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• S. Hrg. 106-415: Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant: Hearing before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations United States Senate and the House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress First Session, Special Hearing October 26, 1999

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  On October 26, 1999, the Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on Appropriations convenes to discuss and hear testimony regarding the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Submitting testimony are Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Congressman Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, Governor Paul Patton of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, David Fuller of The Chemical and Energy Workers Union, Local 5-500, Steven Markowitz, MD, of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Richard Cranson Bird, Jr., MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, David Michaels, PhD, of the Department of Energy, and several more. Chairmain Pete Domenici explains that "this morning the committee meets to consider environment, safety, and health issues associated with the operation of the Paducah uranium enrichment plant while it was operated by the Department of Energy." Senator Mitch McConnell states that "Today, the Energy and Water Subcommittee will investigate the reports of the Department of Energy's failure to properly protect the safety of the work force and the environment at the gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah. It is the goal of the subcommittee to gain a clear understanding of what has occurred, in many cases what has not occurred, and what must be done to properly accelerate cleanup, protect worker safety, and identify the health problems related to exposure to plutonium." Jim Bunning testifies that "In 1990 the Department of Energy sent a so-called tiger team to investigate reports of environmental problems at the plant. What they found was an area devastated by years of unsafe dumping, with possible radioactive wastes seeping into the drinking water supply and workers inadequately trained and protected from radioactive waste."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1999-10-26
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 623, DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015

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  "H.R. 623 would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a working group to provide guidance and best practices on the use of social media technologies, specifically during a terrorist attack or other emergency. The group would prepare guidance for the emergency preparedness and response community. The act would define the membership of the working group, which would include more than 20 experts from federal, state, local, and tribal governments along with nongovernmental organizations. The working group would be authorized to hold virtual meetings to fulfill the requirement to meet twice a year. The working group would be required to submit an annual report on emerging trends and best practices for emergency response through social media."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-05-13
• Serial No. 106-102: Impact of the Anthrax Vaccine Program on Reserve and National Guard Units: Hearing before the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations of the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, September 29, 1999

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  From the opening Statement of Chairman Christopher Shays: "The Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, AVIP, has two serious problems. Highly trained, veteran members of Reserve components, Reserve and National Guard units, are opting to leave military service, citing unresolved questions about the safety, efficacy and necessity of the anthrax vaccine program. And for those who are taking the vaccine, recent tracking data from the Department of Defense [DoD] confirms the worst fears of those who doubted the Department's ability to keep accurate medical records and comply with the FDA-mandated inoculation schedule. How many are leaving? In some Air Guard units, attrition among pilots and technicians may be as high as 30 percent. But because phase I of the AVIP has reached only a small fraction of Reserve components, DoD appears unable, or unwilling, to discern a trend. So we asked the Department, and individual service members, to discuss the impact and implications of the AVIP to date on retention, readiness, and morale. Implementation of an effective system to track personnel who receive anthrax vaccinations was one of four conditions Defense Secretary Cohen placed on the controversial program. Why? Because the lack of critical recordkeeping during Desert Shield and Desert Storm all but destroyed trust in DoD medical programs." Statements, letters, and material submitted for the record include those of the following: Charles Cragin, Paul A. Weaver, Frederick Gerber, James A. Dougherty, Thomas Heemstra, Cheryl Hansen, David A. Panzera, William Mangieri, Rod R. Blagojevich, Benjamin A. Gilman, Jack Metcalf, Janice D. Schakowsky, Christopher Shays, and Mark E. Souder.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2000
• Serial No. 106-118: The Cuban Program: Torture of American Prisoners by Cuban Agents: Hearing before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, November 4, 1999

