S. 1915 would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to provide anthrax vaccines from the Strategic National Stockpile to first responders who volunteer to receive them. Under the bill, DHS would establish a tracking system for the vaccine and would provide educational outreach for the program. The bill would direct DHS, in coordination with HHS, to establish a pilot program in at least two states to begin providing the vaccine.
Based on information provided by DHS and HHS, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1915 would cost about $4 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.
Enacting S. 1915 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 1915 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
S. 1915 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.
On June 24, 2015, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 1300, the First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on May 20, 2015. CBO’s estimate of the budgetary effects of implementing both pieces of legislation is the same.
