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BUILDING BACK BETTER
Under the President’s leadership, America is the coming years. This year’s Budget gives a full
getting back on track. We have begun turning accounting of the first, critical steps our Nation
the tide on the pandemic. Our economy is grow- must take to begin the work of building back
ing and creating jobs. Students are getting back better.
into classrooms. And we have shown yet again
there is no quit in America. But our work has The American Jobs Plan
only begun.
The Budget begins with the American Jobs
For all of the hard-won progress our Nation Plan—an investment in America that would cre-
has made in recent months, we cannot afford to ate millions of good jobs, rebuild the Nation’s in-
simply return to the way things were before the frastructure, and position the United States to
pandemic and economic downturn, with the old out-compete China. Public domestic investment
economy’s structural weaknesses and inequities as a share of the economy has fallen by more
still in place. We must seize this moment to rei- than 40 percent since the 1960s. The American
magine and rebuild a new American economy— Jobs Plan would invest in America in a way that
an economy that invests in the promise and po- has not occurred since the interstate highways
tential of every single American; that leaves no were built and the Space Race was won.
one out and no one behind; and that makes it
easier for families to break into the middle class The United States is the wealthiest Nation in
and stay in the middle class. the world, yet ranks 13th when it comes to the
overall quality of the Nation’s infrastructure.
The Budget details the President’s proposals After decades of disinvestment, America’s roads,
to advance that agenda this year. It includes bridges, and water systems are crumbling. The
the two historic plans the President has already electric grid is vulnerable to catastrophic out-
put forward—the American Jobs Plan and the ages. Too many lack access to affordable, high-
American Families Plan—and outlines a pack- speed internet and to quality housing. The past
age of discretionary proposals to help restore year has led to job losses and threatened econom-
core functions of Government and reinvest in ic security, eroding more than 30 years of prog-
the foundations of the Nation’s strength. It also ress in women’s labor force participation. It has
calls on the Congress to reduce prescription drug unmasked the fragility of America’s caregiving
costs and expand and improve health coverage. infrastructure. In addition, the Nation is falling
Enacting the Budget policies into law this year behind its biggest competitors in research and
would strengthen our Nation’s economy and development (R&D), manufacturing, and train-
lay the foundation for shared prosperity, while ing. It has never been more important to invest
also putting the Nation on a sound fiscal course. in strengthening the Nation’s infrastructure and
Importantly, even as the Administration pur- competitiveness, and in creating the good-pay-
sues this historic agenda, the President also be- ing, union jobs of the future.
lieves that there will be more to accomplish in
910 Building Back Better
As with great projects of the past, the Builds, Preserves, and Retrofits More
President’s plan would unify and mobilize the than Two Million Homes and Commercial
Nation to meet the great challenges of our time: Buildings, Modernizes the Nation’s Schools
the climate crisis and the ambitions of an auto- and Child Care Facilities, and Upgrades
cratic China. It would invest in Americans and Veterans’ Hospitals and Federal Buildings.
deliver the jobs and opportunities they deserve. The President’s plan would create good jobs by
Unlike past major investments, the plan priori- building, rehabilitating, and retrofitting afford-
tizes addressing long-standing and persistent able, accessible, energy efficient, and resilient
racial injustice. The plan targets 40 percent of housing, commercial buildings, schools, and child
the benefits of climate and clean infrastructure care facilities all over the Nation while also vast-
investments to disadvantaged communities. In ly improving the Nation’s Federal facilities, espe-
addition, the plan invests in rural communities cially those that serve veterans.
and communities impacted by the market-based
transition to clean energy. Specifically, the Solidifies the Infrastructure of America’s
President’s plan: Care Economy by Creating Jobs and Raising
Wages and Benefits for Essential Home Care
Fixes Highways, Rebuilds Bridges, and Workers. These workers—the majority of whom
Upgrades Ports, Airports, and Transit are women of color—have been underpaid and
Systems. The President’s plan would: modern- undervalued for too long. The President’s plan
ize 20,000 miles of highways, roads, and main- makes substantial investments in the infrastruc-
streets; fix the 10 most economically significant ture of America’s care economy, starting by creat-
bridges in the Nation in need of reconstruction; ing new and better jobs for caregiving workers. It
repair the worst 10,000 smaller bridges, provid- would provide home and community-based care
ing critical linkages to communities; replace for individuals who otherwise would need to wait
thousands of buses and rail cars; repair hundreds as many as five years to get the services they
of stations; renew airports; modernize ports of badly need. The President also looks forward to
entry; and expand transit and rail into new working with the Congress on other policies to
communities. improve economic security and access to health-
care for seniors and people with disabilities.
Delivers Clean Drinking Water, a Renewed
Electric Grid, and High-Speed Broadband Revitalizes Manufacturing, Secures U.S.
to All Americans. The President’s plan would Supply Chains, Invests in R&D, and Trains
eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in Americans for the Jobs of the Future. The
drinking water systems, improving the health of President’s plan would ensure that the best, di-
the Nation’s children and communities of color. verse minds in America are put to work creat-
It would put hundreds of thousands of people to ing the innovations of the future while creat-
work laying thousands of miles of transmission ing hundreds of thousands of quality jobs today.
lines and capping hundreds of thousands of or- American workers would build and make things
phan oil and gas wells and abandoned mines. It in every part of the Nation, and they would be
would also bring affordable, reliable, high-speed trained for well-paying, middle-class jobs using
broadband to every household, including the evidence-based approaches such as sector-based
more than 35 percent of rural families who lack training and registered apprenticeships.
