New Hampshire U.S. Senatorial Candidate Spending Analysis
Maggie Hassan
Net Spending per Year: $63.3 billion
Economy, Transportation, & Infrastructure
Apprenticeships: “[Hassan] will also work to expand apprenticeship opportunities … .” (source)
Cost per Year: $2.232 billion (first-year cost)
Notes: After passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- also known as the “stimulus” bill -- job spending rose to $9.9 billion in FY 2010. By FY 2016, the budget provided $7.6 billion for job training programs. There has been an effort led by the National Skills Coalition to restore funding for job training programs to 2010 levels which would boost outlays by $2.232 billion.
Broadband: “ … [I]n New Hampshire, Maggie helped launch the North Country Cell Service Initiative that combined public and private resources to help improve 4G cell and broadband service for communities in the North Country. In the Senate, Maggie will work to expand
programs like this to help ensure that every business, home and community in New
Hampshire can get connected.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: NTUF assumes Hassan would also promote broadband throughout the country, a cost estimate is unclear.
Equal Pay: “ … Maggie believes it’s critical to pass the federal Paycheck Fairness Act to help ensure that working women get the equal pay they deserve.” (source)
Cost per year: $3 million ($15 million over five years)
Notes: The Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced as H.R. 1619 and S. 862, would enhance regulations pertaining to equal pay. The text of the bill authorizes $15 million for compliance training, a grant program for negotiation skills training for girls and women, and also research, education, and outreach. NTUF assumes the outlays would occur over five years.
Minimum Wage: “Maggie supports raising the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade to $12 an hour … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: Related legislation was introduced during the 113th Congress in the form of S. 2223, the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. The bill would have gradually increased the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and indexed it to inflation in years thereafter. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determined the bill would not significantly impact federal outlays. It is unclear if this proposal would be scored similarly. In a related 2014 report, CBO noted that a minimum wage increase to $10.10 would reduce total employment by about 500,000 workers across the country. It is unclear whether this would impact outlays for unemployment benefits or other welfare programs.
National Infrastructure Bank: “Maggie also believes we should help jump-start infrastructure investment by creating a national Infrastructure Bank…” (source)
Cost per year: $5 billion ($25 billion over 5 years)
Notes: Related legislation was introduced in the form of H.R. 3337, the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2015. The text of the bill authorizes $5 billion per year in order to fund infrastructure improvement projects related to energy, the environment, transportation, and telecommunication.
Paid Leave: “[Hassan] … believes that we must take steps to help more workers access paid leave … .” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: Related legislation was introduced as S. 786, the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which would increase payroll taxes 0.2 percent in order to finance a national benefit program. Adding this new payroll tax to the Office of Management and Budget’s estimates of total social insurance program receipts for years 2017-2021 yields a revenue estimate of $11.8 billion. NTUF assumes that the program’s costs align with the new tax receipts. A related proposal introduced in Congress as H.R. 932 and S. 497, the Healthy Families Act would require certain employers to permit their employees to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. It would also require that the Commissioner of Labor Statistics and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the use of paid leave. In 2007, CBO estimated that the reporting requirements would increase outlays by $17 million over five years. It is unclear what Hassan supports to expand access to paid leave.
Regulation: “Maggie believes we need to take steps to reduce the regulatory burden on new companies such as allowing more entrepreneurs to file their taxes once during the year, instead of four separate times, as their companies are getting off the ground.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: This could lead to savings to the Internal Revenue Service’s enforcement budget, but a cost estimate is indeterminate.
Small Business - Research and Technology: “The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs enable small businesses to explore and commercialize new technologies in key STEM areas...Maggie will work to expand these successful programs… .” (source)
Cost per year: $33 million ($166 million over five years)
Notes: Related legislation has been introduced in the Senate as S. 2812, the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016, to permanently reauthorize and expand the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. In addition, the legislation would establish a new federal and state small business technology fund as well as a new regional collaborative pilot program. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal would cost $166 million over five years.
Small Business - Growth Accelerator Fund: “ She believes we should expand new programs like the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition … .” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: $3 million in funding was awarded through this program in FY 2016. It is unclear how Hassan would expand it.
Small Business - State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI): “She also believes we should sustain and grow successful programs like the State Small Business Credit Initiative … .”
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: The SSBCI was funded at $9 million in FY 2016. It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support.
