The program, which the Department of Homeland Security uses to monitor and protect federal networks, is adding more data and connections all the time. Congress enters another year without giving it official legislative authority.

As proposed in a House bill, the program would cost about $11 million per year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

CBO officials said the bulk of the costs would come from increased QIS education and research funding to the Department of Energy, NIST and NSF.

“This is an important step forward in making the FITARA Enhancement Act reality and in our efforts to realize the full potential of FITARA," Rep. Gerry Connolly, the bill's lead sponsor, told FedScoop.

Launched in 1975, the CBO serves as an independent office analyzing and "scoring" budgetary and economic issues for congressional legislation.

The Congressional Budget Office issued a cost estimate of $500 million over a five-year window for the bill by Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas.