Cost Estimate for H.R. the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office for H.R. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022. The cost estimate was not available at the time of the Committee report filing. U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, June 23, 2022. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, 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. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Madeleine Fox. Sincerely, Phillip L. Swagel, Director.

Enclosure. H.R. 7174, NATIONAL COMPUTER FORENSICS INSTITUTE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF

2022, AS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY ON JUNE 17, 2022 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By fiscal year, millions of dollars-- ----------------------------------- 2022 2022-2027 2022-2032 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Direct Spending (Outlays)........... 0 0 0 Revenues............................ 0 0 0 Increase or Decrease (-) in the 0 0 0 Deficit............................ Spending Subject to Appropriation 0 227 502 (Outlays).......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? No.

Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2033? No.

Mandate Effects:

Contains intergovernmental mandate? No.

Contains private-sector mandate? No.

H.R. 7174 would reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute at the Department of Homeland Security through fiscal year 2032. The current authorization for this program expires at the end of fiscal year 2022. The bill would require the institute to update its curriculum to include investigating cybersecurity incidents, conducting forensic examinations, and using digital evidence in court. Also, the bill would require the institute to analyze how it could expand its capacity and to report to the Congress on its activities.

The Congress appropriated $43 million for the institute in 2022. Using historical spending patterns and adjusting for inflation, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 7174 would cost $227 million over the 2022-2027 period and an additional $275 million after 2027; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 750 (administration of justice). TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 7174 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By fiscal year, millions of dollars-- ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2022-2027 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Computer Forensics Institute: Estimated Authorization.................... 0 44 45 47 48 50 235 Estimated Outlays.......................... 0 38 45 47 48 50 227 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Madeleine Fox. The estimate was reviewed by Leo Lex, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

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