Matthew Pickford

The 21st Century IDEA (HR 5759) would require agencies to update their websites, increase the use of electronic forms, implement the use of e-signatures, standardize information technology (IT) throughout the federal government, and improve the overall government IT experience for users. From Congressional Budget Office’s review of the current federal digital environment, it is not clear that agencies would take any extra steps to implement HR 5759 beyond those measures already under way or planned.

The Office of Government Information Services Empowerment Act (H.R. 5253) would amend the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to permit the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) to access records it needs from all agencies. (OGIS is part of the National Archives and Records Administration.) The office acts as a FOIA ombudsman, and it reviews FOIA policies and procedures and identifies steps to improve compliance with that act. CBO expects that any budgetary effects from implementing H.R.

The OPEN Government Data Act (S 2852) would direct federal agencies to publish all data they collect in an open format that can be used by any computer. Under the bill, the Office of Management and Budget would establish an inventory of all federal data sets and would direct the General Services Administration to maintain an online interface for all such data. In addition, S. 2852 would rename the Office of Electronic Government as the Office of the Federal Chief Financial Officer.

CBO expects that implementing S. 2852 would have no significant effect on spending because agencies effectively are already working to implement the requirements of the bill. CBO estimates that enacting S. 2852 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. S. 2852 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or trial governments.

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.

Congressional Budget Office estimates that enacting the Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act of 2014 (HR 3635) would have no significant effect on the federal budget.

The legislation would amend federal laws that protect the privacy of personally identifiable information collected by the government. Personally identifiable information includes any information that identifies an individual such as name, Social Security number, and medical or financial records. The legislation would prohibit an agency from deploying a new website until the agency’s Chief Information Officer certifies that all such information is safe and secure.

Existing federal websites would have 90 days following enactment of HR 3635 to comply with this requirement. The legislation also would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue policies and procedures for agencies to follow in the event of a security breach of a federal data system that contains personally identifiable information.

OMB’s “Breach Notification Policy” requires all agencies to implement a policy to safeguard personally identifiable information and to provide notification of a security breach. Because laws and policies regarding the security of personally identifiable information are already in place, CBO estimates that the cost of certifying the safety of information collected by federal websites would be less than $500,000 over the next five years.

Enacting the bill could affect direct spending by agencies not funded through annual appropriations; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. CBO estimates, however, that any net change in spending by those agencies would be negligible. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.

HR 3635 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.