Description:
H.R. 3875 would establish the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Office in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which would consist of existing offices in DHS. The legislation also would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO), within two years of the bill’s enactment, to prepare a report to the Congress on DHS research and development programs relating to explosives and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
Based on information from the department on its current plans to consolidate the offices affected by the bill, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3875 would not significantly affect DHS spending. Based on the cost of similar reports, we estimate that it would cost GAO less than $1 million over the 2016-2017 period to prepare the report required by the bill. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Because enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3875 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
H.R. 3875 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