access to broadband infrastructure, the millions
of families paying too much for broadband, and Creates Good-Quality Jobs that Pay
the millions of low-income and marginalized com- Prevailing Wages in Safe and Healthy
munities left behind by digital redlining and the Workplaces while Ensuring Workers Have
digital divide. a Free and Fair Choice to Organize, Join aBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 11
Union, and Bargain Collectively with Their premiums; and continue the historic reductions
Employers. To ensure that American taxpayers’ in child poverty in the American Rescue Plan Act
dollars benefit working families and their com- of 2021 (American Rescue Plan). Together, these
munities, and not multinational corporations or plans reinvest in the future of the American econ-
foreign governments, the plan requires that goods omy and American workers and would help the
and materials are made in America and shipped Nation out-compete China and other countries
on U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed vessels. The plan also around the world. Specifically, the President’s
would ensure that Americans, especially those American Families Plan:
who have endured systemic discrimination and
exclusion for generations, finally have a fair shot Adds at Least Four Years of Free Edu-
at obtaining good-paying jobs with: a choice cation. Investing in education is a down pay-
to join a union; higher and equal pay; safe and ment on the future of America. As access to high
healthy workplaces; and workplaces free from school became more widely available at the turn
racial, gender, and other forms of discrimination of the 20th Century, it made America the best-
and harassment. educated and best-prepared Nation in the world.
Yet, everyone knows that 12 years is not enough
Restructures the Corporate Tax Code today. The American Families Plan would make
to Ensure that Wealthy Corporations Pay transformational investments from early child-
Their Fair Share and Invest Here at Home. hood to postsecondary education so that all chil-
Alongside the American Jobs Plan, the President dren and young people are able to grow, learn,
has put forward a Made in America tax plan that and gain the skills they need to succeed. It would
would reward investment at home, stop profit provide universal access to high-quality pre-
shifting, and ensure other nations would not gain school to all three- and four-year-olds, led by a
a competitive edge by becoming tax havens. The well-trained and well-compensated workforce. It
key components of the Made in America tax plan would provide Americans two years of free com-
include a 28-percent corporate tax rate and a munity college. It would invest in making col-
global minimum tax alongside a strong incentive lege more affordable for low- and middle-income
for other countries to enact reasonable minimum students, including students at Historically
taxes as well. The plan also includes measures Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal
to prevent corporate inversions and offshoring, Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-
as well as a new minimum tax on corporate book Serving Institutions (MSIs) such as Hispanic-
income to ensure that massive, profitable com- Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Asian American
panies can no longer get away with paying no and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving
Federal income tax. In addition, the plan also Institutions. It would also invest in America’s
eliminates tax preferences for fossil fuels. This teachers and students, improving teacher train-
is a generational opportunity to fundamentally ing and support so that schools become engines of
shift how countries around the world tax corpo- growth at every level.
rations so that big corporations cannot escape or
eliminate the taxes they owe by offshoring jobs Provides Direct Support to Children and
and profits. Families. The Nation is strongest when every-
one has the opportunity to join the workforce and
The American Families Plan contribute to the economy. However, many work-
ers struggle to both hold a full-time job and care
To complement the American Jobs Plan and for themselves and their families. The American
help extend the benefits of economic growth Families Plan would provide direct support to
to all Americans, the Budget also includes the families to ensure that low- and middle-income
American Families Plan—a historic investment families spend no more than seven percent of
to: help families cover the basic expenses that so their income on child care, and that the child care
many struggle with now; lower health insurance they access is of high-quality and provided by a12 Building Back Better
well-trained and well-compensated child care producing a larger, more productive, and healthi-
workforce. It would also provide direct support to er workforce on a sustained basis, and generating
workers and families by creating a national com- savings to States and the Federal Government.
prehensive paid family and medical leave pro- A recent review indicates that every dollar in-
gram that would bring the American system in vested in early childhood programs resulted in
line with competitor nations that offer paid leave an estimated range of $2.50 to $10.80 in benefits
programs. A comprehensive paid family and med- as children grew up healthier, were more likely
ical leave program would allow workers to take to graduate high school and college, and earned
the time they need to bond with a new child, to more as adults. A 2020 study by Nobel Laureate
care for their own serious illness, and to care for a James Heckman found that every dollar invested
seriously ill loved one. The system would also al- in a high-quality, birth until age five program for
low people to manage their health and the health the most economically disadvantaged children re-
of their families. The plan would also make in- sulted in $7.30 in benefits. Paid leave has been
vestments to improve maternal health and pro- shown to keep mothers in the workforce, increas-
vide critical nutrition assistance to families who ing labor force participation and boosting econom-
need it most and expand access to healthy meals ic growth. In addition, sustained tax credits for
to the Nation’s students—dramatically reducing families with children have been found to yield a
childhood hunger. lifetime of benefits, ranging from higher educa-
tional attainment to higher lifetime earnings.
Extends Tax Cuts for Families with Chil-
dren and American Workers. While the Supports Tax Reform that Rewards Work—
American Rescue Plan provided critical help to Not Wealth. The American Families Plan also
hundreds of millions of Americans, too many fam- includes commonsense reforms to the income tax
ilies and workers feel the squeeze of too-low wag- code that would rebalance the tax system away
es and the high costs of meeting their basic needs from special preferences for wealth and toward
and aspirations. At the same time, the wealthi- fair treatment regardless of the type of income.
est Americans continue to get further and further The President’s tax agenda would not only re-
ahead. The American Families Plan would ex- verse some of the biggest 2017 tax law giveaways,
tend key tax cuts in the American Rescue Plan but would reform the tax code so that the wealthy
that benefit lower- and middle-income workers have to play by the same rules as everyone else.
and families, including the expansions of the It would ensure that high-income Americans pay
Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the tax they owe under the law—ending the un-
and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. In fair system of enforcement that collects almost
addition to making it easier for families to make all taxes due on wages, while regularly collecting
ends meet, tax credits for working families have a smaller share of business and capital income.
been shown to boost child academic and economic The plan would also eliminate long-standing loop-
performance over time. The American Families holes, including lower taxes on capital gains and
Plan would also extend the expanded health in- dividends for the wealthy, which reward wealth
surance tax credits in the American Rescue Plan. over work. Importantly, these reforms would also
These credits are providing premium relief that rein in the ways that the tax code widens racial
is lowering health insurance costs by an aver- disparities in income and wealth.
