Bill Overview
Title: Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This act directs the President to review whether federal agencies are in compliance with requirements to promote the use of Native American languages and make recommendations to improve interagency coordination to support the use of these languages. It also requires the Administration for Native Americans to survey the use of Native American languages in the United States.
Sponsors: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Target Audience
Population: Native Americans
Estimated Size: 6700000
- The bill directly concerns Native American languages, indicating it will primarily impact Native American populations.
- According to the U.S. Census, there are approximately 6.7 million Native Americans in the United States, which forms the primary community affected by this bill.
- The bill involves federal agencies, indicating that government employees who work with Native American communities or on language initiatives may also be somewhat impacted.
Reasoning
- The budget indicated can support various surveys, initiatives, and interagency collaborations focused specifically on boosting the usage of Native American languages.
- The overall impact on individual wellbeing could vary significantly, primarily based on the individual’s connection to their Native culture and the value they place on the preservation and promotion of their language.
- While most of the population affected by this policy includes Native Americans, particularly those heavily involved in cultural preservation, a smaller number includes federal employees working with Native American languages.
- The scale of potential impact is generally higher among those living in communities where language preservation is crucial for cultural identity and heritage.
Simulated Interviews
Tribal Cultural Center Director (New Mexico)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a welcome change; it formalizes the discussions we've had for years about language preservation.
- Improvement comes from the community, but support like this makes it sustainable.
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 | 9 | 4 |
Language Program Manager (Oklahoma)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy recognition at the federal level is crucial, but integration and execution are what matter.
- Interagency collaboration can prevent overlapping costs and efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Activist (California)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A step in the right direction, though more grassroots and community-driven efforts are also essential.
- Monitoring and surveying are important, but must translate into actionable policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
School Teacher (South Dakota)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can make it easier to integrate language materials into curriculums.
- Federal backing for such initiatives could ease financial burden on local communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Elder and Cultural Historian (Alaska)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy feels like a validation of our culture and history.
- Long-term commitment is needed for true revitalization of languages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Federal Policy Analyst (Washington)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring geometric growth in language programs requires consistent evaluation and adaptation.
- The policy must act as a seed for broader adoption and not an isolated federal directive.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired (Arizona)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy seems promising, especially if it leads to tangible resources in our communities.
- Implementation costs can be steep but are worthwhile for cultural preservation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Student (Montana)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seeing increased focus on our languages increases pride and enthusiasm for future work.
- Engagement via surveys must lead to action-oriented results.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Community Health Worker (Arizona)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Language is part of the emotional and mental health of our communities; supporting this can have far-reaching effects.
- We'll need ongoing funding to maintain programs initiated by this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Researcher on Indigenous Languages (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is indicative of the growing recognition of the importance of language preservation.
- The data collected through surveys will be invaluable for research and future developments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of federal agency coordination could enhance Native American language preservation efforts.
- A successful implementation of this bill could set a precedent for similar initiatives for other minority languages in the U.S.