Bill Overview
Title: Department of Defense Civilian Harm Transparency Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to designate a senior official to serve as the civilian harm investigation coordinator to conduct a review of each investigation of civilian harm and assess whether applicable laws, policies, guidelines, and processes were followed during the investigations. DOD must also appoint a general counsel to assist the coordinator with such duties. The coordinator must annually submit to Congress a report on civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations during the preceding year. DOD must make publicly available in an electronic format a detailed list of all ex gratia payments (i.e., payments that are not legally required) and other payments in response to civilian harm paid by the United States. Some information may be excluded to ensure safety or privacy of payment recipients. DOD must provide specified information to Congress to certify the need for confidentiality. DOD must provide an easily accessible electronic method by which individuals may request ex gratia or other condolence payments.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by U.S. military operations worldwide
Estimated Size: 1000
- The bill focuses on transparency regarding civilian harm caused by U.S. military operations.
- It involves investigation and reporting of such harm, which primarily impacts the civilians affected by military operations.
- Given the U.S. military's global presence, this affects individuals in various conflict zones worldwide where the U.S. conducts operations.
- The bill directly relates to civilian harm investigations and ex gratia payments, affecting individuals receiving compensation for harm.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes individuals directly affected by civilian harm from military operations worldwide, as well as U.S. citizens interested in government accountability.
- The policy aims to improve transparency and accountability, which can affect public perception and trust in government institutions.
- Given the budget, the policy might provide noticeable benefits but only to a limited number of individuals directly involved in cases of civilian harm and those working within the related governmental bodies.
Simulated Interviews
Department of Defense analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe transparency is critical for accountability within military operations.
- This policy could improve our processes and address past oversight issues.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Journalist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is a step forward in improving transparency.
- Access to information about ex gratia payments is essential for the public.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Human Rights Advocate (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could offer some redress for families affected by U.S. military actions.
- It's important for U.S. citizens to be aware of military impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Military Veteran (Dallas, TX)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency should extend to military actions to build public trust.
- Ex gratia payments could help affected civilians and their communities.
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 |
Graduate Student in Political Science (New York, NY)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can serve as a learning tool for examining U.S. military operations critically.
- Increased access to data is beneficial for researchers like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm particularly interested in how the data will be managed and safeguarded.
- It's refreshing to see steps toward transparency in government affairs.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The more the military is open about its operations, the better informed we are as citizens.
- This could also improve relations within the international community.
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 |
College Professor (Boston, MA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a significant policy for those studying the legal aspects of military operations.
- This act could enhance scholarly discourse on the implications of military actions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Civil Rights Lawyer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these set a precedent for government transparency.
- The implementation will be key in determining its effectiveness.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired Army Colonel (Denver, CO)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy introduces necessary accountability measures.
- Ex gratia payments offer a way to acknowledge past errors.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Year 3: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Year 5: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Year 10: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Year 100: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring transparency in civilian harm caused by military operations can improve domestic and international trust in the U.S. military.
- Administrative and IT infrastructure costs will form the bulk of the expenses.
- Confidentiality challenges may arise due to the sensitive nature of the data involved.