CBO Scores COMPETES Reauthorization

The Congressional Budget Office has completed a cost estimate for the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (H.R. 5116).

The legislation would authorize appropriations totaling about $86 billion over the 2011-2015 period for several agencies to support scientific research, industrial innovation, and certain educational activities. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost about $65 billion over the 2011-2015 period, and about $20 billion after 2015. Enacting the legislation could increase revenues (from certain fees) and associated direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. However, CBO estimates that the net effects would be negligible for each year.

H.R. 5116 would authorize appropriations totaling nearly $44 billion over the 2011-2015 period for the National Science Foundation to carry out various activities to support basic scientific research and education.

CBO estimates that H.R. 5116 would authorize the appropriation of about $35 billion over the 2011-2015 period for the Department of Energy to carry out various activities to support scientific research and education.

H.R. 5116 also would authorize the appropriation of such sums as are necessary to reauthorize and expand certain STEM educational programs, which would support students, teachers, and researchers at secondary and post-secondary institutions and to establish the cooperative research and development fund, which would cover the federal share of research and development agreements between the federal government and nonfederal entities. Based on information from DOE and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing those programs would cost $481 million over the 2011-2015 period and $80 million after 2015.

H.R. 5116 would authorize the appropriation of almost $5.4 billion over the 2011-2015 period for programs administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Under H.R. 5116, the Office of Science and Technology Policy would be required to submit additional reports to the Congress and prepare planning documents regarding nanotechnology and networking and research on information technology.

Based on information from that office, the coordinating agencies, and the member agencies, as well as the cost of similar provisions, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would cost about $50 million over the 2011-2015 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.