CBO has released a cost estimatefor HR 7174, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2008.
The legislation would provide:
Health care benefits for eligible emergency personnel who responded to the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, and for recovery and clean-up workers following the attacks;
Health care benefits to eligible residents and others present in the part of New York City that was affected by those attacks; and
Monetary compensation to newly eligible individuals for death and physical injury claims resulting from the attacks.
In addition, the legislation would raise revenues by altering various provisions of the tax code.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 7174 would increase direct spending by just under $11 billion over the 2009-2018 period. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates that the tax provisions in the bill would increase revenues by about $11 billion over the same period. On balance, CBO and JCT estimate that the direct spending and revenue effects from enacting the legislation would reduce deficits by about $230 million over the 2009-2013 period and by $35 million over the 2009-2018 period.