Cost Estimate Clarity Act

Ben Cline

Republican · VA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2026-04-29

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would require the Congressional Budget Office to explain how their cost estimates for proposed laws might change depending on which baseline assumptions they use when doing their calculations. This would give Congress and the public a clearer picture of how different starting points affect budget projections, making it easier to understand the real financial impact of new legislation.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8570 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8570 To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to include the effects of using baseline assumptions when preparing estimates under such Act, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2026 Mr. Cline introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to include the effects of using baseline assumptions when preparing estimates under such Act, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Cost Estimate Clarity Act''. SEC. 2. EFFECT OF BASELINE ON CBO ESTIMATES. Section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 653) is amended-- (1) by striking ``The Director'' and inserting the following: ``(a) In General.--The Director''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(b) Effects of Baseline.--With respect to any estimate prepared under subsection (a), the Office shall, to the greatest extent practicable, include a description of the effects of using baseline assumptions under section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 907) on the estimate, including-- ``(1) a quantitative estimate of the difference between the estimate and the cost of the measure if baseline assumptions were not used to prepare such estimate; ``(2) which baseline assumption caused such difference; and ``(3) an explanation of any programs or provisions for which the baseline assumptions results in the estimate showing lower or no budgetary cost relative to actual expected Federal expenditures, including any instance where the baseline assumes the extension or continuation of a program, benefit, or payment rate.''. <all>

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