The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“COST ESTIMATE FOR H.R. 5633, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY INSPECTOR GENERAL TRANSPARENCY ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security was published in the in the Extensions of Remarks section section on page E145 on Feb. 11.
The Department was built out of more than 20 agencies in 2002. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lower taxes and boosting federal efficiency, argued the Department is burdened with "unneeded bureaucracy" which could be handled by other departments or standalone operations.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
COST ESTIMATE FOR H.R. 5633, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
INSPECTOR GENERAL TRANSPARENCY ACT
______
HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 11, 2022
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office for H.R. 5633, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act. The cost estimate was not available at the time of the Committee report filing.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, February 10, 2022. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5633, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lindsay Wylie.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 5633--Department of Homeland Security Inspector General
Transparency Act
As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on January 21,
2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, millions of
dollars--
--------------------------------
2022 2022-2026 2022-2031
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Spending (Outlays).............. 0 0 0
Revenues............................... 0 0 0
--------------------------------
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit 0 0 0
Spending Subject to Appropriation * 5 not
(Outlays)............................. estimated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = between zero and $500,000.
Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? No.
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2032? No.
Mandate Effects:
Contains intergovernmental mandate? No.
Contains private-sector mandate? No.
H.R. 5633 would require the Office of the Inspector General
(OIG) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to the Congress any reports substantiating violations of certain personnel policies and allegations of misconduct, fraud, or abuse within DHS involving members of the Senior Executive Service or political appointees. This requirement would apply to reports finalized on or after 30 days from the bill's enactment, and reports would need to be published on the OIG website. The bill also would require the OIG to include information regarding ongoing audits, inspections, and evaluations in its semiannual reports and submit an additional report on compliance to the Congress within one year. Finally, H.R. 5633 would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the OIG compliance report after one year.
Based on information from the OIG, CBO expects the office would need three additional employees to conduct investigations and compile reports and two additional employees to communicate with and collect information from other DHS offices. Assuming they are hired at the beginning of fiscal year 2023, CBO estimates the cost to the OIG for these employees would be about $5 million over the 2022-2026 period. Additionally, based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates the cost to GAO of producing its evaluation would be less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period. All such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lindsay Wylie. The estimate was reviewed by Leo Lex, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