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  On November 4, 1999, the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations convenes to discuss and hear testimony regarding "The Cuban Program: Torture of American Prisoners by Cuban Agents". Testifying are Colonel Jack Bornar of the USAF (retired), Andros Garcia of the Cuban American Veterans Association, Captain Raymond Vohden of the US Navy (Retired), Michael Benge, a civilian Economic Development Officer and Prisoner of War Historian, Rovert Jones of the DoD, Rovert Destatte of the DoD, and Congressman Mark Foley from the State of Florida. Chairman Gilman explains that "between July 1967 and August 1968 a team of interrogators, believed to be Cubans, brutally beat and tortured 19 American airmen, killing one in the prisoner of war camp known as The Zoo'" and that "Those who murdered or tortured our American servicemen are still at large somewhere, possibly in Cuba." A shockingly extensive and brutal torture regime against America servicemen is described in vivid detail. "Survivors of the Cuba Program'' have been eager to identify and trace the Cuba agents who systematically interrogated them and tortured their fellow Americans. Yet despite their efforts, a successful resolution of this matter has not been achieved. This hearing is the first of many steps aimed at changing that outcome." Testimony expands upon these stories and upon the so-far unsuccessful efforts to bring the torturers and killers to justice.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1999-11-04
• Serial No. 106-106: European Common Foreign, Security and Defense Policies--Implications for the United States and the Atlantic Alliance: Hearing before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, November 10, 1999

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  On November 10, 1999, the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations convenes to discuss and hear testimony regarding European Common Foreign, Security, and Defense Policies and their Implications for the United States and the Atlantic Alliance. Testifying are Elmar Brok of the European Parliament, Iain Duncan Smith of the British House of Commons, John Bolton of the American Enterprise Institute, Ambassador Robert Hunter of the Rand Corporation, Peter Rodman of the Nixon Center, and Dr. Simon Serfaty of Old Dominion University. Chairman Benjamin Gilman submits rhetorical questions with which to frame the debate: "Will European foreign policy be the least common denominator? Will Europeans get together mainly about the fact that they may resent American initiatives? Will Europe really develop a military force that will operate independently of NATO and the United States? Will Europe divert resources and forces away from NATO to create independent capabilities? If so, who will cover the slack created in those NATO functions, especially with European defense spending on the downturn? Will the EU discriminate against the non-EU European NATO allies?" Ranking minority member Gejdenson argues that "it is time for Europeans to take a greater role. The Europeans will hear conflicting responses from Americans. We ask them to take more of the burden and then, as soon as they do, we will be concerned about their going off on their own course." Expert witnesses testify as to European goals and actions regarding security and cooperation, as well as American policy prior and in reaction to these goals and actions.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1999-11-10
• H. Rept. 106-457: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1555, November 5, 1999

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  "The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1555), to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2000 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as detailed in this report."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1999-11-05
• U.S. Trade Policies and Agriculture Diseases: Safety, Economic, and Global Considerations: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade of the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, October 26, 1999

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  On October 26th, 1999, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade of the Committee on International Relations convenes to discuss and hear testimony regarding US trade policies and agricultural diseases. Testifying are Michael Dunn of the USDA, Benjamin Cohen of the Center of Science in the Public Interest, Craig Wheeling of Brooks Tropical, and Peter Day of Rutgers University. Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen explains that "with expanded commercial relations, there are also increasing risks and challenges which must be addressed in order for our agricultural producers to be able to compete effectively in the global marketplace." Ranking minority member Menendez submits that "the debate over GMO's and GMO products is not about the safety of the genetically modified food products, labeling requirements, or the environmental impact of transgenic crops. It is about one thing, in my view: the obstruction of market access." "The Center for Science in the Public Interest is not supportive (of the SPS Agreements), arguing that reforms to the SPS Agreements are needed to protect U.S. food safety requirements from being weakened in the name of facilitating international trade." Mr. Dunn explains how "the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS] safeguards agriculture by facilitating trade through sound, science-based regulations."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1999-10-26
• Energy Resilience: DOE's Northeast Petroleum Product Reserves

