S. 371 would amend several provisions in current law pertaining to the Department of State and related agencies, primarily affecting reporting requirements. It would reinstate a report on Tibet and expand the number of committees that receive other reports. In total, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2018-2022 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
In addition, the bill would grant the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) flexibility in restructuring its broadcasting to Cuba. The BBG indicated that it is contemplating restructuring its two Spanish-language services; however, without more specific information about those plans, CBO has no basis for estimating whether any restructuring would take place or how it could affect spending subject to appropriation. (In 2016, BBG received about $28 million for broadcasting to Cuba.)
S. 371 also would authorize the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission to accept and use gifts and donations. The receipt and spending of such contributions constitutes direct spending that CBO estimates would net each year to zero or an insignificant negative amount. Because S. 371 would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 371 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
S. 371 contains no intergovernmental or pr ivate-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affe ct the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
