Bill Overview
Title: DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand its Blue Campaign, which coordinates DHS actions to identify and prevent human trafficking. The bill requires DHS to (1) provide web-based training for law enforcement and corrections personnel, and (2) establish an advisory board for the campaign.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: Victims and potential victims of human trafficking globally
Estimated Size: 4030000
- Human trafficking is a global issue affecting millions, so efforts to combat it have widespread relevance.
- The DHS Blue Campaign aims to educate and train officials, potentially impacting those who interact with law enforcement and correctional facilities.
- Specialized training can enhance the ability to identify and aid victims, thus indirectly impacting these populations.
Reasoning
- The budget constraints of $10,000,000 in year 1 mean that training and program development will be relatively modest initially, likely focusing on pilot programs and scaling up over the years.
- The population directly impacted includes law enforcement, which is instrumental in identifying human trafficking victims, thus having an indirect but substantial impact on the victims themselves.
- Due to the focus on U.S. law enforcement, the geographic concentration is predominantly domestic, emphasizing regions with high human trafficking prevalence.
- There is an indirect potential for increased community awareness and support structures as law enforcement becomes better trained and more proactive.
- The number of individuals directly noticing an immediate change might be low due to training periods and gradual integration into daily practice.
Simulated Interviews
Police Officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds promising as it provides more resources and training. However, I think actual impact will depend on how effectively that training is delivered and measured.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Social Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training for law enforcement is crucial. I've seen too many cases where lack of training has let victims slip through the cracks. This policy is a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Business Owner (Houston, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of this policy because it could help ensure that businesses like mine aren't unknowingly involving trafficking victims. However, we need clarity on how non-law enforcement sectors can contribute.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Victim Advocate (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the need for this policy in the everyday work I do. Law enforcement being better trained makes it easier on us advocates trying to connect victims with resources.
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 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could inspire more actions like the club I started. It's reassuring to see formal policy efforts reflecting grassroots concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Truck Driver (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a good policy, but I'd appreciate efforts to bring awareness to sectors like mine, where trafficking activity is often observed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although my industry isn't directly impacted, seeing the government take steps can motivate more tech collaborations for advanced solutions in tackling trafficking.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Department of Homeland Security Analyst (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy provides necessary funding for overdue upgrades in our system. It's reassuring but requires proper allocations and measures to ensure it meets its goals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Law Professor (Denver, CO)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The enhancement to DHS's Blue Campaign is a logical step, but it needs continuous assessment to ensure it's more than just a veneer.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Non-profit Director (San Diego, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better training for officers is crucial. Our shelter can only do so much in isolation; cooperation is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $8500000 (Low: $6500000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $9000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $13000000)
Year 10: $9500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $14000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- Training effectiveness is crucial; poorly designed modules may have insignificant impact.
- The size and activity level of the advisory board could impact both costs and efficacy of the campaign.
- Establishing metrics to evaluate the success of this campaign should be considered to ensure budget effectiveness.