Bill Overview
Title: Air America Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill establishes the service of Air America employees as qualifying service for purposes of the Civil Service Retirement System. (Air America was a government-owned airline that provided air transport for certain covert operations in Southeast Asia, including Laos and Vietnam, between 1950 and 1976.) The bill applies to U.S. citizens who were employees of Air America or another affiliated company, as specified, between January 1, 1950, and December 31, 1976. Benefit applications must be filed within two years of the date of enactment of this bill.
Sponsors: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: U.S. citizens who were employees of Air America or attached companies between 1950 and 1976
Estimated Size: 2000
- Air America operated between 1950 and 1976 in Southeast Asia, so the target population includes Americans who were employed by or affiliated with Air America during this period.
- Many involved in these operations were involved in covert activities, which would have been staffed mainly by U.S. citizens due to the sensitive nature of the work.
- Employees of Air America, a government-owned entity, are being recognized for their service under the Civil Service Retirement System, implying these individuals didn't previously receive certain federal employment benefits.
- This target population is likely retired or near retirement age, as they would be at least in their late 60s or older now. Many may have deceased, reducing the estimate.
Reasoning
- The target population consists of aged individuals, likely in their late 60s or older, which means their life situation is less flexible and more dependent on stable income streams like retirement benefits.
- Given the historical context and operations of Air America, many former employees may not have sufficient records or might have been excluded from traditional retirement benefits, making this policy impactful for their financial stability.
- The policy's budget constraints imply that not every eligible individual will experience a significant financial windfall, but the policy could dramatically affect wellbeing for those who are currently struggling financially.
- The broader population will likely be unaware or unaffected by this policy unless they have a direct connection to Air America employees.
Simulated Interviews
Retired pilot (Arizona)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's well overdue that our work is recognized.
- The extra benefit will help a lot with my medical expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired administrative assistant (California)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's nice that the government finally acknowledges our contributions.
- The benefits will come in handy for everyday expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired engineer (Texas)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This acknowledgment is a bit late, but better late than never.
- It'll mostly help with my rising health care costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired intelligence officer (Florida)
Age: 85 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finally, our sacrifices are recognized even if a bit late.
- This will help ease the financial stress significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired logistics coordinator (New York)
Age: 78 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see our work being officially recognized.
- The pension increase will ease my day-to-day expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retired mechanic (Washington)
Age: 82 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I didn't expect recognition after all these years.
- The extra money will relieve some pressure on my medical bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Retired communications specialist (Virginia)
Age: 86 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This acknowledgment feels like validation after all these years.
- I'm glad for the help with finances this brings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Retired flight instructor (Ohio)
Age: 77 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always hoped we'd be recognized for what we did.
- This will help with my fixed expenses in retirement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired supply chain manager (Oregon)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This comes as a pleasant surprise and relief for us older generations.
- It definitely will help keep me stable financially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Retired operations manager (Kentucky)
Age: 83 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This benefit was long overdue for us.
- It'll help with the cost of living expenses that keep rising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $9600000, High: $14400000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- There is significant uncertainty in estimating the exact number of still-living eligible individuals and their survivors within the target population, impacting benefit distribution.
- The limited two-year application period may impact the timely uptake of the retirement benefits.
- Cross-checking historical data accuracy and thorough documentation could influence the final cost outcomes.