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  From the Document: "The Department of Energy (DOE) maintains two regional petroleum product reserves to reduce the impact of severe disruptions in the supply of petroleum products in the Northeast. Such disruptions could occur when extreme storms or pipeline outages limit the supply or distribution of petroleum products or dramatically increase their price. DOE established the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (NEHHOR) in 2000 after home heating oil prices nearly doubled in the winter of 1999-2000. DOE established the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR) in 2014 in the aftermath of gasoline supply issues following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. [...] NEHHOR was used following Hurricane Sandy to provide fuel for first responder vehicles when the storm shut down other supplies. This was the only time either reserve has been used. [...] This report (1) assesses the effectiveness of the existing product reserves in mitigating supply risks in the Northeast and (2) identifies the extent to which DOE has considered future risks to petroleum product supplies and the benefits of alternative federal actions to mitigate these risks."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2022-05-25
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4954, Security and Accountability for Every Port Act

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  From the Summary: "CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that H.R. 4954 would authorize the appropriation of $8.9 billion over the 2007-2011 period for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs to improve the security of U.S. ports, for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office within DHS, and for the United States Coast Guard's integrated deepwater program (IDP). In addition, the bill would specifically authorize the appropriation of an additional $881 million in 2012 for port security programs. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4954 would cost $7.4 billion over the 2007-2011 period and additional spending of more than $2 billion after 2011. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and receipts, but we estimate that any such effects would not be significant."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2006-04-28
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1486, Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2017

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  From the Summary: "H.R. 1486 would authorize the appropriation of $50 million annually for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide grants to certain nonprofit organizations to enhance security measures aimed at guarding against terrorist attacks."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2018-01-08
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1152, Wildlife Fire Safety and Transparency Act of 2007

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  "The Wildland Fire Safety and Transparency Act of 2007 is as ordered by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on May 23, 2007. S. 1152 would direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to submit an annual report regarding the wildland fire safety practices of designated agencies, such as the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The reports would provide information on policies, statistics, trends, and progress made on wildland fire safety."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2007-06-13
• Defense Management: More Reliable Cost Estimates and Further Planning Needed to Inform the Marine Corps Realignment Initiatives in the Pacific, Report to Congressional Committees

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  From the Highlights: "DOD has stated that it intends to rebalance its defense posture toward the Asia-Pacific region. Japan hosts the largest U.S. forward-operating presence in this region; the majority of the U.S. forces in Japan are located in Okinawa. The United States and Japan planned to reduce the U.S. military presence on Okinawa by relocating approximately 9,000 Marines. DOD had originally planned to move the Marines only to Guam, but revised its plans in 2012 to include other locations in the Pacific. Congressional committees have directed GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine DOD's initiatives in the Pacific, focusing on planning and costs. This report discusses the extent to which DOD has (1) developed a comprehensive cost estimate for the realignment of Marines, (2) planned for and synchronized other movements to coincide with the realignment, and (3) identified plans to sustain the force until all initiatives are implemented. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed relevant policies and procedures, reviewed and analyzed cost documents related to the realignment initiatives, interviewed DOD officials, and conducted site visits at U.S. military installations in the Pacific. […] GAO recommends that DOD develop more reliable cost estimates and an integrated master plan for the realignment of Marines, develop a mechanism to share annual updates on the status of each, and identify sustainment requirements for affected facilities until realignment initiatives are complete. DOD generally agreed with GAO's recommendations."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2013-06
• H. Rept. 106-487, Part 1: Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 1999, Report to Accompany H.R. 3244, November 22, 1999

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  From the Background and Purpose: "H.R. 3244, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 1999, is a bipartisan effort to combat the growing problem of trafficking in persons, a contemporary manifestation of slavery whose victims are predominantly women and children."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1999-11-22
• Management Report: IRS Needs to Improve Financial Reporting and Information System Controls

