Jon Sperl

The STOP CSAM Act of 2023 (S. 1199) would authorize appropriations to establish the Child Online Protection Board to adjudicate complaints against interactive computer service providers (such as Internet service providers, social media companies, and municipal broadband providers). The bill also would authorize the appropriation of funds to appoint guardians at litem (attorneys and social workers who protect child victims throughout court proceedings) and trustees who facilitate restitution payments owed to child victims.

The Ending Platform Monopolies Act (H.R. 3825) would restrict some business activities for large online platforms. Specifically, the bill would prohibit large online platforms from using their platforms to sell goods and services from other lines of business that the platform owns and operates; requires business users to purchase products or services from the platform to obtain access to or preferred placement on the platform, or operating lines of business that create of interest. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the following effects:

The Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act (HR 4374) would establish or reauthorize programs administered by the Department of Agriculture to increase broadband connectivity in rural areas and would authorize the appropriation of specific annual amounts over the 2022-2029 period. Because specific amounts are already authorized for most of the programs, this cost estimate accounts for the difference between the amounts specified in the bill and those authorized under current law. On net, H.R. 4374 would authorize the appropriation of about $42.3 billion.

The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (S. 3084) would amend current law and authorize the appropriation of about $17.3 billion over the 2017-2018 period for the operations of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Assuming appropriation of the specified and estimated amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $16.4 billion over the 2017-2021 period and $0.9 billion after 2021. CBO also estimates that enacting S. 3084 would increase direct spending by $25 million over the 2017-2026 period because enacting the legislation would authorize NIST to enter into enhanced-use leasing arrangements. Because enacting the bill would increase direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting S. 3084 would not affect revenues. CBO estimates that enacting S. 3084 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. S. 3084 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.