Bill Overview
Title: A bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College Drive, Middleburg, Florida, as the "Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic", and for other purposes.
Description: This act designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Middleburg, Florida, as the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic or the A.K. Baker VA Clinic.
Sponsors: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans and their families
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill is naming a specific VA clinic in Middleburg, Florida, which primarily serves veterans.
- The impact is largely symbolic, honoring Andrew K. Baker, but the clinic's users, who are veterans, may feel recognition or psychological impacts from the renaming.
- Such changes might impact staff morale and patient satisfaction positively, though direct services remain unchanged.
- Families of veterans in Middleburg may also feel recognized through this kind of dedication.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects veterans utilizing the VA clinic in Middleburg, Florida. There will likely be minimal to no financial impact due to the renaming, fitting within the $50,000 budget for year 1. Psychological or morale impacts are plausible, particularly for veterans within the community, but are difficult to quantify in terms of the wellbeing scale.
- The policy is symbolic, which means that while it may not have a direct impact on services provided by the clinic, it could have an emotional impact on the veterans and possibly improve morale within the clinic. This emotional impact could potentially translate to slight improvements in self-reported wellbeing.
- Being a symbolic act, the impacts are likely confined to a minor subset of the true target population—veterans in Middleburg—making the policy financially feasible, as it doesn't require large infrastructural changes.
- The reach of the policy is limited geographically, but within Middleburg, it might enhance community cohesion or recognition among veterans and their families, giving it positive emotional significance.
- For many veterans in other parts of the U.S., the impact will be non-existent, supporting the idea that the budget can be directed predominantly towards marketing, sign changes, or local events associated with the renaming ceremony.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Middleburg, Florida)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Naming the clinic after Andrew K. Baker is a nice gesture.
- It’s good to see our service recognized in some way.
- I hope this spurs more support and recognition from the community.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a great tribute to have the clinic named after someone who served.
- As a staff member, it feels rewarding.
- I think it'll be positive for the veterans coming in.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran Service Officer (Jacksonville, Florida)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Naming is mostly symbolic, but great for morale.
- I doubt it’ll change services, but veterans will appreciate the acknowledgment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Office Administrator (Middleburg, Florida)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a nice gesture, adds historical value in the clinic.
- My husband and his friends will feel recognized.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Gainesville, Florida)
Age: 71 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a respectful gesture.
- Won’t affect my visits much, but nice to know the clinic cares.
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 |
Veteran Affairs Advocate (Miami, Florida)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think naming the clinic is a nice symbolic move, but it doesn't impact veterans like me in other areas.
- Symbolic recognition is always good, might improve regional morale.
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 |
Student (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it’s a respectful act but doesn’t affect me directly.
- Recognition like this might mean more locally, providing veterans with a sense of pride.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honoring veterans in any way is positive, though the long-term impacts might be limited.
- Important respect for Middleburg services, but nationally, it is largely symbolic.
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 |
Therapist (Middleburg, Florida)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It feels rewarding for the veterans I work with; there's value in acknowledgment.
- While it doesn't change much in terms of services, I think it’s emotionally impactful for my clients.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Army Officer (Houston, Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Miles away, this feels more local to Middleburg.
- Still, small gestures like these can strengthen veteran recognition across the board.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000 (Low: $20000, High: $80000)
Year 2: $10000 (Low: $5000, High: $15000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $10000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $10000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $10000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $10000)
Key Considerations
- The renaming is largely symbolic and carries minimal direct financial implications.
- It may have a positive impact on veterans' morale and public perception, although this is qualitative rather than quantitative.
- Any fiscal implications are expected to be minor and one-time in nature.