Bill Overview
Title: Countering Malign Russian Activities Globally Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress a regional strategy and implementation plan outlining U.S. efforts to counter Russia's malign influence and activities in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other regions as appropriate. The State Department must also report to Congress annual updates on the strategy and implementation plan.
Sponsors: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
Target Audience
Population: People living in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other regions engaged with Russia
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill focuses on U.S. efforts to counter Russian activities globally, indicating a broad international scope.
- The specified regions include Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, which collectively comprise a significant portion of the global population.
- Consideration of potential U.S. foreign policy changes and their implementation could have indirect effects on international relations and stability in the listed regions.
- The operations and strategies introduced by this bill might affect governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in international politics and economics.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on countering Russia's influence in specific regions, potentially affecting diplomatic relations and economic partnerships.
- The policy may indirectly impact international NGOs and U.S. citizens working in foreign policy or international business.
- This may result in varied wellbeing impacts for different groups, from diplomats to average citizens, based on how directly their lives and work are linked to the international arena or these regions.
- Budget constraints will limit the policy's implementation, potentially reducing the scale of its impact.
Simulated Interviews
Foreign Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone who analyzes foreign policy, this Act will be significant for the reports and resources it could contribute to understand the geopolitical dynamics.
- However, much will depend on the actual implementation and effectiveness of the strategy.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
International NGO Worker (New York)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help stabilize regions by reducing Russian influence, which may improve conditions for our work.
- There is a concern about the potential redirection of U.S. government resources that might affect funding for our projects.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
International Business Consultant (Miami)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The countering approach might create business uncertainties initially due to potential geopolitical tensions.
- In the long term, a more stable environment could foster better business conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Energy Sector Executive (Houston)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act might align with U.S. energy interests, potentially leading to beneficial trade agreements.
- There's also a risk of geopolitical volatility that could disrupt markets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired Military Officer (Los Angeles)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I'm retired, I still value strategic moves that enhance national and global security.
- The policy could contribute positively to reducing the influence of hostile states.
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 |
Journalist (Atlanta)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could provide more access to information through government reports, enhancing investigative journalism.
- However, there could be risks of government narratives overpowering other perspectives.
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 | 7 |
Academic Researcher (Boston)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great interest in how this could shape emerging scholarship on global influence patterns.
- The effectiveness of strategies might offer new insights for academic contributions.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tech Startup Founder (San Francisco)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There could be opportunities for tech integration with a more stable and open environment in Africa.
- Wary of regulatory changes and market volatility due to increased U.S. involvement.
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 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Graduate Student (Chicago)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a case study in my field; it provides practical insights into real-world application.
- There's concern over whether the policy will lead to peaceful, non-disruptive solutions.
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 |
Policy Advisor (Seattle)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act's potential impact on economic policies may shape future advisory paths.
- There's a delicate balance between economic interests and strategic diplomacy.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $520000000 (Low: $410000000, High: $620000000)
Year 3: $540000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $640000000)
Year 5: $580000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $700000000)
Year 10: $650000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $800000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $1200000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill's impact on Russian geopolitical influence and its ability to affect U.S. interests and allies needs to be considered.
- Operational execution faces challenges including cross-department coordination and the political stability of the targeted regions.
- Long-term diplomatic engagement may require sustained commitment beyond initial cost estimates.