President Biden Releases FY2022 Budget

  • by AGD Washington Advocacy Representative
  • Jun 2, 2021
President Joe Biden put forward his proposed FY2022 budget on May 28, which would amount to approximately $6 trillion in government spending. The budget accounts for many of the provisions the President has detailed in his American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan.

In the proposal, defense spending would decrease as a percentage of GDP, and nondefense discretionary spending would also shrink as a share of GDP over the next decade. Mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid) costs would increase as a share of GDP by 2031. Health spending would increase substantially from the $108.6 billion provided to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in FY2021, with a 23.4% increase to $133.7 billion in FY2022. Within the White House’s proposed budget for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), $40.6 million would be provided for Oral Health Training Programs, which would be the same level of funding as was provided in FY2021. At least $26.6 million would be allocated for training in general, pediatric, and public health dentistry, dental hygiene, and the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program.

The Administration also released the “Greenbook” report, which accompanies the White House’s FY2022 budget request and effectively serves as the revenue side of the ledger against forecasted spending. The report predicts that the President’s proposed tax increases will bring in $3.6 trillion over the next ten years. The Greenbook was not released under the Trump Administration.

The President’s annual budget is typically more of a reflection of policy priorities for the current Administration, as Congress is not bound to allocate federal spending according to the request. Congress is not expected to finalize FY2022 appropriations until later in the year.

Impact on General Dentistry: AGD is disappointed that the President’s budget does not propose an increase in funding for oral health training. The AGD continually works with relevant appropriations subcommittees to safeguard government programs that improve the nation’s oral health and the practice of general dentistry. AGD plans to submit a request to appropriators this year to increase funding for HRSA’s Oral Health Training Programs such as the General Dentistry Residency program and the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment program and ask that they include language supporting Oral Health Literacy awareness and education programs.