age of $50 per person per month for more than
nine million people, and would enable millions of Reinvesting in the Foundations of the
uninsured people to gain coverage. Nation’s Strength
Leading economic research has shown that the The American Jobs Plan and the American
investments proposed in the American Families Families Plan represent once-in-a-generation in-
Plan would yield significant economic returns— vestments in the Nation’s future that would cre-
boosting productivity and economic growth, ate jobs, grow the middle class, and expand theBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 13
benefits of economic growth to all Americans. To depends on helping communities transition to a
truly build back better, the Nation must also be- cleaner future. Instead of investing in climate
gin to reinvest in core functions of Government science and technology at the Environmental
and the foundations of the Nation’s strength— Protection Agency (EPA), funding has been re-
and that is exactly what the Budget does. duced by 27 percent since 2010, adjusted for
inflation.
Over the past decade, due in large measure to
overly restrictive budget caps, the Nation signifi- The President believes now is the time to be-
cantly underinvested in crucial public services, gin reversing this trend—and the expiration of
benefits, and protections. Since 2010, non-defense nearly a decade of budget caps presents a unique
discretionary funding has shrunk significantly as opportunity to do so. That is why the Budget in-
a share of the economy. cludes targeted discretionary investments across
a range of key areas—from improving America’s
The consequences of this broad disinvestment public health infrastructure and improving edu-
are plain to see. Anticipating, preparing for, and cation, to tackling the climate crisis and foster-
fighting a global pandemic requires a robust ing economic growth and security, to restoring
public health infrastructure. Yet, going into the America’s global standing and confronting 21st
COVID-19 pandemic, funding for the Centers Century security challenges.
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was
10 percent lower than a decade ago, adjusted Overall, the Budget would restore non-defense
for inflation. Creating an economy that works discretionary funding to 3.3 percent of Gross
for everyone—including rural, urban, and tribal Domestic Product, roughly equal to the histori-
communities—requires investments in work- cal average over the last 30 years, while provid-
ing families who drive growth and prosperity. ing robust funding for national defense as well as
However, the Government has chronically under- for other instruments of national power—includ-
invested in crucial programs such as Head Start, ing diplomacy, development, and economic state-
which serves 95,000 fewer children today than it craft—that enhance the effectiveness of national
did a decade ago. Responding to the climate crisis defense spending and promote national security.
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY
The American Jobs Plan and the American in education is both a moral and economic im-
Families Plan would boost worker productivity, perative. That is why the Budget proposes a his-
invest in American ingenuity, create good-paying toric $36.5 billion investment in Title I grants, a
jobs, and provide real opportunity and security $20 billion increase from the 2021 enacted level.
for millions of families. Those plans are comple- This investment would provide under-resourced
mented by the Budget’s additional foundational schools with the funding needed to deliver a
investments. Together, this suite of policies would high-quality education to all of their students
contribute to a stronger, more inclusive economy by ensuring teachers at Title I schools are paid
over the long term by: advancing economic digni- competitively, providing equitable access to a rig-
ty, equity, and security for all Americans; expand- orous curriculum, increasing access to preschool,
ing opportunity; and creating good-paying jobs. and providing meaningful incentives for States to
examine and address inequalities in school fund-
Improving Education ing systems.
Makes Historic Investments in High-Pov- Expands Access to Affordable Early Child
erty Schools. Addressing entrenched disparities Care and Learning. To lay the foundation for14 Building Back Better
the major long-term investments in the American Increases Pell Grants and Expands
Families Plan, the Budget includes $7.4 billion Institutional and Student Supports. The
for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Budget provides discretionary funding to increase
an increase of $1.5 billion from the 2021 enacted the maximum Pell Grant by $400—the largest
level, to expand access to quality, affordable child one-time increase since 2009. This increase, to-
care for families across the Nation, as well as an gether with the $1,475 Pell Grant increase in
$11.9 billion investment in Head Start, a $1.2 bil- the American Families Plan, represents a signifi-
lion increase, which would ensure more children cant first step to deliver on the President’s goal
start kindergarten ready to learn on day one. to double the grant. The Budget also increases
The Administration would also work with States discretionary funding, and provides funding first
to ensure that these resources support increased proposed under the American Families Plan, to
wages for early educators and family child care expand institutional and student supports at
providers, the majority of whom are women of community colleges, HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs.
color. The Administration also looks forward to work-
ing with the Congress on changes to the Higher
Boosts Support for Children with Dis- Education Act of 1965 that ease the burden of
abilities. To ensure that children with disabili- student debt, including through improvements to
ties have the opportunity to thrive, the Budget the Income Driven Repayment and Public Service
includes $16 billion, a $2.7 billion increase from Loan Forgiveness programs.
the 2021 enacted level, for Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants that Advancing Dignity, Equity, and Security
would support special education and related ser-
vices for more than 7.6 million preschool through Expands Opportunities for Minority-Owned
grade 12 students. This is a significant first step Businesses. To help address longstanding ra-
toward fully funding IDEA. The Budget also pro- cial inequity and eliminate barriers for minori-
vides $732 million for early intervention services ty-owned firms, the Budget includes $70 million,
for infants and toddlers with disabilities or de- an increase of $22 million, to fund investments
lays, funding services that have a proven record in economic development grants and research
of improving academic and developmental out- to ensure policies effectively support the minor-
comes. The $250 million increase for early inter- ity business community. In addition, the Budget
vention services would be paired with reforms to provides $330 million, an increase of 22.2 percent
expand access to these services for underserved above the 2021 enacted level, to support ex-
children, including children of color and children panding the role of Community Development
from low-income families. Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which offer loans
to start-ups and small businesses to promote the
Prioritizes the Physical and Mental production of affordable housing and community
Well-Being of Students. Recognizing the revitalization projects. This investment builds on
profound effect of physical and mental health an unprecedented level of support for the CDFI
on academic achievement, the Budget provides industry in 2021, including more than $3 billion
$1 billion in addition to the resources in the in direct funding, $9 billion for investments in
American Rescue Plan, to increase the number depository and credit union CDFIs and Minority
of counselors, nurses, and mental health profes- Depository Institutions, and provisions in the
sionals in schools. In addition, the Budget pro- American Rescue Plan encouraging CDFI par-
vides $443 million for Full Service Community ticipation in the $10 billion State Small Business
Schools, which play a critical role in provid- Credit Initiative.
