H.R. 4403 would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State to develop open-source software that would be designed to screen travelers by checking law enforcement databases and terrorist watch lists. The software would be shared with foreign governments and multilateral organizations. The bill would require DHS and the Department of State, within 60 days of enactment, to submit to the Congress a plan to develop and share such software.
Based on information from DHS, CBO estimates that it would cost about $2 million over the 2016-2017 period (mostly for DHS) to develop and share software as required by H.R. 4403; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Because enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4403 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 4403 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 April 8, 2016, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 4403, the Enhancing Overseas Traveler Vetting Act, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on February 2, 2016. The legislative language is identical and CBO’s estimated costs are the same for both versions of the bill.