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  From the Document: "On November 10, 2021, we issued our auditor's report on the results of our audit of the fiscal years 2021 and 2020 financial statements of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As part of this audit, we assessed IRS's key financial reporting controls, including information system controls. As we reported in connection with our audit of IRS's fiscal years 2021 and 2020 financial statements, although certain internal controls could be improved, IRS maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2021. Those controls provided reasonable assurance that misstatements material to IRS's financial statements would be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. However, our fiscal year 2021 audit continued to identify two significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting concerning IRS's unpaid assessments and financial reporting systems. We also identified other deficiencies in IRS's internal control over financial reporting that we do not consider to be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. Nonetheless, these deficiencies warrant IRS management's attention. This report presents the new control deficiencies we identified during our fiscal year 2021 testing of IRS's internal control over financial reporting. This report also includes the results of our follow-up on the status of IRS's corrective actions to address recommendations from our prior years' reports related to internal control over financial reporting that remained open as of September 30, 2020."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2022-05-25
• Congressional Budget Cost Estimate: H.R. 1679, FEMA Accountability, Modernization and Transparency Act of 2017 [May 2, 2017]

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  "H.R. 1679 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to integrate three specific components into the agency's ongoing project to upgrade its grant management system. The bill also would direct FEMA to implement the new system incrementally. Under current law, FEMA is building a new information technology system that will streamline the application and approval process for more than 40 grants authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The new system will integrate the grants into one grant-management system, as opposed to the nine systems FEMA is currently using. FEMA expects to begin building the new system in 2018 and expects that it that will cost $105 million over a three-year period to build the system and $15 million each year thereafter to maintain. [...] Based on information provided by FEMA, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that the requirements outlined in H.R. 1679 will be met through the agency's current plans to upgrade its grants management system; therefore, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1679 would have no effect on the federal budget. Enacting H.R. 1679 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1679 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 1679 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2017-05-02
• Congressional Budget Cost Estimate: H.R. 1679, FEMA Accountability, Modernization and Transparency Act of 2017 [August 4, 2017]

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  "H.R. 1679 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to integrate three specific components into the agency's ongoing project to upgrade its grant management system. The act also would direct FEMA to implement the new system incrementally. Under current law, FEMA is building a new information technology system that will streamline the application and approval process for more than 40 grants authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The new system will integrate the grants into one grant-management system, as opposed to the nine systems FEMA is currently using. FEMA expects to begin building the new system in 2018 and expects that it that will cost $105 million over a three-year period to build the system and $15 million each year thereafter to maintain."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2017-08-04
• China Story Yearbook 2021: Contradiction

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  From the Document: "At the end of 2020, a year of multiple crises, the world breathed a (surgically masked) sigh of relief. All hoped that 2021, the Year of the Ox, would be more stable and less fraught than the wildly scurrying, disease-bearing Rat Year that was 2020. The first vaccines for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] were in production. In the United States, a new president was about to move into the White House, prompting optimism that, among other things, frictions between Washington and Beijing could be managed better. While countries like Australia, with its coal-addled leadership, still dragged the chain on climate action, the People's Republic of China (PRC) appeared to be getting serious about it, with a new Five-Year Plan giving practical shape to its goals of reaching peak carbon by 2030 and net zero by 2060. The relief was short-lived. As the year progressed, crises hardened into contradictions. Vaccines saved lives, but not enough of them got into arms around the world in time to prevent new, viciously transmissible variants from arising."

  Australian National University

  Jaivin, Linda; Klein, Esther Sunkyung, 1975-; Strange, Sharon

  2021
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2768, Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007

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  From the Summary: "The Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007, H.R. 2768 would require operators of mineral and non-mineral mines to increase worker safety measures and improve emergency preparedness. It would require the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to issue new regulations on a variety of mine safety issues, including underground refuges, mine ventilation, and communication systems. H.R. 2768 also would temporarily suspend limits on the number of mine inspectors employed by MSHA, and would call for an increase in mine inspection activities. In addition, the bill would require the agency to maintain and publish detailed maps of active and abandoned mines in the United States. The bill would also adjust the minimum and maximum civil penalties that MSHA may levy on mine operators."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2007-11-15
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2154, Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2014

