Bill Overview
Title: CREW Act
Description: This act makes employment protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applicable to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reservists who deploy to major disaster and emergency sites. It allows such reservists to claim such rights under USERRA even if they do not provide notice of their absence from work due to deployment.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: FEMA reservists
Estimated Size: 13000
- The bill extends protections similar to those provided for military reservists to FEMA reservists.
- FEMA has approximately 13,000 reservists who could be directly impacted by this legislation as of recent reports.
- The USERRA protections are crucial for maintaining employment for individuals while they are deployed to serve in emergencies.
- The act would indirectly affect employers who are required to reinstate these reservists after their deployment.
- The impact globally is minimal as FEMA is a U.S.-based organization and the primary impact is on FEMA reservists and their employers in the U.S.
Reasoning
- The CREW Act primarily impacts FEMA reservists who make up a relatively small portion of the U.S. population, estimated at approximately 13,000 individuals.
- The Act ensures that FEMA reservists have job security when they are deployed, similar to the protections already extended to military reservists under USERRA.
- The budget constraints suggest the Act targets employment protection enforcement rather than direct financial support.
- The Act can help improve wellbeing scores of affected individuals by providing job and financial security during deployments, although the impact on those outside this group, such as employers, may vary.
- The policy's direct effect is concentrated in areas and jobs tied to the emergency management field, with broader ripple effects on communities that rely on reservists.
Simulated Interviews
FEMA Reservist (Austin, Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act is a relief. The uncertainty about job security during deployments was always stressful.
- I can focus on my duties knowing my job will be there when I return.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
FEMA Reservist (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve been worried about losing my job every time I get deployed.
- The policy reassures me and provides stability for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Employer, IT Company (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I support job protections, it increases complexity for small businesses like ours.
- We'll have to adjust staffing strategies to cover for frequent absences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
FEMA Reservist (Miami, Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives me peace of mind to handle financial commitments like getting a mortgage.
- It’s a crucial protection for us FEMA workers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
HR Manager, Manufacturing (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We have a system in place for military reservists, so extending it for FEMA reservists is feasible.
- It’s another step to protect the workforce that serves in emergencies.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
FEMA Reservist (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing that my job is secure during deployments allows me to focus on my role.
- This Act is a much-needed assurance for reservists.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Des Moines, Iowa)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about potential gaps in staffing during disasters.
- However, supporting FEMA reservists aligns with my community commitment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
FEMA Reservist (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Job protection during deployments will help reduce some of my stress.
- It gives me the freedom to serve without worrying about being penalized at work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Finance Analyst, Large Corporation (New York, New York)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Adapting to the policy should be manageable since we have experience with USERRA for military.
- It’s a fair extension of protective rights for FEMA roles.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tech Support, Startup (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We’re a small team and losing a staff member for deployment impacts us.
- Balancing these commitments with our growth is tough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2100000 (Low: $1050000, High: $3150000)
Year 3: $2205000 (Low: $1102500, High: $3307500)
Year 5: $2430000 (Low: $1215000, High: $3645000)
Year 10: $2924100 (Low: $1462050, High: $4386150)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- The CREW Act could enhance FEMA's responsiveness in emergencies by securing job positions for reservists.
- Potential administrative costs relate to compliance monitoring and legal actions under USERRA.
- While direct costs are small, indirect benefits through enhanced emergency management could be significant.