H.R. 2329 would amend the federal judicial code to allow plaintiffs with cases against the United States to file those claims simultaneously in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (USCFC) as well as in District Court. Under current law, the USCFC is prohibited from having jurisdiction over any claim in which the plaintiff has a pending lawsuit against the United States. By allowing plaintiffs with cases that could qualify in both courts to file those suits at the same time, H.R. 2329 would increase the number of lawsuits against the United States, which would probably result in increased payments out of the Claims and Judgment Fund (a permanent, indefinite appropriation for claims and judgments against the United States).
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2329 would increase direct spending by $600 million over the 2016-2025 period; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues.
Based on information from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2329 would not have a significant effect on spending subject to appropriation.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2329 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits by $5 billion or more in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
H.R. 2329 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.