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  This is a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate for S. 2154. From the Summary: "S. 2154 would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize activities intended to reduce child morbidity and mortality by improving emergency medical services for children. Those activities are supported by grants administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The bill would authorize appropriations of about $20 million in 2015 and $101 million over the 2015-2019 period. CBO estimates that implementing S. 2154 would cost $90 million over the 2015-2019 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2014-07-28
• Conspiracy Beliefs and Violent Extremist Intentions: The Contingent Effects of Self-Efficacy, Self-Control and Law-Related Morality

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  From the Abstract: "This study analyses the effects of conspiracy beliefs on violent extremist intentions. More specifically, we investigate whether the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and violent extremism depends upon individual characteristics such as varying levels of self-efficacy, self-control, and law-relevant morality. Variable interactions examine where conspiracy beliefs exert strong effects on violent extremist intentions. The analysis is based on a German nationally representative survey ('N' = 1502). To our knowledge, it is the first and only nationally representative survey carried out in violent extremism research."

  Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

  Rottweiler, Bettina; Gill, Paul

  2020-12-10?
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1953, Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2018

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  From the Summary: "S. 1953 would amend the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 and the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act. It would establish or reauthorize various programs and offices within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Judiciary concerning public safety in Indian communities. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 1953 would cost $810 million over the 2019-2023 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized and necessary amounts. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that any such effects would be insignificant. CBO estimates that enacting S. 1953 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2018-06-20
• Public Health's Use of Digital Tools During COVID-19

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  From the Document: "This brief describes decision-making amongst health agency leaders and their informatics staff as they selected and implemented digital resources to support COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic response. We also describe 'ASTHO's [Association of State and Territorial Health Officials] COVID-19 Technology & Digital Tools Inventory' as a supplement health agency leaders used in decision-making."

  Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (U.S.)

  2022-05
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 615, Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015

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  "S. 615 would establish a Congressional review process for any long-term, comprehensive agreement reached with Iran on that country's nuclear program and would require the Administration to provide several reports and certifications to the Congress if an agreement is reached. Under the bill, the Congress would have a set period to review the agreement during which the President would be barred from providing Iran additional relief from sanctions. While delaying such relief could have budgetary effects, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] has no basis for determining when or if an agreement will be reached with Iran and whether or how the President would provide additional relief from sanctions if such an agreement is reached. Therefore, CBO cannot determine whether enacting this legislation would affect the federal budget. Because enacting S. 615 could affect direct spending and revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures apply."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-04-20
• Workplace Safety and Health: Data and Enforcement Challenges Limit OSHA's Ability to Protect Workers During a Crisis, Statement of Thomas M. Costa, Director Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives

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  From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic raised concerns about OSHA's preparedness for a future crisis. OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration], within the Department of Labor, helps ensure safe and healthful worker conditions by setting mandatory standards, conducting inspections, and investigating incoming complaints and referrals, among other efforts. This testimony is based on work in GAO's October 2021 CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act report (GAO-22-105051) and January 2021 report on OSHA's injury and illness reporting requirement (GAO-21- 122). It examines OSHA's efforts regarding (1) COVID-19-related enforcement actions, (2) developing and using standards related to COVID19, and (3) obtaining injury and illness data to support its enforcement efforts. For the prior reports, GAO reviewed OSHA policies and federal laws and regulations, analyzed OSHA enforcement and employer-reported injury and illness data, and interviewed OSHA officials. For this testimony, GAO obtained updated data covering OSHA enforcement activity from February 2020 through December 2021, reviewed documentation, and interviewed OSHA officials."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Costa, Thomas

  2022-05-25
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2048, USA FREEDOM Act of 2015