Transportation Infrastructure: “Maggie supports expanding successful initiatives like the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: Between 1998 and 2012, TIFIA received approximately $600 million (approximately $40 million per year) in budget authority to provide federal loans for infrastructure programs. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015 authorizes TIFIA at $275 million in FY 2016, increasing to $300 million by FY 2020. It is unclear what funding level Hassan would support or what other initiatives similar to TIFIA, apart from the Infrastructure Bank proposal listed below, that she would also expand.
Women Entrepreneurs: “Maggie believes we need to do a better job of empowering women entrepreneurs to take the leap and start their own small businesses. … It … means increasing support for facilities that help launch women-owned businesses, such as the Center for Women’s Business Advancement at Southern New Hampshire University and the Center for Women & Enterprise’s (CWE) Women Business Center in Nashua.”
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support.
Education, Science, & Research
Child Tax Credit: “[Hassan] supports… expanding the child tax credit.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The child care tax credit is a “refundable” credit that can increase spending because it can be claimed above and beyond a filers’ income tax liability. In FY 2016 outlays for the child tax credit totaled $21.6 billion. It is unclear how much Hassan would support expanding the child care tax credit.
Debt-Free College: “In the Senate, Maggie will … work toward the goal of debt-free public college for all.” (source)
Cost per Year: $50 billion ($500 billion over ten years)
Notes: Based on Hassan’s praise of Hillary Clinton’s efforts on the campaign trail “to make college tuition more affordable,” NTUF assumes that Hassan supports Clinton’s $500 billion “debt-free” college plan to have the federal government subsidize tuition at state and community colleges.
For-Profit Colleges and Universities: “[Hassan] will support legislative efforts such as the Students Before Profits Act to help protect students from deceptive practices … .”
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Students Before Profits Act of 2015, introduced as S. 2098, would increase penalties and improve oversight for “predatory” practices by higher educational institutions. The proposal would also implement a Student Relief Fund that would be financed by penalties under the bill. A cost estimate is currently unavailable.
Head Start: “Maggie believes the federal government should work with states to improve access to high-quality pre-K through programs like Head Start and to encourage full-day kindergarten… .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2029) provided $635 million for Early Head Start for FY 2016. It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support.
Individuals with Disabilities Education - Full Funding: “Maggie will also work to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) … .” (source)
Cost per Year: $9.583 billion ($47.917 billion over five years)
Notes: Related legislation has been introduced as H.R. 551, the IDEA Full Funding Act. The bill would increase this funding from $11.6 billion to $35.6 billion FY 2025.
Pell Grants: “[Hassan will] work to expand Pell Grants … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Pell Grant program had a budget authority of $28.6 billion in FY 2016. It is unclear how much Hassan would support expanding the Pell Grant program.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM): “In the Senate, she will work to support local schools’ efforts to enhance their STEAM opportunities, including expanding programs to teach coding and computer science. She will also promote efforts to encourage girls to engage in STEM education at the same rate as boys.” (source)
Cost per year: $60 million ($120 million over two years)
Notes: STEM programs received $120 million in FY 2016, and the Administration proposes to raise it by $60 million in FY 2017. NTUF assumes Hassan would support the proposed level of funding and double the program over two years.
Student Loans - Income-based Repayment: “ ... [Hassan] will make it easier for borrowers to enroll in income-based repayment programs that cap their monthly payments and allow borrowers to pause repayments as they transition to high-need careers or start new businesses.” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: Notes: Related legislation has been introduced as S. 85, the Repay Act, to establish a simplified income-based repayment plan for federal student loans. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a cosponsor of the bill, says the “legislation is estimated to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade,” although an official cost estimate is unavailable.
Student Loans - Refinancing: “Maggie will fight to help [student loan] borrowers by allowing them to refinance their loans at today’s lower interest rates.” (source)
Cost per year: $19.333 billion ($58 billion over 3 years)
Notes: Related legislation was introduced in the 113th Congress as S. 2432, the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act. CBO estimates the bill would increase spending $58 billion over three years.
Student Entrepreneurship Competition: “[Hassan] supports launching a national student entrepreneurship competition to inspire young people … .” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: A cost estimate for the competition in currently unavailable.
Energy and the Environment
Electrical Grid: “In the Senate, Maggie will push for increased federal support for smart grid investments … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Department of Energy's Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Office (with an FY 2016 budget of $206 million) supports several programs related to the security and resiliency of the electric grid. It is unclear how much Hassan would like to increase this funding.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI): “Expand RGGI[.] … Maggie believes we should continue to promote RGGI as a model, ensure that RGGI can serve as a mechanism by which states can comply with the Clean Power Plan and expand RGGI’s reach by encouraging more states to join.”
