Bill Overview
Title: DEBRIS Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons (entities or individuals) that deliberately or negligently create space debris without providing prior notification to the U.S. government. The President must also impose such sanctions on foreign persons that provide certain assistance or support to the activity that resulted in the creation of the space debris.
Sponsors: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Foreign persons who create or support the creation of space debris
Estimated Size: 5000
- The DEBRIS Act of 2022 targets foreign individuals or entities that create space debris.
- Space debris creators who do not notify the U.S. government will be sanctioned, impacting them directly.
- Entities aiding or supporting the creation of space debris are also included in the target population.
Reasoning
- The and therefore would not affect the majority of the U.S. population.
- This simulation aims to understand possible ripple effects on Americans indirectly related to the space industry or policy design.
- Focus is given to individuals in positions that align closely with space, foreign policy, or sectors likely to feel indirect impacts due to changes.
- Some U.S. workers in multinational corporations with interests in space could see impacts through disruptions associated with sanctioned entities.
- Given the relatively low number of direct targets as U.S. citizens or residents, impact on personal wellbeing scores might not be highly significant for the general population.
Simulated Interviews
Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The DEBRIS Act seems like a crucial national security measure.
- Reluctant to say it will have significant direct impacts on my life but could influence work due to policy analyses required.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support policies that aim to keep our space activities clean but worry about business disruptions.
- Hopefully, the policy will pressure international partners to adhere to industry standards without impacting joint projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
NASA Scientist (Houston, TX)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could significantly alleviate debris risks.
- Good for planetary science but may complicate international cooperation in short term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
International Lawyer (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It brings more complexity but aligns well with existing space frameworks.
- Could lead to increased legal work due to challenges against sanctions.
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 |
Aerospace Industry Executive (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sanctions could affect international partnerships but also force better industry practices.
- Mitigating concerns are mostly operational, not affecting personal life significantly.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Finance Analyst (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The industry will become more predictable if countries follow these regulations.
- Market volatility might increase temporarily, which could affect job security.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Space Policy Consultant (Tucson, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such legislations are vital for sustainable space conduct.
- Concerns arise about international tensions escalating albeit leading to thorough diplomacy.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
High School Science Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 19/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to hear of efforts to maintain our space environment.
- Such geopolitical actions seem distant from daily life here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Aerospace Sales Representative (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these can help foster fair competitiveness.
- Business may see reinforced compliance requests, manageable otherwise.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
University Professor of International Relations (Boston, MA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a noteworthy step in managing space affairs.
- May expand research opportunities and funding for related studies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $22000000)
Year 3: $17000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $21000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Administrative costs for enforcing sanctions and imposing penalties.
- International diplomatic responses and collaboration in space policy.
- Long-term effects on space governance and safety.