CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1646 would cost $3 million in fiscal year 2016, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Because enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 1646 would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate the potential use of small and medium sized drones to attack U.S. interests and to work with federal agencies to develop and standardize protocols for preventing such actions. The bill also would require DHS to advise state, local, and tribal governments on prevention of drone attacks and to report to the Congress on the risks of such attacks.
Based on information from DHS about the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $3 million in fiscal year 2016, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. The costs would mostly result from the additional personnel required to coordinate activities across different agencies and to communicate with law enforcement officials throughout the country.
H.R. 1646 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 tribal governments.
