H.R. 8683, Strategic Ports Reporting Act

October 25, 2024

Cost Estimate

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on September 24, 2024

H.R. 8683, Strategic Ports Reporting Act As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on September 24, 2024
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2025	2025-2029	2025-2034
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		1	1	1
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No

H.R. 8683 would require the Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Defense, to develop, update, and submit to the Congress a map of ports that are essential to the national security or economic interests of the United States (called strategic ports). In addition, the bill would authorize those agencies to contract with a federally funded research and development center to conduct a study on those ports. That study would identify any efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or Chinese entities to acquire or develop such ports and provide information on U.S. efforts to ensure open access and security for strategic ports. The bill would also require the Department of State to report to the Congress on that study.

Based on the cost to prepare similar studies, CBO estimates that contracting with a federally funded research and development center to satisfy the bill’s reporting requirement would cost $1 million over the 2025-2029 period. Using information provided by the Department of State, CBO estimates that satisfying the mapping requirement would cost less than $500,000. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Noah Callahan. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office