S. 2800 would authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to construct projects to improve navigation and flood management, to mitigate storm and hurricane damages, and to restore aquatic ecosystems. The bill also would authorize the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to address deferred maintenance of Indian dams and irrigation systems. Other provisions in the bill would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist state and local governments with mitigating flood risks from aging dams and levees. Finally, the bill would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants and loans to state and local governments, public water systems, and other entities to support a wide range of water infrastructure projects and programs to improve water quality. CBO estimates that implementing S. 2800 would cost about $4.5 billion over the next five years and $6.9 billion over the 2019-2028 period, assuming appropriation of authorized and necessary amounts.
In addition, CBO estimates that enacting S. 2800 would increase direct spending by $0.4 billion over the 2019-2028 period. The staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that enacting the bill would reduce revenues by $2.6 billion over the 2019-2028 period. Because enacting the bill would affect direct spending and revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures apply.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2800 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 2029.
S. 2800 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