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: RGGI is a cap-and-trade program among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is unclear whether Hassan would support a national cap-and-trade program. In 2010, CBO estimated that legislation to enact such a program would increase spending by $215.8 billion over five years.
Government Reform
Duplicative and Overlapping Programs: “Governor Hassan will...eliminat[e] and consolidat[e] duplicative and overlapping programs.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: In April, 2016, the Government Accountability Office estimated that the government took 224 actions which saved approximately $56 billion over six years in response to previous GAO reports outlining areas of waste and overlap. Only 44% of potential actions to address waste that GAO identified were completed, meaning that potential savings could be higher.
Duplicative and Overlapping Programs - Abstinence-only Education: “The Governor will also work to reduce or eliminate funding for problematic or ineffective efforts such as … abstinence-only education.” (source)
Cost per year: -$10 million (first-year savings)
Notes: A grant from the Department of Health and Human Services provides an annual $10 million for abstinence-only education. It is unclear what additional programs Hassan would work to reduce or eliminate.
Duplicative and Overlapping Programs - Tobacco Subsidies: “The Governor will also work to reduce or eliminate funding for problematic or ineffective efforts such as tobacco subsidies and abstinence-only education.” (source)
Cost per year: -$54 million (first-year savings)
Notes: Related legislation was introduced as H.R. 4710, the End Subsidies for Tobacco Act. The sponsor of the bill reported, “During the last two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided $108 million in subsidies to tobacco farmers.” It is unclear what additional programs Hassan would work to reduce or eliminate.
Health Care
Addiction - Emergency Funding: “As Senator, [Hassan’s] first priority will be securing emergency funding to fight the heroin and opioid epidemic.” (source)
Cost per year: $98 million ($491 million over five years)
Notes: Congress recently signed into law the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), to combat opioid addiction and increase spending by $72 million, and an additional $37 million in emergency funding enacted in September. Hassan has expressed support for a $600 million emergency funding proposal put forth by Senator Shaheen that was rejected in favor of the CARA. NTUF assumes the additional funding -- a boost of $491 million over the enacted amounts -- would be spent over five years.
Addiction Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery: “Governor Hassan will also work in the Senate to substantially increase annual funding for prevention, treatment and recovery programs as well as for law enforcement.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The federal government appropriated approximately $30.6 billion in FY 2016 for drug control programs that included treatment, prevention, law enforcement, interdiction, and international funding. It is unclear how much additional funding Hassan would support.
Disability Integration: “ ... [S]he will advocate for measures like the Disability Integration Act to expand access to home and community-based services for people with disabilities.” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Disability Integration Act, introduced as S. 2427, would require state and local governments, as well as insurance companies, to provide access to community-based services as an alternative to institutionalization wherever possible.
Drug Importation: “Look, there are a number of things we need to do to lower health care costs, among them… allow the importation of drugs from Canada… .”
Cost per Year: -$540 million ($-2.7 billion over five years)
Notes: In 2007, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that H.R. 380, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act to permit the importation of prescription drugs would have reduced federal spending by $5.4 billion over ten years. A more recent estimate is currently unavailable. While this may sound like a free trade proposal, this policy could have adverse impacts due to the fact that other countries have set price controls on medication. These controlled prices would essentially be imported, diverting resources from the development of new life-saving drugs.
Generic Drugs: “[Hassan] will also continue ... working to get less expensive generic drugs to market more quickly.” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: As Governor, Hassan has encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate the approval of generic alternatives. A cost estimate is indeterminate.
HIV/AIDS: “Maggie will also … support an increase in critical funding to support prevention, treatment and research in order to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: In FY 2016, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for Domestic HIV/AIDS Prevention and Research totaled $788 million. It is unclear from Hassan’s statement what level of increase she would support.
Medicaid - Institutions for Mental Disease Exclusion: “[Hassan] will work to eliminate the Institutions for Mental Diseases exclusion for substance use disorder treatment altogether.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The exclusion “prohibits the use of federal Medicaid financing for care provided to most patients in mental health and substance use disorder residential treatment facilities larger than 16 beds.” The CBO estimates that repealing the entire IMD exclusion, which limits Medicaid funding to mental health institutions which are larger in size, could cost between $40-$80 billion over ten years. Because substance use disorder (SUD) patients are only a subset of this exclusion, the cost of Hassan’s proposal would likely be lower, but a cost estimate is unavailable.
