Bill Overview
Title: SAD Act
Description: This bill prohibits advertisements that use deceptive or misleading statements related to the provision of abortion services. Abortion services include (1) surgical and non-surgical procedures to terminate a pregnancy, or (2) providing referrals for such procedures. The Federal Trade Commission must promulgate rules to implement the prohibition, and the bill provides for enforcement by the commission.
Sponsors: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Target Audience
Population: Women of childbearing age seeking abortion services
Estimated Size: 65000000
- Abortion laws affect those seeking abortion services, which primarily includes women of childbearing age.
- Globally, the population of women who may seek abortion services is large, given that nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended.
- In many countries, abortion services are utilized by millions of women annually for various personal, medical, and socio-economic reasons.
- Women in countries where abortion services are legally accessible would be impacted by changes in advertising regulations as they rely on accurate information to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy is women of childbearing age seeking abortion services, which is a considerable segment of the population.
- Given that the policy focuses on improving the accuracy of information, it may primarily impact those actively seeking information about abortion services.
- The budget constraints mean that the policy will likely focus on higher-density areas where misleading advertisements are more prevalent.
- Some individuals will not be directly affected because they may not seek abortion services or rely on advertisements for information.
- The policy's success will depend significantly on effective enforcement and public awareness of false advertising.
Simulated Interviews
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm nervous about making sure I get the right information on where to go.
- I encountered many misleading websites that caused more stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Marketing Manager (Austin, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is critical; misleading information has real-world implications on health.
- I'm relieved this will help others not go through what I did with misinformation.
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 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accurate information is a fundamental right when making such decisions.
- I'm hopeful this act will reduce stress for women with unwanted pregnancies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retail Assistant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It might not impact me directly now, but I support better information outreach.
- This ensures my friends have safer, clearer options. That's comforting.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
HR Manager (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though I'm past childbearing age, I worry about my daughters facing misinformation.
- I support this policy wholeheartedly for a better societal impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
IT Specialist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always seek to ensure others get reliable information.
- This policy is a great step towards secure decision-making environments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Orlando, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's unsettling knowing false information is out there when making serious choices.
- The act sounds comforting for future decisions I may make.
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 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Journalist (Boston, MA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing the accuracy of advertised information is being checked feels like a win.
- This policy can help my work expose and correct misinformation.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graphic Designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's essential to regulate misleading ads that prey on vulnerable situations.
- Having informed consent is crucial, so this act could boost information integrity.
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 | 4 | 4 |
Secondary School Teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This isn't just about me; it's about what my students face every day.
- Accurate information is empowerment, so this policy can assist educators too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The regulatory burden on the FTC, especially in increasing oversight responsibilities.
- Potential legal challenges to regulations which could affect resource allocation and outcomes.
- Public awareness and compliance levels that can moderate actual costs over time.