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  "H.R. 2048 [Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring or USA FREEDOM Act of 2015] and the Dragnet-collection and Online Monitoring Act, would make several amendments to the investigative and surveillance authorities of the United States government, and would specify the conditions under which the federal government may conduct certain types of surveillance. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] does not provide estimates for the cost of classified programs; therefore, this estimate addresses only the unclassified aspects of the bill. Under that limitation, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2048 would cost $15 million over the 2016-2020 period, subject to the appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting H.R. 2048 also could affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. The bill could result in the collection of additional criminal penalties because it would extend the authority of the government to conduct surveillance in certain instances for four years and would establish new crimes relating to certain acts of terrorism. Such penalties are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent. CBO anticipates that any additional amounts collected under the bill would be minimal and the net impact on the deficit of any additional collections and spending would be insignificant."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-05-08
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1732, Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015

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  "H.R. 1732 would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to withdraw the proposed rule published in the 'Federal Register' on April 21, 2014, that defines the scope of waters protected by the Clean Water Act (CWA). Under the CWA, EPA and the Corps, along with the states, serve as coregulators of activities affecting the nation's waters. […] The bill would require EPA and the Corps to develop a new proposed rule, taking into account public comments submitted for the April 21, 2014, proposed rule as well as the regulatory analysis for that proposed rule and a related EPA report issued in January 2015. This legislation also would direct EPA and the Corps to consult with state and local officials, stakeholders, and other interested parties to seek consensus on which waters and wetlands are covered by the CWA. Finally, H.R. 1732 would require EPA and the Corps to prepare a report for the Congress that responds to public comments filed on the April 2014 proposed rule and associated documents and that describes how the new proposed rule addresses such comments. The report also would have to explain how the new proposed rule addresses the advice and recommendations obtained from other parties, and it would have to include a comprehensive regulatory and economic analysis of the new proposed rule."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-04-27
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 808, Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015

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  From the Summary: "S. 808 would authorize appropriations for the programs of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), establish the STB as a government agency independent of the Department of Transportation (DOT), and authorize other changes in the agency's operations. Based on information from the STB, CBO [Congressional Budget Committee] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $198 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming the appropriation of the amounts authorized and estimated to be necessary. Enacting S. 808 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. S. 808 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-04-17
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 653, Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015

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  From the Summary: "S. 653 would authorize appropriations for grants from the U.S. Geological Survey to colleges and universities to support research related to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing water treatment systems. This legislation would authorize the appropriation of $7.5 million a year through 2020 for such grants. In addition, S. 653 would authorize the appropriation of $1.5 million annually through 2020 for the Secretary of the Interior to fund additional research and to synthesize the results of research conducted by colleges and universities on interstate water issues. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Committee] estimates that implementing S. 653 would cost $43 million over the 2016-2020 period and $2 million after 2020. Because enacting S. 653 would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. S. 653 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-05-05
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 611, Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act

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  From the Summary: "S. 611 would authorize the appropriation of $15 million annually over the 2016-2020 period for the Environmental Protection Agency's program that provides technical assistance to small public water systems. The authorization for this program expired in 2003, but the program received an appropriation of $13 million for fiscal year 2015. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 611 would cost $67 million over the next five years, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to S. 611 because it would not affect direct spending or revenues. S. 611 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-05-08
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 500, Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act

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  "H.R. 500 would establish an advisory council to make recommendations to federal agencies on monitoring and combating human trafficking. The council would comprise five survivors of human trafficking and would meet at least once each year. The council members would not be considered federal employees but would receive per diem and reimbursement of travel costs for their service. The operating expenses of the council, which the CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates would total less than $500,000 annually, would be covered by an existing authorization. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 authorizes the appropriation of $2 million each year in 2016 and 2017 for Department of State activities to monitor and combat trafficking; the bill's new requirements would be similar to activities carried out under current law. CBO estimates that implementing the bill after 2017 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2018-2020 period, assuming the availability of appropriated amounts. Enacting H.R. 500 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-04-27