ing comprehensive wrap-around services to
students and their families, from afterschool Increases Rural Outreach and Connec-
programs, to adult education opportunities, to tivity. The Budget provides $32 million for a
health and nutrition services. renewed and expanded initiative, StrikeForce, toBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 15
help people in high poverty rural communities The Administration is also committed to ending
tap into Federal resources. The Budget also pro- the abusive practice of misclassifying employees
vides an increase of $65 million from the 2021 en- as independent contractors, which deprives these
acted level for the Rural e-Connectivity Program workers of critical protections and benefits. In
“Reconnect” for rural broadband. The Budget also addition to including funding in the Budget for
includes $318 million for regional commissions, stronger enforcement, the Administration in-
which provide economic development assistance tends to work with the Congress to develop com-
in distressed, rural communities through infra- prehensive legislation to strengthen and extend
structure investments, workforce development, protections against misclassification across ap-
and other activities. propriate Federal statutes.
Spurs Infrastructure Modernization and Strengthens the Unemployment Insur-
Rehabilitation in Marginalized Com- ance System. The COVID-19 pandemic trig-
munities. The Budget provides $3.8 billion gered an economic crisis that has left millions
for the Community Development Block Grant of Americans relying on unemployment insur-
program, which includes a targeted increase of ance and exposed major flaws and gaps in how
$295 million for the modernization and reha- the system is administered. To correct for these
bilitation of public infrastructure and facilities, weaknesses and address chronic delays, the
such as recreational centers and commercial cor- Budget includes significant support to modern-
ridor improvements, in historically underfunded ize and improve States’ administration of the
and marginalized communities facing persistent program and to help unemployed workers return
poverty. to work, building on investments included in the
American Rescue Plan and setting the stage for
Supports Transportation Equity. The broad changes to modernize the program. This
Budget includes significant funding for major includes reforming the unemployment insurance
discretionary competitive grant programs, in- system so it provides adequate benefits in every
cluding Rebuilding American Infrastructure State, automatically responds to downturns, re-
with Sustainability and Equity transit Capital flects the modern economy and labor force, uses
Investment Grants, and Port Infrastructure more equitable and progressive financing mecha-
Development grants. In addition, the Budget in- nisms, and provides expanded reemployment ser-
vests in rail as a down-payment to the President’s vices. Reform must also ensure that unemploy-
commitment to passenger rail. The Budget ment insurance benefits are both more accessible
also proposes $110 million for a new Thriving and less vulnerable to fraud, including from so-
Communities initiative, which would foster trans- phisticated criminal rings.
portation equity by providing capacity build-
ing grants to underserved communities. These Advances Equity in Child Welfare. The
programs would ensure that more communities Budget proposes $100 million in new competitive
have cleaner, robust, and affordable transporta- grants to advance racial equity in the child wel-
tion options, including high-quality transit, eq- fare system and reduce unnecessary child remov-
uitable transit-oriented development, and other als. The Budget also increases funding for State
enhancements to improve neighborhood quality and local child abuse prevention programs by over
of life and address climate change. 30 percent compared to the 2021 enacted level.
The Administration is also interested in working
Ensures Workers’ Health, Safety, and with the Congress to enact further child welfare
Rights Are Protected. The Budget provides in- reforms that advance equity, improve children’s
creased funding to the worker protection agencies well-being, and ensure all children, birth fami-
in the Department of Labor to ensure workers are lies, and prospective kinship, foster, and adoptive
treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. parents are served equitably and with dignity.16 Building Back Better
Expanding Housing Opportunity and Invests in Affordable Housing in Tribal
Reducing the Racial Wealth Gap Communities. Native Americans are seven
times more likely to live in overcrowded condi-
Extends Housing Vouchers to 200,000 tions and five times more likely to have plumb-
More Families. At a time when millions of fami- ing, kitchen, or heating problems than all U.S.
lies are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage, households. The Budget helps address the poor
the Budget proposes to provide $30.4 billion for housing conditions in tribal areas by providing
Housing Choice Vouchers, expanding vital hous- $900 million to fund tribal efforts to expand af-
ing assistance to 200,000 more families with a fo- fordable housing, improve housing conditions and
cus on those who are homeless or fleeing domestic infrastructure, and increase economic opportuni-
violence. The President looks forward to working ties for low-income families.
with the Congress to build on this investment and
achieve the long-term goal of providing housing Creating Jobs and Growth—Now and
vouchers to all eligible households, while increas- for the Future
ing the program’s impact on equity and poverty
alleviation. Supports a Future Made in America. The
President is committed to ensuring the future
Accelerates Efforts to End Homelessness. is made in America by all of America’s workers.
