[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE OF COSTS--S. 1888

Mr. MURKOWSKI, Mr. President, in compliance with paragraph 11(a) of 
rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources has obtained a letter from the Congressional 
Budget Office containing an estimate of the costs of S. 1888, the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendments of 1996, as reported from 
the committee. In addition, pursuant to Public Law 104-4, the letter 
contains the opinion of the Congressional Budget Office regarding 
whether S. 1888 contains intergovernmental mandates as defined in that 
Act. I respectfully request that the opinion of the Congressional 
Budget Office be printed in the Congressional Record in its entirely.

  The opinion Follows:
                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                                    Washington, DC, June 20, 1996.
     Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman, The Congressional Budget Office has 
     reviewed S. 1888, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
     Amendments of 1996, as ordered reported by the Senate 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on June 19, 1996. 
     CBO estimates that enacting the bill would have no 
     significant impact on the federal budget. Enacting S. 1888 
     would not affect direct spending or receipts. Therefore, pay-
     as-you-go procedures would not apply to the bill.
       S. 1888 would postpone the expiration of the provisions in 
     the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) related to 
     energy emergencies from June 30, 1996, to September 30, 1996. 
     This extension would authorize the Department of Energy (DOE) 
     to continue to operate the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, 
     participate in the International Energy Agency, and conduct 
     related activities through the end of fiscal year 1996. 
     Because funds have already been appropriated for these 
     programs for all of fiscal year 1996, CBO estimates that 
     enacting this will would not have any significant impact on 
     the federal budget. Federal spending over the next three 
     months would be affected by the bill only in the event that 
     an energy emergency necessitates additional DOE expenditures 
     for actions authorized by EPCA.
       S. 1888 does not contain any intergovernmental or private-
     sector mandates as defined in Public Law. 104-4.
       If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
     pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Kathleen 
     Gramp, who can be reached at 226-2860.
           Sincerely,
                                                     James L. Blum
     (For June E. O'Neill, Director).

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