Bill Overview
Title: Somaliland Partnership Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to annually report to Congress on U.S. assistance to Somaliland. The State Department must also report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a U.S.-Somaliland partnership, including opportunities for collaboration on regional security issues. For the purposes of this bill, Somaliland is the territory within Somalia that has been a self-declared independent and sovereign state since 1991 that is not internationally recognized.
Sponsors: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Target Audience
Population: People of Somaliland
Estimated Size: 10000
- Somaliland has a population of about 4 million people.
- The bill is focused on U.S. assistance and potential partnerships with Somaliland.
- Those directly impacted include the people of Somaliland who may benefit from U.S. assistance and collaboration on regional security issues.
- Indirectly, the population of Somalia may be impacted due to changes in dynamics between Somaliland and Somalia.
Reasoning
- The Somaliland Partnership Act primarily benefits Somaliland and its inhabitants, with indirect effects on stakeholders in the U.S., including government personnel and individuals interested in international policy.
- The budget allocation is relatively modest, suggesting only limited direct impact on the U.S. economy or a significant number of U.S. citizens.
- The primary U.S. population affected includes government workers, NGO personnel, international business stakeholders, and individuals deeply interested in U.S. foreign policy, which might number around 10,000 people.
- We would expect to see relatively low impact on general U.S. population wellbeing as compared to that of the Somaliland populations possibly directly receiving aid.
- The estimated wellbeing impact range suggests a minor uplift in hope and positivity around international collaborations for those in the U.S. who engage with Somaliland or have ties to it.
Simulated Interviews
Foreign Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could strengthen U.S. ties and promote stability in the region.
- I'm optimistic about what we can achieve together with Somaliland.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
NGO Worker (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could lead to beneficial partnerships and aid programs.
- Having worked on the ground, I see real potential for positive change.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired Diplomat (New York, NY)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this as a continuation of valuable efforts to stabilize regions.
- However, we must ensure the policy leads to visible outcomes.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
International Business Consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could open new business avenues if the region becomes more stable.
- It's encouraging to see consistent U.S. involvement in these areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
University Professor (Boston, MA)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A U.S.-Somaliland partnership could be used as a case study for peaceful regional progress.
- Academic interest will rise with more detailed partnerships.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
International Law Expert (Miami, FL)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's intriguing to see how this could affect international law perspectives.
- The policy might not directly impact me, but its implications could be significant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- U.S. assistance might create a favorable environment for tech investment.
- I'm hopeful for long-term positive outcomes in the region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Human Rights Advocate (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Strong partnerships could enhance human rights protections.
- Any international assistance should prioritize human welfare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Non-profit Director (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The partnership could increase educational opportunities we can offer.
- It's important to maintain accountability and transparency in assistance efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Military Advisor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This partnership could potentially enhance regional security and peacekeeping initiatives.
- We need structured strategies to make meaningful progress.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- The geopolitical sensitivity of supporting autonomous areas within a recognized sovereign state should be considered.
- Improving regional stability might be beneficial in the long run but gauging the certainty of such outcomes is difficult.
- The cost estimates are primarily tied to administrative tasks and potential travel and consultation costs.