Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 to repeal certain obsolete requirements, and for other purposes.
Description: This act repeals a provision of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 that requires the Department of Homeland Security to promulgate regulations to minimize the excessive use by contractors of subcontractors or tiers of subcontractors to perform the principal work of any contract for facilitating response to or recovery from a natural or man-made disaster.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by disaster management legislation changes
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The bill impacts the Department of Homeland Security's regulation regarding contractors in disaster management.
- Contractors working in disaster response will be affected by the change in regulations.
- The amendment may alter or remove restrictions on subcontracting, affecting contractors' operational strategies.
- The bill does not specify benefits or penalties to the public directly, but changes in subcontractor utilization could impact disaster recovery efficiency.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes contractors and workers involved in disaster response, as well as residents in areas frequently impacted by disasters.
- The policy change could streamline processes for contractors but may also affect the quality or speed of disaster response due to changes in subcontractor tiers.
- The estimated number of people directly impacted is in the millions, but budget limitations confine how many can be directly assisted through changes in contractor regulation.
- The focus on minimizing subcontractor tiers could lead to reduced costs for the government but could also impact the breadth of valuable subcontractor expertise tapped into.
- Efficiency and operational changes might indirectly affect people's wellbeing, particularly during disaster recovery phases.
Simulated Interviews
Disaster Management Contractor (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen how subcontractors can sometimes add bureaucratic layers, so optimizing that sounds beneficial.
- However, removing necessary tiers could overburden principal contractors.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Emergency Response Supervisor (Miami, FL)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There are definitely subcontractors that slow things down, so regulation adjustments might help.
- I'm concerned about losing specialized resources if certain tiers are removed.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Urban Planner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing subcontracting tiers could make implementation more efficient.
- I'm not directly affected but indirectly invested in response efficacy.
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 | 9 |
Civil Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Contractor efficiency squabbles often stall projects, so I see potential benefits.
- Nonetheless, tier reductions must be strategic to avoid skill gaps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Disaster Relief Volunteer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t directly work with contractors, but their efficiency affects community outcomes.
- Streamlined projects sound great, but execution must remain inclusive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Project Manager for a Nonprofit (New York, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Less bureaucracy with contractors could mean faster response times.
- I'm concerned about quality control with fewer specializations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Logistics Coordinator (Orlando, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Less subcontractor involvement could simplify logistics.
- It's essential to maintain warehouse and delivery expertise regardless of contractor tiers.
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 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Construction Foreman (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Subcontractor simplification could really smooth our efforts on-ground.
- I'm cautious about potential job losses due to tier regulations.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired Army Officer (Springfield, MO)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Streamlining contractor processes sounds logical from a strategic standpoint.
- Focus must be on preserving core competencies regardless of tier adjustments.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Community Organizer (Galveston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about community impact if efficiency leads to exclusion from recovery processes.
- The policy could assist in managing efforts effectively, but needs local input.
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 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000 (Low: $100000, High: $500000)
Year 2: $250000 (Low: $100000, High: $500000)
Year 3: $250000 (Low: $100000, High: $500000)
Year 5: $250000 (Low: $100000, High: $500000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The primary effect of the bill is regulatory reform within the Department of Homeland Security.
- The repeal of specific provisions might streamline certain contract procedures or reduce bureaucratic complexities.
- Potential impacts on efficiency in disaster response efforts may not be immediately evident but could affect future subcontracting practices.