Bill Overview
Title: To require a report on the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.
Description: This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of State to report to Congress on the death of Shireen Abu Akleh. The report shall also be made available to the public on the State Department's website. (Abu Akleh was a U.S. citizen and journalist who was shot and killed in the city of Jenin in the West Bank in May 2022. At the time of her shooting, Israeli security forces and Palestinians were trading fire in the area.)
Sponsors: Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by the report on the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Estimated Size: 100000
- The bill requires US agencies to report on the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, which directly impacts those involved in her case - her family, friends, and colleagues.
- Journalists worldwide, especially those reporting in conflict zones, may be impacted as this report could highlight issues of press freedom and safety.
- The report could affect the Palestinian and Israeli communities, as the incident occurred in the West Bank and involved Israeli security forces and Palestinians.
- The general public interested in international human rights, US foreign policy, or media safety may be impacted by the findings and transparency of this report.
Reasoning
- Given the policy's budget to report on the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, impacted groups include: her immediate family, friends, and colleagues; journalists who face safety issues in conflict zones; people interested in Middle-Eastern politics, particularly pertaining to Israeli-Palestinian conflicts; and general human rights advocates. The overall cost constraints and the size of the population directly affected mean that the impact will vary significantly.
- This simulation considers various demographics relevant to the incident, emphasizing those directly and indirectly affected by the policy outcome. Impact on wellbeing is derived from both direct personal connections (high impact) and broader journalistic and political transparency issues (medium to low impact).
Simulated Interviews
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the report is crucial for holding parties accountable and ensuring journalistic safety. It represents an acknowledgment of Shireen's work and sacrifice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Human rights advocate (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step forward for transparency. It's essential for improving press protection in conflict zones.
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 | 7 |
International Relations Analyst (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The release of this report could influence US-Ireland relations positively by promoting transparency and accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Palestinian-American College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important for the truth to come out. I worry about my family's safety and this could make a difference.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
High School History Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Making such reports public helps educate and inform the next generation about real-world issues and the importance of accountability and justice.
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 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a US citizen, I feel responsible for my country's foreign actions. This report is a small but significant step towards transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to information enhances our applications and provides more relevant news to users seeking insight into global issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Portland, OR)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This type of transparency helps ensure the safety of journalists. It's essential for my future career and the stories I wish to write.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Community Organizer (Dearborn, MI)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The report shows the US cares about justice in international cases involving its citizens. It's a positive signal to communities like ours.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Security Analyst (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This report could provide insights into handling security situations involving international press, improving protocols globally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $800000 (Low: $700000, High: $1000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The involvement of both the FBI and the State Department is crucial as it combines domestic law enforcement with international diplomacy expertise.
- Public accessibility of the report is intended to foster transparency and potentially inform public discourse on international policy and journalistic safety.
- Although the report process is resource-intensive, it is anticipated to conclude within a year, resulting in no recurring costs unless further directed by Congress.