“This moment of crisis is also a moment of opportunity” --wrote OMB acting director, Shalanda Young in a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees. Last week, we wrote an overview of the Federal Budget including its three major components - Mandatory, Discretionary, and National Debt (1). The discretionary portion of the budget is particularly important for science because it funds scientific research in Agencies and Departments. This week, we’re discussing an overview of the President’s proposed 2022 Discretionary Request, and specifically highlighting science funding specific items (2,3). President Biden released his discretionary request to Congress for fiscal year 2022 (FY2022) on April 9, 2021. Typically the budget is proposed by the first Monday in February, but is often delayed for years when there is a change in administration. The President is expected to release requests for mandatory programs as well as changes to the tax code later this spring. The proposed partial budget has outlined a $118 billion dollar increase (8.4%) from the FY2021 budget, which does not include emergency funds for COVID-19 relief. The majority of the increased spending would be allocated to the non-defense part of the discretionary budget, increasing it by $106 billion. This is primarily focused on increasing the budgets of the Department of Education by 41%, the Department of Commerce by 28%, the Department of Health and Human Services by 23%, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 21%. The proposed budget acknowledges a number of crises the United States is facing, and the proposed increases highlight the President’s priorities on education reform, investment in public health, and addressing the climate crisis. Overall, the proposed budget for FY2022 shows a major increase to science funding. Highlights specific to science and environmental policy include (2): Investments in Clean Energy and Resilience
In order to take steps to address the climate crisis, The discretionary request prioritizes transforming the energy sector through clean energy projects including retrofitting homes and buildings for energy efficiency and weatherizing low-income homes. Additionally, $2 billion will be allocated specifically to employ skilled laborers such as electricians and welders on clean energy projects across the country, which is directly in line with the President’s American Jobs Plan (3). Funds beyond the 2021 amount would be allocated to incorporate climate impacts into pre-disaster planning and increase resilience after natural disasters such as wildfires and floods. Additionally, the discretionary request would require collaboration and partnerships with rural America to grow rural economies and tackle rural poverty. Specifically, $300 million would be provided to support rural communities by investing in next generation agriculture, private land conservation, and renewable energy grants. The discretionary request also allocates funds to aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally. The Green Climate Fund, which helps developing countries navigate climate change, would receive $1.2 billion. Additionally, $691 million would be set aside for the Department of State and US Agency for International Development to reach out internationally to support countries with clean energy production, emissions reduction, and climate change adaptation. Investments in Environmental Justice The discretionary request provides funds specifically geared towards addressing how environmental hazards disproportionately impact marginalized communities. The discretionary request invests more than $1.4 billion in the EPA. This would include $936 million for an Accelerating Environmental and Economic Justice initiative, which “...would create good-paying union jobs, clean up pollution, and secure environmental justice for communities that have been left behind.” Additionally, the discretionary request specifies that $100 million would be used to develop a community air quality monitoring and notification program so that places with the highest levels of pollution would be monitored in real-time. $400 million would be allocated to the HUDs Lead Hazard and Healthy Homes Grants, which will help reduce lead-based paint and other hazards in homes of low-income families. The discretionary request notes that this would help to hold polluters responsible, and work towards a cleaner future. Additionally, Tribal nations are among the marginalized communities that disproportionately feel the effects of climate change, which threatens their cultural and economic well-being. $450 million would be provided to help create climate mitigation, resilience, adaptation, and environmental justice projects in Indian Country. This will include a government supported transition of tribal colleges to renewable energy. Clean Water and Hazardous Waste Remediation The discretionary request highlights a priority to clean up hazardous sites such as oil and gas wells and abandoned mines ($550 million). This would include propelling an effort to create 250,000 jobs to undertake the remediation projects. Additionally, the discretionary request devotes $3.6 billion to water infrastructure improvement to ensure clean and safe drinking water for all communities regardless of economic status. Investments in Innovation and Science The FY2022 discretionary request provides a substantial portion of overall funding to climate science, sustainability research, and clean energy, which could greatly increase the nation’s competitiveness. Research across Agencies would receive $4 billion to better understand climate change and resilience strategies. Additionally, the discretionary request would allocate $10 billion to investing in clean energy technologies across non-defense agencies, which the document notes would help achieve net-zero carbon economy by 2050. Through this priority, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) budget would increase to $6.9 billion to expand climate forecasting work, support coastal resilience work, and provide better data to decision-makers. Benefits There are many historic increases proposed in this budget, geared towards creating a safer, more equitable, and environmentally conscious nation that would ultimately increase the United States global standing and competitiveness. There will be an increase to science funding compared to FY2021, which will boost scientific research and innovation. Communities disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards will receive aid, and clean energy initiatives will be funded and prioritized. Challenges The federal Budget is one way for a President to push their agenda. Due to the nature of Congress, passing bipartisan appropriations bills similar to the requests above will be difficult without reaching across the aisle and making compromises.The US has a lot of priorities and issues, and it is difficult to devote substantial funds to every area. If spending keeps pace with inflation, budget deficits would increase. Due to inflation, discretionary spending the US mandates for FY2022 will be even greater in the future (4). Want to advocate? Policy for science concerns the policies that address the conduct of science and the research enterprise (5). In fact, many scientists rely heavily on Federal funding in the form of grants to advance their research. Federal funding for Federal Agencies or Departments (NASA, EPA, NSF, NOAA, etc.) is determined by the yearly Federal Budget, and therefore it is important to continuously increase the awareness of the importance of science. Policy makers represent their constituents so the more people who are vocal about caring for science, the more likely it is that funding will remain steady or increase. Innovation that results from science will mirror allocations to scientific funding. If this interests you, that’s great! Everyone has a personal connection with science, and anyone can advocate. You do not need to be an expert. Share your stories, and explain why science is important to you. For more guidance on advocacy or finding your policymakers, visit our resources pages or reach out to us via email! Footnotes
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