Bill Overview
Title: No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist China COVID Tests Act
Description: This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to procure at-home COVID-19 tests that are imported from or manufactured (in whole or in part) in China.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: People relying on affordable and accessible at-home COVID-19 tests
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill directly impacts companies that produce and sell at-home COVID-19 tests, particularly those who manufacture in China or import from China.
- Consumers who rely on affordable COVID-19 tests might be indirectly affected if such tests become less available or more expensive due to sourcing limitations.
- Healthcare providers and public health initiatives that utilize federal funds for testing may need to adjust procurement strategies.
- There may be an impact on distribution and logistics networks that handle the import of COVID-19 tests from China.
Reasoning
- The policy will primarily affect individuals and organizations involved in the supply, distribution, and procurement of at-home COVID-19 tests.
- There will be direct impacts on companies manufacturing COVID-19 tests in China and indirect impacts on consumers, particularly those dependent on affordable and accessible testing options.
- Healthcare providers and public health entities that typically rely on federal funds to make testing accessible to vulnerable populations may need to reallocate resources or find alternative suppliers, potentially increasing the costs.
- The effects on individuals will vary based on their reliance on federal subsidies for COVID-19 tests and their income level, i.e., lower-income families might face higher costs for testing.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important to ensure the quality of COVID-19 tests, but I'm concerned about increased costs and reduced availability for low-income patients.
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 | 8 | 8 |
Small Business Owner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might drive up the costs of tests that I can offer, putting pressure on my small business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the affordability of tests if this policy goes through. I need them regularly for peace of mind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Software Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't affect me much since I can afford paying a bit extra if needed.
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 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Logistics Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could reduce the volume of work we have related to test imports, affecting my job security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If tests become less available at my college, it could complicate my ability to participate in in-person activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Nonprofit Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will make our work harder as we work with lower budgets to get the needed supplies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
HR Manager (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might necessitate changes to our healthcare procurement strategies, potentially raising costs.
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 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Public Health Official (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We will need to find new ways to ensure that affordable tests are widely available to avoid public health risks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
College Student (Columbus, OH)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If tests are not readily available on campus, I might miss important classes or activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $55000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $5000000)
Year 10: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $1000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- There may be limited non-Chinese manufacturers capable of quickly meeting market demands, potentially leading to vaccine shortages or delays.
- The bill could strain US-China relations, potentially affecting other areas of trade and bilateral agreements.
- Policy might raise costs for end consumers if non-subsidized tests increase in price based on supply-side pressures.