Description:
S. 2040 would narrow the immunity of foreign states and their employees or agents from lawsuits by victims of terrorist acts and grant U.S. district courts jurisdiction over certain terrorism-related cases. CBO estimates that implementing S. 2040 would have no significant effect on the federal budget.
Under the bill, district courts might hear additional terrorism-related cases. The Departments of Justice and State often review such cases and issue recommendations to those courts. However, based on information from both departments, CBO estimates that no additional personnel would be required to implement the bill. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no significant discretionary costs over the 2016-2021 period.
Because enacting S. 2040 could increase revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending. The Department of State collects a $2,275 fee when it provides judicial assistance to U.S. citizens in other countries. Based on information from the department, CBO estimates that those increased revenues would not be significant over the 2016-2026 period.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2040 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 2040 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.