Medicare - Prescription Drug Price Negotiation: “Maggie also believes that we should take steps to protect these programs for future generations, including allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: A March 3, 2004 CBO letter to Senator Ron Wyden notes: “CBO has not estimated the effect on federal spending of authorizing the Secretary to negotiate prices for single-source drugs. The extent of any savings would depend significantly on the details of legislative language; a proposal that applied to a broader range of drugs could generate no savings or even increase federal costs. The effect on federal spending would also depend on how the Secretary would choose to exercise any new authority to negotiate prices.”
Medicare - Program Integrity: “Maggie … believes that we should take steps to protect [Medicare] for future generations, including … doing more to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in [Medicare].” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: It is unclear what steps Hassan would propose related to this. Reducing waste, fraud, and abuse could lead to savings over the long-term but would require immediate increases in spending.
Homeland Security & Law Enforcement
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: “The Governor believes it is long past time to fix our broken immigration system and pass bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform.” (source)
Cost per year: $22 billion ($110 billion over 5 years)
Notes: During the 113th Congress, the Senate passed S. 744, which would have overhauled the federal immigration system by providing a path to legal status for many current illegal aliens and authorizing additional funding for border security measures. A CBO estimate of the bill as passed by the Senate indicated it would increase mandatory spending by $89 billion over the first five years and discretionary spending by $12 billion in that same time. NTUF assumes that Hassan would support this legislation.
Cybersecurity: “[Hassan] will support...greater investment in cybersecurity … .” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support.
Equality Act: “[Hassan] will work to pass the Equality Act … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Equality Act, introduced as H.R. 3155, would aim to prevent discrimination in public places on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. It is unclear whether there would be any administrative or enforcement costs of the bill’s measures.
Gun Loophole: “The Governor supports efforts to truly close the terrorist gun loophole by preventing anyone on the terrorist watch list from buying a gun. And she strongly supports expanding criminal background checks to prevent terrorists from buying guns online or at gun shows.” (source)
Cost per year: $1 million ($5 million over five years)
Notes: Related legislation was introduced as H.R. 2380, the Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2015. The bill would give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms authority to hire up to 40 new Industry Operations Investigators to enforce the increased regulatory activities required under the Act. The salary for the new personnel would cost at least $1 million per year, excluding training and supplies.
Law Enforcement - Local: “Governor Hassan supports restoring funding for local law enforcement … ” (source)
Cost per year: $70 million (first-year cost)
Notes: The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), which promotes the practice of community policing, received $212 million in FY 2016. The COPS Office requested $282 million for FY 2017. It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would “restore.” In FY 2000, outlays reached a high of $1.4 billion, gradually receded to $227 million in 2009, and exceed $500 million from 2011-2013. NTUF assumes Hassan would, at a minimum, support the Administration’s funding increase of $70 million.
Visa Waiver Program: “The Governor believes that we must continue to strengthen the Visa Waiver Program to make the screening process more rigorous … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: Under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens of certain countries can temporarily visit the United States without a visa. It is unclear whether Hassan’s proposal would require increased federal funding.
National Defense & Foreign Affairs
Iran Sanctions: “[Hassan] will work to...extend the Iran Sanctions Act and imposing stronger sanctions in response to Iran’s ballistic missile tests” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: Related legislation was introduced as S. 1682, the Iran Sanctions Relief Oversight Act, which would extend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 for ten years through December 2026. There could be increased administrative costs, but a cost estimate is not available.
Islamic State - Intelligence: “Defeating ISIS will require better intelligence to help target our efforts, keep America a step ahead of new threats and thwart ISIS’ attempts to attack the United States and our allies.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: Intelligence funding data is classified and it is unclear what level Hassan would support.
Islamic State - Intensify Combat Efforts: “The Governor firmly believes the United States must do more to wipe ISIS off the map, including intensifying our efforts to destroy its command and control structure through air strikes and targeted special operations raids … .” (source)
Cost per year: Approximately: Indeterminate
Notes: The United States currently spends approximately $12.3 million per day fighting the Islamic State. A 2014 study by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments determined that higher-intensity air operations could cost up to $6.8 billion per year.
Islamic State - Support for Moderate Forces: “The Governor firmly believes the United States must do more to wipe ISIS off the map, including...increasing our coordination and support for moderate forces … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Obama Administration has already spent $500 million on aid to Syrian groups, and the State Department indicated to the Huffington Post that the U.S. has indirectly sent at least $365 million in military support to Iraqi Kurdistan. It is unclear how much more Hassan would support on this effort.
