Bill Overview
Title: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023
Description: This bill provides FY2023 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for Departmental Management, Operations, Intelligence, and Oversight, including the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management; the Management Directorate; Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness; and the Office of the Inspector General. In addition, the bill provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service. The bill provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, the Science and Technology Directorate, and the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
Sponsors: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide engaged in travel, trade, migration, or are affected by national security functions
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill impacts agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which handle various critical functions including border protection, immigration enforcement, transportation security, and emergency management.
- Employees of DHS and its various agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration are directly influenced by the appropriations due to funding aspects for salaries, resources, and operations.
- The general U.S. population is indirectly affected by DHS operations that are funded through this bill, including national security, disaster response, and border security.
- Non-U.S. citizens are impacted as well, particularly in matters of immigration enforcement and border protection managed by entities like ICE and Border Patrol.
- The funding influences the capacity and efficiency of emergency response services provided by FEMA, affecting populations in potential disaster-prone areas.
- Security operations affecting travelers come under the purview of TSA, impacting both U.S. and international travelers.
Reasoning
- The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023, impacts multiple areas such as national security, immigration, transportation, and disaster response. The policy's budget will largely impact employees within DHS, as well as indirectly affect the general population through improved or diminished services in these areas.
- Given the vast reach of DHS operations, from border protection to emergency response, the policy indirectly affects all U.S. residents. However, certain groups will feel the impact more directly, such as DHS employees, people in disaster-prone areas, frequent travelers, and communities with large immigrant populations.
- The budget constraints require careful allocation of resources, primarily to maintain and improve current services without drastic enhancements. Consequently, most changes in Cantril Wellbeing Scores reflect incremental adjustments in security, efficiency, and resources rather than groundbreaking improvements.
Simulated Interviews
Border Patrol Agent (San Diego, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a border patrol agent, our workload and resource availability directly depend on DHS funding. This bill helps ensure we have the necessary tools and workforce to manage the border effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
FEMA Coordinator (Houston, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With adequate funding, FEMA can improve its preparedness and response during disasters, which makes my job both challenging and rewarding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Frequent Traveler (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the funding could improve TSA lines and overall traveler experience at airports. However, I hope it also focuses on efficiency and not just increasing security measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Coast Guard Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More funding means we can have better equipment and training to do our job effectively. It's crucial for ensuring safety and upholding law at sea.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Immigration Lawyer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill makes me concerned about increased enforcement and stricter policies that could negatively affect my clients. I hope the appropriations are used for improving processes, not just enforcement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a resident of a disaster-prone area, it's comforting to know DHS has funding for emergency preparedness and response. Hopefully, it means better support during crises.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Tech Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The bill could affect travel security screenings and border procedures. I hope it minimizes delays while maintaining safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about increased immigration enforcement and its potential impact on my students and their families. There should be a balanced approach that also supports education.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security is important, but I hope the regulatory environment won't be overly burdensome on small businesses like mine. Balanced funding use is crucial.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Public Health Official (St. Louis, MO)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding for emergency response and preparedness is vital. It directly impacts our ability to respond promptly and effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $82000000000 (Low: $80000000000, High: $84000000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
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
- Appropriations must ensure DHS operational capacities are maintained and improved where necessary, including emergent cybersecurity threats.
- Balancing thorough security measures with economic impacts is essential—overemphasis on one could negatively affect the other.