Bill Overview
Title: BUILD IT Act
Description: This bill requires the federal government to transfer, upon request, materials associated with the construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to the governments of the states along that border (i.e., Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas). The transferred materials must be used to construct a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Sponsors: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals residing in U.S.-Mexico border states and northern Mexico states
Estimated Size: 127000000
- There are approximately 127 million total individuals currently residing in the states along the U.S.-Mexico border: California, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, based on latest population estimates.
- All individuals residing in these border states could be directly or indirectly affected by changes in border security or infrastructure, encompassing economic, social, and environmental impact.
- Indirectly, U.S. citizens across the country can be affected by national resource allocation and policy focus changes.
- Approximately 6 million individuals in Mexico live in the northern states that border the U.S., such as Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, who may also be affected by changes in border infrastructure.
Reasoning
- I selected a range of individuals from the border states with different occupations and demographics to capture diverse impacts of the policy.
- The policy primarily impacts people living near the border, but can also indirectly affect residents in neighboring and non-border areas due to economic and policy resource allocation shifts.
- Some individuals may not see any direct impact given their distance from the border or nature of occupation.
- Considering the policy budget constraints, large scale impacts are unlikely; instead, effects are likely localized or contained within specific communities.
Simulated Interviews
Border Patrol Agent (El Paso, Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe that reusing materials makes sense economically.
- This could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of my job.
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 | 6 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (San Diego, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that increased construction could disrupt my business operations.
- On the flip side, more security might make the area safer in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Environmental Scientist (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy raises environmental concerns regarding wildlife and local habitats.
- I see the potential for increased job opportunities in environmental assessment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 59 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly affected by border policies anymore.
- Concerns are more about state spending that may shift budgets away from social services.
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 |
Factory Worker (Tijuana, Baja California)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased security could mean stability in my industry and employment.
- However, it may initially disrupt the flow of goods and workers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy changes like this do not impact my daily life or work.
- Worry about national budget priorities affecting tech industry funding long-term.
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 |
Construction Contractor (Houston, Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could mean more projects for my business.
- Concerns over tight budgets affecting the overall quality of the work.
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 | 7 | 6 |
Immigration Lawyer (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might increase demand for my services due to infrastructure changes.
- Concerned about reduced pathways for asylum seekers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
College Student (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the social implications of building more barriers.
- It may provide fieldwork opportunities related to my studies.
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 |
Elementary School Principal (San Antonio, Texas)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried that state funding might shift away from education towards infrastructure.
- Long-term political implications concern me more than immediate effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $50000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The initial significant cost lies in material transfer logistics to respective state governments.
- Long-term state responsibilities in enhancing and maintaining any new border barriers.
- Potential diplomatic impacts on U.S.-Mexico relations affecting broader economic and social settings.