S. 2852 would amend the Public Health Service Act and the United States Code to authorize funding for certain activities to support national preparedness for public health emergencies (PHEs) and widespread medical emergencies, including acts of bioterrorism.
Using information from affected federal agencies, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost about $13 billion over the 2019-2023 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, included funding of about $3 billion in fiscal year 2018 for similar activities.
S. 2852 also would allow medical professionals in the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to participate in the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program, resulting in an estimated increase in direct spending of about $2 million over the 2019-2028 period. Because the bill would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting S. 2852 would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2852 would not increase net direct spending by more than $2.5 billion or on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
S. 2852 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). CBO estimates that the costs of those mandates would fall below the thresholds established in UMRA for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates ($80 million and $160 million in 2018, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation).