues or job opportunities might arise minimally.
- By including a range of other citizens, we can capture a spectrum of perceived impacts or indifference to this foreign-focused policy.
Simulated Interviews
Human Rights Lawyer (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is an excellent step towards strengthening democracy in Central America.
- It will provide crucial support to those on the ground fighting for justice and could open new collaboration opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could lead to improved access to sources and data from Central America, enhancing my reporting.
- There's hope that conditions improve for journalists working in and about Central America.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
NGO Program Manager (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This fellowship program aligns with our goals and could provide additional resources and partnerships.
- It reaffirms U.S. commitment to democratic values which is crucial for our programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Corporate Lawyer (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While directly unaffected, it's heartening to see legal support being extended internationally.
- This could eventually create more robust frameworks globally, but immediate personal impact is low.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Educator (Austin, TX)
Age: 58 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this can lead to long-term educational and democratic benefits, but I don't expect direct impacts on my life.
- It's a positive move worth supporting.
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 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could open doors for field research and internships focused on Central America's political systems.
- I'm excited about potential learning and career-building opportunities this bill may facilitate.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Business Owner (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might create more stable environments for business in Central America.
- Indirectly, I hope this leads to better opportunities for trade.
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 | 6 | 6 |
Research Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy indicates potentially richer datasets for analysis, and increased networking opportunities with field activists.
- I'm optimistic about the possibilities for enhanced actionable insights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
University Professor (San Diego, CA)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative might enrich academic resources and content for courses and research.
- Watching for how it impacts academics involved with analyzing international policy.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this policy affects me personally.
- It seems to be focused on areas and people far from my everyday life.
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: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The program is a foreign policy initiative and cost estimates focus on operational and administrative aspects.
- Indirect benefits might not be immediately quantifiable but could provide broader geopolitical advantages.
- Cost volatility could arise depending on the scale of involvement or in response to local political developments.