Bill Overview
Title: TAPS Act
Description: This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Health and Human Services to jointly establish a task force to develop recommendations for a comprehensive policy to prevent suicide by CBP personnel. The Department of Homeland Security must develop a plan based on the task force's assessments and recommendations.
Sponsors: Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]
Target Audience
Population: U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel
Estimated Size: 80000
- The bill is focused on the prevention of suicide among CBP personnel.
- CBP is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, which employs tens of thousands of people.
- Suicide prevention measures often have a broader impact, potentially affecting the mental health culture and resources available within an organization.
- Family members and immediate communities of CBP personnel may also be indirectly impacted by improved mental health outcomes for personnel.
Reasoning
- The target population for the TAPS Act consists of CBP personnel, both officers and support staff, who number about 80,000. Yet, the policy has relevance not only to them directly but potentially to families and nearby communities who are indirectly affected by improvements in mental health support and suicide prevention resources.
- The total budget of the policy over 10 years is $167,500,000, which will support the implementation of recommendations by a specially formed task force. In year one, the budget allocation is $30,000,000, which will likely be used to establish foundational resources and support systems for mental health and suicide prevention.
- Although the policy primarily targets CBP personnel, the interviews include a mix of individuals directly and indirectly affected, representing a range of backgrounds, including members of the general public who may not perceive any direct impact from such a policy.
- Consideration was given to the likelihood that enhanced support for CBP personnel could yield improvements in their overall work environment, making resources potentially available to a broader law enforcement community over time. This would extend the positive impact beyond the intended primary targets.
Simulated Interviews
CBP Officer (Nogales, AZ)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a necessary step. I've seen colleagues struggle with mental health issues, and sometimes it feels like there's nowhere to turn.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
CBP Support Staff (San Diego, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could be transformative, not just for the officers, but also for support staff like me as it fosters overall better communication about mental health.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
CBP Supervisor (El Paso, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it will help us retain staff and ensure they feel supported. We've lost too many good people to mental health issues.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
CBP Retired (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish this had been in place during my service. It's vital for the younger generation, and I hope it's implemented effectively.
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 |
CBP Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard to see the benefit right now, but any support would be welcome.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
CBP Support Staff (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this implies a much-needed cultural shift towards valuing mental health at our workplace.
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 |
CBP Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a good idea, but I hope it's more than just a plan. We need real, tangible support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementation will be key. If done right, it could serve as a model for other agencies.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Therapist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy represents a significant step forward, but effectiveness depends on the depth of implementation.
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 |
CBP Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's too late for me, but I'm glad to see efforts being made for those still serving.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- Collaboration between CBP and the Department of Health and Human Services is crucial for the success of the policy.
- There is a need to ensure that the outcomes and activities of the task force are effectively communicated to all stakeholders.
- Potential long-term savings and cost-benefit results may not be immediately evident, requiring careful monitoring and evaluation.