Authorities’ budget plans for upcoming years affect people in multiple ways depending on what is considered a priority that will receive more funding and what will receive less funding. President’s budget for the new fiscal year is meant to include recommendations for the fiscal policy, changes for spending and tax policy, and show prioritized federal programs (Center on Budget, 2020). One should examine the issue priorities in president Biden’s recent budget to determine what will be paid more attention to and benefit in the near future.
The issue priorities in Biden’s budget reflect his vision of the future of the nation and are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the president states in the Budget Message, “America was in crisis,” and the budget is meant to show that “America is on the move again” (Executive Office, 2021a, p. 1-3). First, the budget moves forward the American Jobs Plan, which is meant to create new jobs in falling behind areas and rebuild infrastructure (Executive Office, 2021a). Second, the budget includes the American Families Plan that promotes education for children and supports struggling families, including tax reform towards fair treatment (Executive Office, 2021a). As a significant part of the budget emphasizes the two Plans, they are some of its issue priorities.
Following that, there are more aspects that the budget considers important for the future of the nation. The budget focuses on improving education concerning under-resourced schools, affordable child care to attend kindergartens, increased support for children who have disabilities, and investments in the well-being of students (Executive Office, 2021a). Moreover, the budget aims to promote opportunities for minorities, reduce the racial gap, commit to Criminal Justice Reform, and invest in climate resilience (Executive Office, 2021b). While there are more aspects specified in the budget, the two mentioned above Plans, improved education, reduced social gap, and enhanced environment, can be considered the ones that affect the future more.
There are some parts of Biden’s budget that I might personally benefit from in the future. First, there are certain benefits from the American Jobs Plan. For example, upgrading airports, ports, and transit systems will make traveling easier and more comfortable, not only for me but for every person across the nation (Executive Office, 2021a). Second, I hope that strengthening public health infrastructure will have positive outcomes. For instance, expanding access to mental health care can result in better mental well-being, including for those like me who easily get overwhelmed and stressed out (Executive Office, 2021a). Third, like any other person, I will most likely benefit from funding in climate. For example, investments in climate resilience and energy efficiency will, hopefully, enhance the environment in which I live (Executive Office, 2021a). Although the budget covers many aspects of life, some of those that I might benefit from in the future include better conditions for traveling, more support for mental health, and an improved environment.
To summarize, according to Biden’s budget, more attention will be paid to creating new jobs, enhancing infrastructure, making education and healthcare more affordable, maintaining climate, and reducing social gaps. The budget aims to support social and cultural minorities, so the people who have been struggling more before would be able to benefit more from the new policies. Overall, the budget presents the president’s agenda by investing in ways that would strengthen the nation and promote America’s future.
References
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (2020). Policy basics: Introduction to the federal budget process. Web.
Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. (2021a). Budget of the U.S. government: Fiscal year 2022. Web.
Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. (2021b). President’s FY 2022 budget advances equity across government. Web.