Bill Overview
Title: Defense EXPORTS Act
Description: This bill provides funding to (1) develop program protection strategies for Department of Defense systems that may be exported, (2) design and incorporate exportability features into such systems during the research and development phases of such systems, and (3) integrate design features that enhance interoperability of such systems with those of friendly foreign countries.
Sponsors: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or impacted by the export and foreign acquisition of U.S. defense systems
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill focuses on exporting defense technology and supplies, indicating that defense contractors and companies involved in the manufacture and export of military systems are directly impacted.
- Countries that purchase these defense systems would be impacted, particularly their military forces.
- Technological advancements and program protection strategies might affect cybersecurity professionals and researchers in defense sectors.
- Potential for increased geopolitical influence or changes as a result of enhanced military system interoperability, affecting foreign policy professionals and analysts.
Reasoning
- The population affected by the Defense Exports Act includes defense contractors, their employees, military personnel, regulatory and compliance professionals, and communities surrounding defense hubs.
- The impact on everyday American citizens directly is relatively low, though indirectly, the policy might affect perceptions of security and foreign policy.
- The budget constraints require focusing on the population directly engaged in defense manufacturing and exports, rather than broad public engagement.
- Given the technical nature of the policy, the commonness and impact will be most significant among individuals directly working with defense systems.
Simulated Interviews
Defense Contractor Engineer (Fort Worth, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide my team with more resources for international projects.
- Ensuring interoperability might mean more work but also more job security.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Compliance Specialist (Arlington, VA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy means stricter compliance standards, which could increase workload.
- Long-term, it might streamline interactions by reducing political barriers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Researcher (California)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased funding could open up new research opportunities.
- I worry about the shifting focus towards exports rather than domestic security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Military Strategist (St. Louis, MO)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could significantly improve our military collaborations.
- However, it might strain the budget for other domestic defense needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Defense Industry Compliance Auditor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy might lead to stricter audits and more complex compliance landscapes.
- Job security could be improved as demand for auditing increases.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Software Developer (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new funding could accelerate projects I'm passionate about.
- It's exciting to be part of projects with international impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Defense Policy Analyst (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with enhancing global defense diplomacy.
- There's a risk of prioritizing exports over domestic security needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Defense Manufacturing Planner (San Diego, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy will likely bring more business and stabilize contracts.
- I worry about over-reliance on foreign economies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Community Leader (Newport News, VA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy can bring economic benefits to our community through new contracts.
- Past policy shifts have led to economic instability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Electrical Engineer (Huntsville, AL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill strengthens our global standing through enhanced system compatibility.
- I'm concerned about the pressure to cut costs and timelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $520000000 (Low: $415000000, High: $625000000)
Year 3: $540800000 (Low: $431000000, High: $651000000)
Year 5: $583488000 (Low: $465941600, High: $704268800)
Year 10: $706897855 (Low: $564182285, High: $854617425)
Year 100: $14069003749 (Low: $11255203096, High: $17082804449)
Key Considerations
- The cost estimates account for inflation-adjusted changes annually over the ten-year period.
- The policy promotes long-term investments in defense exports, which could shift focus away from other domestic defense projects temporarily.
- Long-term international collaboration could strengthen alliances and improve global security alignment.