H.R. 3916 would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to transfer all authority for managing the species of fish that migrate between freshwater and saltwater to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Currently, the responsibility is shared by USFWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
In 2018, NOAA allocated appropriations totaling $140 million to support 363 agency staff who manage the affected fish populations. Those employees conduct research and monitoring, engage in interagency consultations, complete habitat conservation plans, and implement recovery actions. CBO expects that NOAA’s workforce and budget would be reduced under the bill and that any reduction in spending would be offset by a corresponding increase in USFWS spending.
Implementing H.R. 3916 could affect the federal budget if the transfer of authority affected the amount of work space necessary for one or both agencies or the number of employees needed to carry out the activities required under the ESA. However, CBO lacks sufficient information regarding how the agencies would implement the bill to determine whether such effects would result in any significant net increase or decrease in spending; any increased spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 3916 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3916 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 3916 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.