H.R. 4407 would authorize the appropriation of $11.7 million for each year through 2022 for the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program. The SCORE program is run by the nonprofit SCORE Association, which receives federal funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA). That program engages volunteers to provide business mentoring and training to existing and prospective small business owners. H.R. 4407 also would require the SBA to conduct an annual financial examination of the SCORE Association, report to the Congress annually on the performance and effectiveness of the program, and review and approve contracts entered into by the association.
In 2019, the SBA allocated $11.7 million for that program. Because CBO scores continuing resolutions on an annualized basis, in 2020 CBO assumes that the SBA will allocate the same amount from funds made available under the continuing resolution (Public Law 116-59), which provided appropriations through November 21, 2019. As a result, CBO does not estimate any increase in spending subject to appropriation in 2020 because the amount the bill would authorize for 2020 is equal to the amount CBO expects would be allocated under the continuing resolution. Based on historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $23 million over the 2020-2024 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts for 2021 and 2022.
