Bill Overview
Title: Offices of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction and Health Security Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides statutory authority for a new Office of Health Security. The CWMD office shall perform duties to coordinate and guide DHS efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear and other related emerging threats. The Office of Health Security shall have the responsibility for oversight of all medical, public health, and workforce safety matters of DHS.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: People globally susceptible to CBRN and biological threats
Estimated Size: 334000000
- The Offices of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction and Health Security Act of 2022 primarily focuses on improving the security infrastructure and health security mechanisms within the United States.
- The CWMD office's activities will influence the security measures against CBRN threats, impacting citizens potentially exposed to such threats.
- The development of a national biosurveillance system suggests impacts on public health, particularly in terms of detecting and responding to biological threats.
- DHS personnel will be directly impacted by changes in policy, workforce safety measures, and medical oversight.
- Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners collaborating with DHS will be affected due to coordination and strategic implementations stemming from this bill.
Reasoning
- The diversity of backgrounds and geographical location play an important role as they would be differentially impacted by the policy based on proximity to potential CBRN targets and level of involvement in public safety.
- The policy includes a national biosurveillance system implementation, which mainly impacts densely populated and industrial areas where such risks are higher, mildly affecting rural communities.
- Budget allocation for the first year with $250M is likely to prioritize immediate and most significant threats, with larger effects visible in long term implementation as the budget increases.
Simulated Interviews
Public Health Officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The formation of the Office of Health Security is a positive step for ensuring better coordination in health emergencies.
- I do worry about initial resource allocation and execution efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Chemical Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing the understanding and preparedness for CBRN threats is crucial given our industry’s vulnerability.
- I anticipate we might see increased inspections but hope for supportive collaboration.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Software Developer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone not directly in the field, I feel reassured by these measures.
- I would like to know more about how wide-reaching the biosurveillance will be, especially in terms of privacy.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
DHS Administrator (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The reauthorization provides much-needed structure for responding to CBRN threats.
- I expect a steep learning curve and coordination effort across multiple departments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired (Rural Montana)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy sounds important, I do not see it impacting my daily life directly.
- I am hopeful for better communication about public health threats.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Strengthening health security measures is essential, especially in urban settings with large populations.
- I am concerned about the implementation delay until real benefits are felt on the ground.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Firefighter (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will likely improve training resources and readiness.
- However, it may initially strain local budgets without visible immediate returns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Biotechnology Researcher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced biosurveillance can accelerate our research capabilities.
- Collaboration with DHS might open doors for funding but add bureaucratic layers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
College Student (Orlando, FL)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy increases internship opportunities and practical experience in my field.
- Broad awareness campaigns can make future generations more conscious of CBRN risks.
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 | 5 |
Travel Agency Manager (Miami, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Countries should adopt rigorous health security measures to protect global travelers as well.
- Stronger border controls for health threats might affect tourism but are necessary.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $275000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $330000000)
Year 3: $300000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $360000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $280000000, High: $420000000)
Year 10: $400000000 (Low: $320000000, High: $480000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- The balance between upfront costs and long-term savings will be crucial in evaluating the net fiscal impact.
- Interagency coordination could introduce complexities and potential budgetary overruns.
- Effectiveness in preventing and mitigating CBRN threats could justify the costs by potentially saving lives and reducing future incidents.