H.R. 4698 would require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to undertake a comprehensive risk assessment of security procedures at foreign airports where nonstop flights to the United States originate and authorize the agency to donate security screening equipment to such airports. The bill also would direct TSA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to develop a plan to enhance security-related collaboration between the United States and foreign partners, require TSA to complete an assessment of TSA personnel primarily devoted to international transportation security, and authorize TSA to evaluate foreign countries’ cargo security programs.
According to TSA, many of the requirements specified in H.R. 4698 are largely consistent with current administrative policy. As a result, CBO estimates that any increased spending by TSA and GAO to meet the bill’s requirements would total less than $500,000 annually; any such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 4698 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4698 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 4698 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.
