Description:
H.R. 4314 would require the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize and accelerate the transfer of systems to monitor travel by terrorists and foreign fighters to those countries deemed at higher risk of travel by such individuals, and to notify the Congress of those planned transfers. It also would require the Department of State to submit to the Congress a plan to increase the capacity of foreign countries to monitor such travel and to report on the efforts of foreign countries to develop that capacity. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $14 million over the 2016-2021 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts.
Enacting H.R. 4314 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4314 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
The bill would direct DHS to share with foreign governments certain technology used to screen persons who enter the United States. Based on information from DHS, CBO estimates that implementing that provision would cost about $1 million in 2016 and $14 million over the 2016-2021 period ($2 million to $3 million each year after 2016), mostly for additional personnel and contractor services.
As part of its Terrorist Interdiction Program, the Department of State has provided a monitoring system to several countries and continues to expand the distribution of that system. The department’s assistance includes software and equipment to monitor travel as well as training and maintenance. The department also meets the bill’s requirement of prioritizing the transfer of its monitoring system to high-risk countries. Based on information from the department, CBO estimates that the requirements to submit plans and reports to the Congress would cost less than $500,000 each year and over the 2016-2021 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
H.R. 4314 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.