The Budget builds on important provisions in- The American Jobs Plan proposes transformative
cluded in the American Rescue Plan by providing new funding for manufacturing programs at the
a $500 million increase for Homeless Assistance National Institute of Standards and Technology
Grants to support more than 100,000 house- (NIST), and the Budget complements those invest-
holds—including survivors of domestic violence ments with additional discretionary funding, en-
and homeless youth, helping prevent and reduce abling the establishment of two new Manufacturing
homelessness. Innovation Institutes, in addition to institutes pre-
viously launched by the Departments of Defense
Enhances Household Mobility and Neigh- (DOD) and Energy (DOE). The Budget also nearly
borhood Choice. In addition to expanding doubles funding for the Manufacturing Extension
the Housing Choice Voucher program to serve Partnership to boost the competitiveness of small
200,000 more families, the Budget includes and medium manufacturers.
funding for mobility-related supportive services
to provide low-income families who live in con- Renews America’s Commitment to R&D.
centrated areas of poverty with greater options The Budget proposes historic increases in
to move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods. funding for foundational R&D across a range
of scientific agencies—including the National
Supports Access to Homeownership and Science Foundation (NSF), the National
Pandemic Relief. The Budget supports access Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
to homeownership for underserved borrowers DOE, NIST, and others—to help spur innova-
through the Federal Housing Administration’s tion across the economy and renew America’s
(FHA) mortgage insurance programs. FHA is global leadership. These investments would:
a crucial source of mortgage financing for first- accelerate discoveries that would transform
time and minority homebuyers, who accounted America’s understanding of the solar system
for 83 percent and 37 percent, respectively, of and universe; launch the next generation of sat-
FHA home purchase loans in 2020. In addition, ellites to study and improve life on Earth; and
through its expanded and streamlined loss miti- support upgrades to cutting-edge scientific user
gation program, FHA continues to provide urgent facilities at DOE national laboratories to build
relief to homeowners suffering financially due to climate and clean energy research programs
the COVID-19 pandemic. and train the next generation of scientists at
HBCUs and MSIs. This funding, combinedBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 17
with the investments proposed as part of the Promotes State and Local Efforts to Pre-
American Jobs Plan, would firmly reestablish vent and Redress Housing Discrimination.
the United States as a global leader in R&D. The Budget provides $85 million in grants to
support State and local fair housing enforcement
Committing to Criminal Justice Reform organizations and to further education, outreach,
and Redressing Longstanding Injustice and training on rights and responsibilities under
Federal fair housing laws. The Budget also in-
Reforms the Federal Criminal Justice vests in the Department of Housing and Urban
System. The Budget supports key investments Development (HUD) staff and operations ca-
in First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) implementation, pacity to deliver on the President’s housing pri-
advancing the provision of high-quality sub- orities, including commitments outlined in the
stance use disorder treatment, reentry services, Presidential Memorandum on Redressing Our
and recidivism reduction programming. Building Nation’s and the Federal Government’s History
on the bipartisan FSA, the Budget also incorpo- of Discriminatory Housing Practices and Policies.
rates savings from prison population reduction
measures that prioritize incarceration alterna- Makes Major Investments in Environ-
tives for low-risk offenders. mental Justice. For decades, low-income and
marginalized communities have been overbur-
Invests in Community Policing, Police dened with air pollution and other environ-
Reform, and Other Efforts to Address mental hazards. The Budget includes a 44-per-
Systemic Inequities. The Administration will cent increase in funding for EPA’s Brownfields
take bold action to root out systemic inequities program, which would enable States to clean
in the Nation’s justice system. In addition to up contaminated properties and assist them in
investing in programs that support community- turning idle properties into hubs for economic
oriented policing and practices, the Budget also revitalization. The Budget provides $400 mil-
proposes to expand grants that support efforts to lion for HUD’s Lead Hazard and Healthy
reform State and local criminal justice systems, Homes grants, which enable State and local
including funding to support juvenile justice governments and nonprofits to reduce lead-
programs, drug courts and alternative court pro- based paint and other health hazards in the
grams, public defenders, and Second Chance Act homes of low-income families with young
of 2007 programs. children. The Budget provides $5 million to
the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow the
Invests in Civil Rights Offices across Environment and Natural Resources Division
Government. The Budget supports signifi- to increase affirmative casework related to en-
cant increases for civil rights offices and activi- vironmental justice.
ties across Federal agencies to ensure that the
Nation’s laws are enforced fairly and equitably.
INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
The United States faces no more urgent task reopen schools. The Budget builds on this founda-
than defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. That tion by proposing investments to build a healthier,
is why the American Rescue Plan included vital more resilient Nation over the long term, including
funding to set up community vaccination sites na- funding to ensure the Nation is better positioned
tionwide, scale up testing and tracing, reduce sup- to prevent and respond to future public health cri-
ply shortage problems, support community health ses, help defeat other diseases and epidemics, and
centers, address health disparities, and safely invest in cutting-edge medical research.18 Building Back Better
Strengthening Public Health Infra- The Budget also provides a significant increase in
structure and Meeting Crisis-Related funding at the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) for domestic violence shelters
Needs
and community-based programs, hotlines, cash
Improves Readiness for Future Public assistance for survivors, medical support, and in-
Health Crises. The Budget includes $8.7 billion tegrated healthcare services. The Administration
in discretionary funding for CDC—the largest also looks forward to working with the Congress
budget authority increase in nearly two decades— to expand the new cash assistance program for
to restore capacity at the world’s preeminent pub- survivors of domestic violence by providing addi-
lic health agency. Building on the investments in tional resources beyond 2022.
the American Rescue Plan, CDC would use this
additional funding to support core public health Promotes Health Equity for American
capacity improvements in States and Territories, Indians and Alaska Natives. To begin redress-
modernize public health data collection nation- ing long-standing, stark health inequities experi-
wide, train new epidemiologists and other public enced by American Indians and Alaska Natives,
health experts, and rebuild international capac- the Budget proposes to dramatically increase
ity to detect, prepare for, and respond to emerging funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS) by
global threats. $2.2 billion. In addition, to ensure a more pre-
dictable funding stream for IHS, the Budget for
Expands Access to Mental Healthcare. the first time includes an advance appropriation
The COVID-19 pandemic has helped expose the for IHS in 2023.
