H.R. 2494 would authorize the Administration to promote the efforts of foreign governments and regional entities in countering wildlife trafficking, in particular by providing technical assistance and support to park rangers and law enforcement officers. In total, and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2494 would cost $6 million over the 2016-2020 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply to this legislation because enacting the bill would affect direct spending and revenues; however, CBO estimates those effects would not be significant.
In 2014, the President issued a national strategy for combating wildlife trafficking. Several federal agencies, including the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are responsible for implementing that strategy. According to the Department of State, many of the bill’s requirements to support international enforcement efforts align with agencies’ existing responsibilities. However, the requirement to report annually on countries that are major sources, transit points, or consumers of trafficked products would impose additional costs. CBO estimates that providing that report would cost less than $500,000 each year and a total of $1 million over the 2016-2020 period; such spending would depend on the availability of appropriated funds.
In addition, the bill would authorize security assistance to counter wildlife trafficking in Africa. Such assistance could include training, communications and other equipment, and uniforms. Based on information from the Administration and the cost of similar assistance provided in recent years, CBO estimates that implementing this provision would cost $1 million a year over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts.
H.R. 2494 also would broaden the coverage of federal laws against wildlife trafficking and similar crimes. Violators of those laws could be subject to fines and forfeiture of property or assets, which are recorded as revenues in the federal budget. Under the bill’s provisions, any revenues collected by the federal government as a result of the broadened coverage would be transferred, to the extent practicable, from the Department of the Treasury to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund administered by the Department of the Interior. Those amounts could be spent without further appropriation and would thus be considered direct spending. CBO estimates that both the revenue and direct spending effects would not be significant because those provisions would probably affect only a small number of cases.
