S. 727 would authorize the appropriation of $230 million each year over the 2020-2024 period to eliminate or reduce violence in countries and regions affected by armed conflict. The bill would establish the Prevention and Stabilization Fund to provide economic and development assistance and would authorize the appropriation of $200 million each year over the 2020-2024 period for that purpose. In addition, the bill would authorize the appropriation of $30 million each year over the 2020-2024 period for the Complex Crises Fund. Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions of S. 727 would cost a total of $558 million over the 2020-2024 period and a total of $1,104 million over the next 10 years (see Table 1).
S. 727 would require the Government Accountability Office and the Administration to provide regular briefings and reports to the Congress. Using information about the costs of similar reports, CBO estimates that satisfying the reporting requirements in S. 727 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2019-2024 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Finally, the legislation would require the Administration to establish and implement an interagency strategy to end or prevent violence in conflict-prone areas of the world. The bill also would require the Administration to develop 10-year plans to coordinate federal efforts under the initiative in at least five countries or regions that are prone to conflict. The Department of State indicated that the interagency effort would be accomplished through its current programs.
