H.R. 6378 would 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 act would cost about $11.9 billion over the 2019-2023 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. The Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 115-245), included funding of $3.1 billion in fiscal year 2019 for similar activities.
H.R. 6378 also would allow medical professionals in the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to participate in the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program. CBO estimates that provision would increase direct spending by less than $500,000 over the 2019-2028 period. Because the act would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting H.R. 6378 would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6378 would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 6378 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).