strain on the Nation’s mental healthcare system
and the need for additional sustained resources. Addresses Racial Disparities in Health-
The Budget builds on mental health resources in- care. Building on efforts in the American Rescue
cluded in the American Rescue Plan by: calling Plan to advance equity and reduce health dispar-
for historic investments, including $1.6 billion, ities in all healthcare programs, the Budget in-
more than double the 2021 enacted level, for the cludes additional funding to expand access to cul-
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant; turally competent care. The Budget also includes
additional funding to support the needs of those $153 million for CDC’s Social Determinants of
who are involved in the criminal justice system; Health program to support States and Territories
resources to partner mental health providers in improving health equity and data collection for
with law enforcement; and funds to expand sui- racial and ethnic populations. The Administration
cide prevention activities. also looks forward to working with the Congress
to advance the President’s goal of doubling the
Invests in Efforts to End Gender-Based Federal investment in community health centers,
Violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacer- which would help reduce health disparities by ex-
bated domestic violence and sexual assault and panding access to care.
has compounded the barriers to safety and eco-
nomic security, creating a “shadow pandemic” for Reduces Maternal Mortality Rate and
many women and girls who are largely confined Ends Race-Based Disparities in Maternal
to their home with their abuser. To help address Mortality. The United States has the highest
this growing crisis, the Budget provides $1 bil- maternal mortality rate among developed na-
lion for DOJ Violence Against Women Act of 1994 tions, with an unacceptably high mortality rate
programs, nearly double the 2021 level, including for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and
funding for new programs to expand restorative other women of color. To help end this high rate
justice efforts, protect transgender survivors, and of maternal mortality and race-based dispari-
support women at HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs to en- ties in outcomes among birthing people—and in
sure these institutions have the same resources addition to the investment in maternal health
as other schools to address this pervasive issue. included in the American Families Plan—theBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 19
Budget includes more than $200 million to: re- Prevention and Treatment programs, including
duce maternal mortality and morbidity rates programs in support of the Jason Simcakoski
nationwide; bolster Maternal Mortality Review Memorial and Promise Act.
Committees; expand the Rural Maternity and
Obstetrics Management Strategies program; Combats the Gun Violence Public Health
help cities place early childhood development ex- Epidemic. The Budget includes $2.1 billion,
perts in pediatrician offices with a high percent- an increase of $232 million above the 2021 en-
age of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance acted level, for DOJ to address the gun violence
Program patients; implement implicit bias train- public health crisis plaguing communities across
ing for healthcare providers; and create State the Nation. Investments include $401 million in
pregnancy medical home programs. State and local grants, an increase of $162 mil-
lion or 68 percent. This level supports existing
Defeating Other Diseases and Epidemics programs to improve background check systems,
and invests in new programs to incentivize State
Launches Advanced Research Projects adoption of gun licensing laws and establish vol-
Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The Budget untary gun buyback pilot programs. In addition,
includes a major investment of $6.5 billion to a total of $1.6 billion is provided to the Bureau of
launch ARPA-H, which would provide signifi- Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, an in-
cant increases in direct Federal R&D spending in crease of $70 million or five percent over the 2021
health. With an initial focus on cancer and other enacted level, to oversee the safe sale, storage, and
diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, this ownership of firearms and to support the Agency’s
major investment in Federal R&D would drive other work to fight violent crime. The Budget
transformational innovation in health research request for HHS doubles funding for firearm
and speed application and implementation of violence prevention research at CDC and NIH.
health breakthroughs. This funding is part of Combined, the Budget includes $200 million in
a $51 billion request for the National Institutes discretionary resources for DOJ and HHS to sup-
of Health (NIH) to continue to support research port a new Community Violence Intervention ini-
that enhances health, lengthens life, and reduces tiative to implement evidence-based community
illness and disability. violence interventions locally, which may include
hospital-based interventions. In addition to these
Makes a Major Investment to Help End amounts, the Budget supports the American Jobs
the Opioid Epidemic. The opioid epidemic Plan proposal for $5 billion in total mandatory
has shattered families, claimed lives, and rav- resources from 2023 to 2029 to provide long-term
aged communities across the Nation—and the support for the Community Violence Intervention
COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened this cri- initiative.
sis. That is why the Budget includes a historic
investment of $10.7 billion in discretionary fund- Commits to Ending the HIV/AIDS Epi-
ing in HHS, an increase of $3.9 billion over the demic. To help accelerate and strengthen ef-
2021 enacted level, to support research, preven- forts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United
tion, treatment, and recovery support services, States, the Budget includes $670 million within
with targeted investments to support populations HHS to help aggressively reduce new HIV cases
with unique needs, including Native Americans, while increasing access to treatment, expanding
older Americans, and rural populations. The the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known
Budget also includes $621 million specific to the as PrEP, and ensuring equitable access to servic-
Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) Opioid es and supports.20 Building Back Better
TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Climate change is one of the greatest chal- the electric sector to be carbon-pollution free by
lenges of our time. It is also an opportunity to 2035 while creating good-paying union jobs.
create new industries and good-paying jobs with
a free and fair choice to join a union, revitalize Invests in Climate Resilience and Disaster
America’s energy communities and the economy, Planning. The Budget provides $815 million—a
and position America as the world’s clean energy $540 million increase above the 2021 enacted lev-
superpower. In addition to the American Jobs el—to incorporate climate impacts into pre-disas-
Plan, the Budget includes more than $36 billion ter planning and projects to ensure that the Nation
of investments to combat climate change—an is rebuilding smarter and safer for the future. The
increase of more than $14 billion compared to Budget also provides more than $1.2 billion above
2021—by investing in resilience and clean ener- the 2021 enacted level to increase the resilience of
gy, enhancing U.S. competitiveness, and putting ecosystems and communities across the Nation to
America on a path to achieve net-zero emissions wildfires, flooding, and drought, including an addi-
no later than 2050—all while supporting commu- tional $100 million for CDC’s Climate and Health
nities that have been left behind and ensuring program. Consistent with the President’s national
that 40 percent of the benefits from tackling the conservation goal and the America the Beautiful
climate crisis are targeted toward addressing the initiative, the Budget also makes critical invest-
disproportionately high cumulative impacts on ments to help communities conserve important
disadvantaged communities. lands and waters, expand access to the outdoors
for underserved communities, and deploy natural
Building Clean Energy Projects and solutions to climate change.
