Description:
S. 1873 would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve the planning, documentation, and management of certain programs to acquire border security technology. The bill also would require DHS to submit a plan to the Congress to ensure that such programs comply with federal acquisition policies.
Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1873 would cost less than $500,000, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. There are ongoing efforts within DHS to carry out the actions required by the bill and improve the overall management of technology programs for border security. Because enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 1873 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
S. 1873 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
On July 24, 2015, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 1634, the Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on June 25, 2015. The two bills are similar, and CBO’s estimates of their budgetary effects are the same.