Israel: “The Governor supports strengthening our commitment to Israel’s security and well-being, including guaranteeing Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge and ability to defend itself, increasing funding for Iron Dome, and pushing for more effective anti-tunneling technology, as well as a strong memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Israel for U.S. aid covering the next 10 years.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The U.S. and Israel signed a 2007 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the U.S. to provide $30 billion in aid to Israel over ten years. According to DefenseNews.com, “Israel’s annual FMF under the current MoU is $3.1 billion, which is dispersed in one lump sum at the beginning of each fiscal year. Israel is required to spend all but 26.3 percent of that amount in the U.S.” Hassan has not specified how much she would “increase support” for Israel.
Russia Sanctions: “The United States must stand up to Vladimir Putin’s aggressive acts, making it clear through sanctions and other measures that Russia’s invasion of its Eastern European neighbor was unacceptable … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: A cost estimate is indeterminate. Depending on the degree of sanctions imposed, there could be administrative costs to the federal government.
Special Operations Command: “We need … [to] continu[e] to expand our Special Operations Command … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Special Operations Command (SOCOM) budget actually shrank by about $2.8 billion from FY 2015 to FY 2016. Its current budget for FY 2016 is $5.2 billion. It is unclear how much Hassan would like to see SOCOM’s budget expand.
Veterans
Education: “Maggie will also work to improve veterans’ education, … provide assistance and support for veterans on college campuses and protect and enhance G.I. benefits.” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) G.I. Bill program was funded at $13.1 billion in FY 2016. In addition, VA provided $525 million for Dependents’ Education and Training, and $815 million for books, tuition, supplies, and fees. It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support.
Homelessness: “ … [I]n the Senate [Hassan] will continue to fight to … build on New Hampshire’s efforts to end veteran homelessness.” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Administration requested a total of $1.6 billion in FY 2017 for veterans homelessness programs. It is unclear what level spending Hassan would support.
Veterans Administration (VA): “... [I]n the Senate [Hassan] will continue to fight to reform the VA, expand access to mental health care … .” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 was signed into law in 2014 to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and was projected to cost approximately $3.4 billion per year over ten years. It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support.
Social Security
Caregiver Credit: “[Hassan] will also work to enhance Social Security by ensuring that caregivers can get credit toward their Social Security benefits when they take time off or reduce working hours to care for family members.” (source)
Cost per Year: $5.403 billion ($54.025 billion over ten years)
Notes: A Caregiver Credit would provide a new Social Security benefit for individuals who leave the workforce to care for an ailing family member or to raise children. A 2009 analysis by the Urban Institute estimated that establishing a caregiver credit would increase Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) outlays by 0.5 percent over the first ten years. The Congressional Budget Office projects that outlays under OASDI will total $10.81 trillion from FY 2017-2026. A 0.5 percent increase would boost outlays by $54.03 billion over ten years, or $5.4 billion on average per year. A more recent analysis of a comprehensive caregiver credit is unavailable. In 2015, the Office of the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration estimated that a proposal (listed in the report as B7.3) to provide a credit to parents with a child under six for earnings up to five years would increase the long-range actuarial balance for OASDI by 0.23 percent.
Program Integrity: “Maggie … believes that we should take steps to protect [Social Security] for future generations, including … doing more to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in [Social Security].” (source)
Cost per year: Indeterminate
Notes: Efforts to reduce improper payments through entitlement programs could be successful, but would require initial spending increases in order to claw back savings over the long-term. For example, in the latest budget, the SSA requested $1.8 billion for program integrity efforts to reduce improper payments that occur as a result of waste, fraud, and abuse. SSA estimates that proposed integrity reforms, such as conducting full medical continuing disability reviews, would yield from $3 to $8 over ten years for each $1 spent.
Miscellaneous
Volunteering Programs: “In the Senate, she’ll continue to focus on service opportunities, working to expand programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps as well as creating new opportunities for full-time and part-time service among people of all ages and backgrounds.” (source)
Cost per Year: Indeterminate
Notes: In FY 2016, AmeriCorps was budgeted at $508 million and the Peace Corps received $410 million. It is unclear what level of funding Hassan would support, however, she does support Clinton’s $500 billion New College Compact plan (noted above), that would provide funding to increase these two programs.