Investing in Resilience
Helps Tribal Nations Address the Climate
Improves Energy Efficiency, Safety, and Crisis. Tribal communities are particularly vul-
Resilience of Low-Income Homes and nerable to the impacts of climate change, which
Public Buildings. The Budget invests $1.7 bil- threatens their cultural and economic well-being.
lion in energy saving retrofits to homes, schools, The Budget provides an increase of more than
and Federal buildings. This investment includes $450 million to facilitate climate mitigation, re-
$800 million in new investments across HUD silience, adaptation, and environmental justice
programs for rehabilitation and modernization projects in Indian Country, including investment
to further climate resilience and energy efficien- to begin the process of transitioning tribal colleg-
cy, which would lower the costs and improve the es to renewable energy.
quality of public and HUD-assisted housing, and
$400 million at DOE for the weatherization of Increases Demand for American Made,
low-income homes. Zero-Emission Vehicles through Federal
Procurement. To provide an immediate, clear,
Creates Good-Paying Jobs Building and stable source of demand to help accelerate
Clean Energy Projects. Transforming the U.S. American industrial capacity to produce clean
electricity sector—and electrifying an increasing vehicles and components, the Budget includes
share of the economy—represents one of the big- $600 million for electric vehicles and charging
gest job creation and economic opportunity en- infrastructure in the individual budgets of 18
gines of the 21st Century. That is why the Budget Federal agencies, including dedicated funds at
provides $2 billion to put welders, electricians, the General Services Administration for other
and other skilled laborers to work building clean agencies and for the United States Postal Service
energy projects across the Nation. This invest- charging infrastructure. This discretionary in-
ment supports a historic energy efficiency and vestment is one component of an overarching
clean electricity standard that would transform effort—combined with funding in the AmericanBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 21
Jobs Plan—to leverage Federal procurement to Jobs Plan would replace every lead service line
create good-paying union jobs, and enable a clean in America. The Budget also includes significant
transportation future. funding—$3.6 billion—that could be used to ad-
vance water infrastructure improvement efforts
Helping Communities Left Behind for community water systems, schools, and house-
holds. These water infrastructure improvement
Makes the Largest Investment in En- efforts include repairing up to 180,000 septic sys-
vironmental Justice in History. To support tems, as well as broader efforts to improve drink-
marginalized and overburdened communities ing water and waste water infrastructure, while
across the Nation, the Budget invests more than creating good-paying construction jobs that pay
$1.4 billion, including $936 million toward a at least the prevailing wage across the Nation
new Accelerating Environmental and Economic and in tribal communities.
Justice initiative at EPA. The initiative would
create good-paying union jobs, clean up pollu- Partners with Rural America to Grow
tion, and secure environmental justice for com- Rural Economies and Tackle Rural Poverty.
munities that have been left behind. In order The Budget includes a number of proposals
to hold polluters accountable, the initiative in- to invest in and create opportunities for rural
cludes $100 million to develop a new community Americans. This includes more than $300 mil-
air quality monitoring and notification program, lion in new investments in the next generation of
which would provide real-time data in the places agriculture and conservation, including support
with the highest levels of exposure to pollution. for voluntary private lands conservation as part
of the America the Beautiful initiative, renew-
Propels an Effort to Create 250,000 Jobs able energy grants and loans, and the creation of
Remediating Abandoned Wells and Mines. a Civilian Climate Corps to create a new path-
The Budget includes over $580 million to reme- way to good-paying jobs in rural America. The
diate thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells Budget also supports $6.5 billion in lending to
and reclaim abandoned mines. This more than support additional clean energy, energy storage,
triples the current annual discretionary fund- and transmission projects in rural communities.
ing, building on the President’s commitment
to create 250,000 good-paying union jobs for Increasing Competitiveness through
skilled technicians and operators in some of the Investments in Innovation and Science
hardest hit communities in the Nation, while
cleaning up hazardous sites. In line with the Advances Climate Science and Sustain-
stated goals of this Administration, the Budget ability Research. The Budget proposes
more than doubles funding for the Economic over $4 billion to fund a broad portfolio of re-
Development Administration’s (EDA) Assistance search across multiple agencies including the
to Coal Communities program. EDA’s efforts are Department of the Interior, NASA, NSF, and
part of the work of the new Interagency Working others to improve understanding of the chang-
Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities ing climate and inform adaptation and resilience
and Economic Revitalization, and complement measures.
other targeted investments across the Federal
Government to help spur economic revitalization, Spurs Innovation in Clean Energy Tech-
create jobs, and support workers in hard-hit coal, nologies. The Budget invests more than $10 bil-
oil and gas, and power plant communities. lion—a nearly 30-percent increase over 2021—in
clean energy innovation across non-defense agen-
Creates Jobs Improving Critical Water cies. These investments would help transform
Infrastructure. Clean, safe drinking water the Nation’s electric, transportation, buildings,
should be a right in all communities—rural and and industrial sectors to achieve a net-zero car-
urban, rich and poor. That is why the American bon economy by 2050.22 Building Back Better
Drives Breakthrough Solutions in Cli- invest in modern infrastructure to enable these
mate Innovation. The Budget includes a total critical efforts.
of $1 billion to create a new Advanced Research
Projects Agency for Climate and invests in the Leading the World toward Achieving
existing Advanced Research Projects Agency- the Objectives of the Paris Agreement on
Energy. Together, these initiatives would support Climate
high-risk, high-reward solutions for adaptation,
mitigation, and resilience against the climate Supports Global Emissions Reductions.
