[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 133 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10893-S10894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CBO COST ESTIMATE--S. 1495

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, on October 11, 2000, I filed Report No. 
106-496 to accompany S. 1495, a bill to establish, wherever feasible, 
guidelines, recommendations, and regulations that promote the 
regulatory acceptance of new and revised toxicological tests that 
protect human and animal health and the environment while reducing, 
refining, or replacing animal tests and ensuring human safety and 
product effectiveness. At the time the report was filed, the estimate 
by the Congressional Budget Office was not available. I ask unanimous 
consent that a copy of the CBO estimate be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                                 Washington, DC, October 19, 2000.
     Hon. James M. Jeffords,
     Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
         Pensions, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
     prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1495, the ICCVAM 
     Authorization Act of 2000.
       If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
     pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christopher 
     J. Topoleski.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Barry B. Anderson
                                   (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
       Enclosure.
     S. 1495--ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000
       Summary: S. 1495 would designate the Interagency 
     Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative 
     Methods (ICCVAM) as a permanent standing committee 
     administered by the National Institute of Environmental 
     Health Sciences (NIEHS). The legislation would establish 
     objectives for ICCVAM, including increasing the efficiency of 
     reviewing methods of animal testing across federal agencies, 
     and reducing reliance on animal testing. In addition, the 
     bill would direct the NIEHS to establish a Scientific 
     Advisory Committee to assist the ICCVAM in making 
     recommendations.
       The bill also would require federal agencies to identify 
     and forward to ICCVAM their guidelines or regulations 
     requiring or recommending animal testing. The ICCVAM would 
     examine alternatives to traditional animal testing and 
     promote the use of those alternatives whenever possible. 
     Agencies would be required to adopt ICCVAM recommendations 
     unless such recommendations are inadequate or unsatisfactory.
       Assuming the appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO 
     estimates that implementing S. 1495 would cost $1 million in 
     2001 and $9 million over the 2001-2005 period, assuming 
     annual adjustments for inflation for those activities without 
     specified authorization levels. The five-year total would be 
     $8 million if such inflation adjustments are not made. The 
     legislation would not affect direct spending or receipts; 
     therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
       S. 1495 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
     mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
     (UMRA) and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or 
     tribal governments.
       Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
     budgetary impact of S. 1495 is shown in the following table. 
     The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 550 
     (health).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                               -----------------------------------------
                                 2000   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
 
Spending Under Current Law:
  Estimated Authorization         445    445    464    473    483    493
   Level \1\..................
  Estimated Outlays...........    384    426    443    456    466    475
Proposed Changes \2\:
  Estimated Authorization           0      2      2      2      2      2
   Level......................
  Estimated Outlays...........      0      1      2      2      2      2
Spending Under S. 1495:
  Estimated Authorization         445    457    466    475    485    495
   Level......................
  Estimated Outlays...........    384    427    445    458    468    477
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2000 level is the amount appropriated for that year for the
  agencies that would be affected by S. 1495. The 2001-2005 levels are
  CBO baseline projections, including adjustments for anticipated
  inflation.
\2\ The amounts shown reflect adjustments for anticipated inflation.
  Without such inflation adjustments, the five-year changes in
  authorization levels would total $10 million (instead of $11 million)
  and the changes in outlays would total $8 million (Instead of $9
  million).

       Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
     bill will be enacted early in fiscal year 2001 and that the 
     estimated amounts will be appropriated for each year. We also 
     assume that outlays will follow historical spending rates for 
     the NIEHS for the authorized activities. CBO based its 
     estimates on amounts spent in the past for similar types of 
     activities.
       In addition to making the ICCVAM a standing committee, the 
     bill would require federal agencies to identify and forward 
     to ICCVAM their guidelines or regulations requiring or 
     recommending animal testing. Agencies would be required to 
     adopt ICCVAM recommendations unless such recommendations are 
     inadequate or unsatisfactory. The agencies that would most 
     likely be affected by this provision include the Agency for 
     Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the Department of 
     Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of 
     Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and 
     Drug Administration, various institutes within the National 
     Institutes of Health, and any other agency that develops or 
     employs tests or test data using animals or regulates the use 
     of animals in toxicity testing. Based on information from the 
     NIH, it appears that most agencies currently comply with the 
     findings of the ICCVAM on evaluations of research methods. 
     Thus, CBO estimates that the provision would not have a 
     significant impact on federal spending.
       Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
       Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 1495 
     contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
     defined in

[[Page S10894]]

     UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or 
     tribal governments.
       Previous CBO estimate: On October 13, 2000, CBO transmitted 
     a cost estimate for H.R. 4281, an identical bill that was 
     ordered reported by the House Committee on Commerce on 
     October 5, 2000. The two estimates are identical.
       Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Christopher J. 
     Topoleski. Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: 
     Leo Lex. Impact on the Private Sector: Jennifer Bullard 
     Bowman.
       Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
     Director for Budget Analysis.

                          ____________________