[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E351-E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AIR CARGO SECURITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 19, 2018

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost 
estimate for H.R. 4176, the Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018, 
prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made 
available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative 
report.

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                                   Washington, DC, March 20, 2018.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
     prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4176, the Air 
     Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018.
       If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
     pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan 
     Carroll.
           Sincerely,
                                             Keith Hall, Director.
       Enclosure.

         H.R. 4176--Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018

      As passed by the House of Representatives on March 19, 2018


                                SUMMARY

       H.R. 4176 would require the Transportation Security 
     Administration (TSA) to establish an Air Cargo Division to 
     carry out activities related to ensuring that cargo 
     transported aboard passenger aircraft does not pose a threat 
     to aviation security. The act also would require TSA to study 
     the feasibility of expanding the use of certain types of 
     explosive-detection systems to screen air cargo and initiate 
     a two-year pilot program to test such systems. H.R. 4176 also 
     would require TSA and the Government Accountability Office to 
     meet other administrative and reporting requirements related 
     to air cargo security.
       Using information from TSA, CBO estimates that implementing 
     H.R. 4176 would cost $7 million over the 2019-2022 period; 
     such spending would be subject to appropriation.
       Enacting H.R. 4176 would not affect direct spending or 
     revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
       CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4176 would not increase 
     net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
     consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
       H.R. 4176 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
     mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
     (UMRA).


                ESTIMATED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

       The estimated budgetary effect of H.R. 4176 is shown in the 
     following table. The costs of this legislation fall within 
     budget function 400 (transportation).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       2018      2019      2020      2021      2022    2018-2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
 
Estimated Authorization Level......................         0         1         3         3         0          7
Estimated Outlays..................................         0         1         3         3         0          7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           BASIS OF ESTIMATE

       CBO assumes H.R. 4176 will be enacted near the start of 
     fiscal year 2019 and that the necessary funds will be 
     appropriated each year.
       CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4176 would cost $7 
     million over the next five years--primarily for TSA to 
     initiate a two-year pilot program to test new and emerging 
     technologies to screen air cargo. Using information from TSA 
     about the cost of similar efforts, CBO estimates that the 
     pilot program would begin late in 2019 and cost $6.5 million 
     over a three-year period. Meeting other administrative and 
     reporting requirements under the act would cost about 
     $500,000, bringing total costs to $7 million over the 2019-
     2022 period.


                      PAY-AS-YOU-GO CONSIDERATIONS

       None.


           INCREASE IN LONG-TERM DIRECT SPENDING AND DEFICITS

       CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4176 would not increase 
     net spending or on-budget

[[Page E352]]

     deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods 
     beginning in 2028.


                                MANDATES

       H.R. 4176 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
     mandates as defined in UMRA.


                          ESTIMATE PREPARED BY

       Federal Costs: Megan Carroll; Mandates: Jon Sperl.


                          ESTIMATE APPROVED BY

       H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget 
     Analysis.

                          ____________________