Bill Overview
Title: Bring Our Heroes Home Act
Description: This bill establishes at the National Archives a collection of records that relate to the fate or status of missing Armed Forces personnel. Each government office must identify and locate such records in its possession and transmit them to the Archives. The bill establishes a temporary board to ensure and facilitate the review, transmission, and public disclosure of such records. The bill generally makes such records public, with specified exceptions.
Sponsors: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Target Audience
Population: Families and loved ones of missing Armed Forces personnel
Estimated Size: 1200000
- The bill is focused on records related to missing Armed Forces personnel, which suggests that the primary population affected are the families and loved ones of these personnel.
- There are many Armed Forces personnel listed as missing from various conflicts, including but not limited to World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other more recent conflicts.
- The population impacted globally includes families from different countries as the U.S. has participated in multi-national conflicts.
- Given that the bill deals with public disclosure of records, the affected population also includes historians, researchers, and advocacy groups interested in military records.
Reasoning
- The primary population affected by the policy are the families and loved ones of missing Armed Forces personnel. This is because the policy directly addresses the public disclosure of records related to missing military personnel, which could provide closure or new information for these families.
- Others who may be affected include researchers and historians who are interested in military history and records. They could gain more access to data that were previously inaccessible or unknown.
- There are many missing Armed Forces personnel from various conflicts, implying that related records are distributed across several government offices, making the collection and transmission a significant task.
- The policy budget suggests a moderate financial allocation, indicating that while significant, the work involved in finding, reviewing, and releasing records is resource-intensive and potentially lengthy.
- Given the potential emotional impact of discovering the fate of missing relatives, the policy could greatly impact familial wellbeing. However, the long-term effects may vary based on whether the information found provides closure or raises further questions.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Texas)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been waiting for any news about my uncle for decades. Knowing the government is prioritizing this gives me hope.
- It is a relief to know that there might be records out there, and it's not just forgotten.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Veteran Affairs Advocate (Florida)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act will help so many families finally learn what happened. It's long overdue.
- It could potentially close a painful chapter for many relatives I've worked with.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Historian (California)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to these records is crucial for understanding and educating about military history.
- These documents could unearth untold stories and new information.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Journalist (New York)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having access to these records can lead to breakthrough stories about missing servicemen.
- Stories can reach wide audiences, potentially helping more than just families.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Researcher (Illinois)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These records will be an invaluable resource for understanding the societal impact of missing servicemen.
- The long-term availability of these records is essential for continued research.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Ohio)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this brings the peace and answers we've been seeking all these years.
- It feels like there's finally a bit of momentum after so long.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Defense Analyst (Virginia)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a policy perspective, centralizing and revealing these records is a strategic move.
- This could affect global perceptions and future policy discussions.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Archivist (Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will help streamline record-keeping and provide clear guidelines for future archives.
- It's an important step for transparency and access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Family Member of Missing Personnel (Colorado)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this can finally bring some closure to our family.
- It's something we've been waiting and hoping for all our lives.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Software Developer (New Mexico)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased transparency with military records is positive for civic awareness.
- Watching from a technological standpoint, the digitization process will be interesting.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $800000, High: $1200000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Identification and categorization of records may vary widely between different government agencies, potentially leading to complex coordination requirements.
- The public disclosure of certain records might face challenges or resistance depending on their sensitivity and potential impact on national security.
- The temporary board formed for oversight will need mechanisms to ensure robust management and accountability of the process.