crisis and enable robust investments in clean en- To accelerate progress toward the Paris Agreement
ergy technology R&D. targets, the Budget includes a $1.2 billion contribu-
tion to the Green Climate Fund—the first American
Expands Observations, Research, and Cli- contribution since 2017—to help developing
mate Services. The Budget includes $7 bil- countries reduce emissions and adapt to climate
lion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric change. The Budget also proposes $485 million to
Administration (NOAA), an increase of $1.5 bil- support other multilateral climate initiatives, in-
lion from the 2021 enacted level. These additional cluding $100 million for international climate ad-
funds would allow NOAA to: expand its climate aptation programs. The Budget provides approxi-
observation and forecasting work and provide mately $700 million for the Department of State
better data and information to decisionmakers; and U.S. Agency for International Development to
support coastal resilience programs that would assist developing countries in adapting to climate
help protect communities from the economic and disruptions, expanding clean energy production,
environmental impacts of climate change; and and reducing landscape emissions.
CONFRONTING 21ST CENTURY SECURITY CHALLENGES
From the COVID-19 pandemic to climate provides $1 billion in foreign assistance to bring
change, from the growing ambitions of China to an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and expand
the many global threats to democracy, success- global health security activities, including to es-
fully addressing global challenges will require tablish Global Health Security Agenda capacity-
working alongside and in partnership with other building programs in additional nations and in-
nations. After years of neglect, the Budget makes crease investments in crosscutting research and
critical investments in diplomacy and develop- viral discovery programs to detect and stamp out
ment that would restore the health and morale future infectious disease outbreaks. These funds
of the Nation’s foreign policy institutions, as well would also support a new health security financ-
as America’s relationships with key partners and ing mechanism, developed alongside U.S. partners
allies. Diplomacy would once again be a center- and allies, to ensure global readiness to respond to
piece of American foreign policy, and America the next outbreak. In addition, recognizing that
would once again be a leader on the world stage. no single nation can meet the challenge of climate
change alone, the Budget provides $2.5 billion
Renews American Leadership and Mobil- for international climate programs to help rally
izes Global Action. The Budget proposes re- the world against this urgent threat, restore U.S.
investing in the Nation’s diplomatic corps and leadership, and catalyze new climate pledges.
providing funding to support U.S. commitments
to the World Health Organization, the United Counters 21st Century Challenges and
Nations (UN) Population Fund, and the UN High Threats. The Budget prioritizes the need to coun-
Commissioner for Human Rights, while continu- ter the threat from China while also deterring de-
ing to press for needed reforms. The Budget also stabilizing behavior by Russia. Leveraging theBUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 23
Pacific Deterrence Initiative and working togeth- includes resources to address the naturalization
er with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific re- and asylum backlogs, support non-profit legal
gion and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, service providers to help vulnerable populations,
DOD would ensure that the United States builds and fund non-profit case management programs.
the concepts, capabilities, and posture necessary The Budget would also revitalize U.S. leadership
to meet these challenges. To ensure the United in Central America as part of a comprehensive
States plays a lead role in defending democ- strategy to address the root causes of irregular
racy, freedom, and the rule of law, the Budget migration from Central America to the United
also includes a significant increase in resources States, providing $861 million in assistance to
to: strengthen and defend democracies through- the region. These specific investments comple-
out the world; advance human rights; fight cor- ment the President’s legislative efforts to provide
ruption; and counter authoritarianism. In ad- a path to citizenship for undocumented immi-
dition, to support agencies as they modernize, grants and implement an immigration system
strengthen, and secure antiquated information that welcomes all communities
systems and bolster Federal cybersecurity, the
Budget provides $500 million for the Technology Upholds the Nation’s Sacred Obligation
Modernization Fund, an additional $110 million to America’s Veterans. Building on significant
for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security investments included in the American Rescue
Agency, and $750 million in additional invest- Plan, the Budget proposes $97.5 billion to im-
ments tailored to respond to lessons learned from prove access to VA healthcare, an increase of
the SolarWinds incident. $3.3 billion above the 2022 enacted advance ap-
propriations level, including increases in funding
Strengthens the Nation’s Immigration for women’s health, mental health, suicide pre-
and Asylum Systems. The Budget proposes re- vention, and veterans’ homeless programs. The
sources to implement a fair, orderly, and humane Budget also proposes $882 million for medical
immigration system. This includes resources and prosthetic research—including the largest
necessary to fulfill the President’s commitment increase in recent history—to advance VA’s un-
to rebuild the Nation’s badly damaged refugee derstanding of traumatic brain injury, the effects
admissions program and support up to 125,000 of toxic exposure on long-term health outcomes,
admissions in 2022. In addition, the Budget pro- and the needs of disabled veterans. In addition,
vides over $10 billion in humanitarian assistance the Budget includes $394 million to ensure veter-
to support vulnerable people abroad, including ans and their families have access to world-class
refugees and conflict victims. The Budget also memorial benefits.
THE PRESIDENT’S HEALTHCARE AGENDA TO LOWER COSTS AND
EXPAND AND IMPROVE COVERAGE
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act poverty level—for two years. These improve-
(ACA) made historic progress in expanding and ments are lowering premiums for more than
improving health coverage and lowering health nine million current enrollees by an average of
costs. The American Rescue Plan built on that $50 per person per month, and would enable mil-
progress with the most substantial improvement lions of uninsured people to gain coverage.
in healthcare affordability since 2010. For people
who obtain coverage through the ACA market- The American Rescue Plan was only a first
places, the American Rescue Plan increased pre- step to lowering costs and expanding cover-
mium tax credits—and extended them to families age. Building on that progress, the American
with incomes above 400 percent of the Federal Jobs Plan invests $400 billion in strengtheningYou can also read
