[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 153 (Monday, December 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      COST ESTIMATE FOR H.R. 4966

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 16, 2002

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I request that the attached cost estimate 
for H.R. 4966 be submitted for the Record under General Leave.

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                                 Washington, DC, October 15, 2002.
     Hon. James V. Hansen,
     Chairman, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
     prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4966, the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act.
       If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
     pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah 
     Reis.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Barry B. Anderson
                                   (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
       Enclosure.
     H.R. 4966--National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
         Act
       Summary: H.R. 4966 would update the organization plan for 
     the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
     and would authorize appropriations for several NOAA coastal 
     and ocean research programs and support functions. Assuming 
     appropriation of the amounts authorized for these activities, 
     CBO estimates that the agency would spend $235 million in 
     2003 and about $1.6 billion over the 2003-2007 period. 
     Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or 
     revenues.
       The bill contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined 
     in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). Certain programs 
     reauthorized by the legislation could provide grants and 
     technical assistance to state and local governments. Any 
     costs incurred by those entities as a result of participating 
     in the NOAA programs would be voluntary.
       Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
     budgetary impact of H.R. 4966 is shown in the following 
     table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget 
     function 300 (natural resources and environment). For this 
     estimate, CBO assumes that the amounts authorized by the bill 
     will be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2003 through 
     2007 and that outlays will follow historical spending 
     patterns for the authorized NOAA programs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By fiscal year, in millions of
                                                   dollars--
                                      ----------------------------------
                                        2003   2004   2005   2006   2007
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION \1\
 
Authorized level.....................    335    339    342    346    349
Estimated outlays....................    235    321    334    344    348
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ About $280 million was appropriated in fiscal year 2002 for the NOAA
  programs and activities that would be authorized by H.R. 4966. A full-
  year appropriation for 2003 has not yet been enacted for these
  programs.

       Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 4966 
     contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
     defined in UMRA. Certain programs reauthorized by the bill 
     could provide grants and technical assistance to state and 
     local governments. Any costs incurred by those entities as a 
     result of participating in the NOAA programs would be 
     voluntary.
       Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Deborah Reis; impact 
     on state, local, and tribal governments: Susan Sieg Tompkins; 
     impact on the private sector: Cecil McPherson.
       Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
     Director for Budget Analysis.

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