On Aug. 24, the House adopted the Senate-passed $3.5 trillion budget resolution for fiscal year (FY) 2022 (S. Con. Res. 14) by a party line vote of 220-212. The resolution was included as a component of a rule that also set forth a timeline for House consideration of the Senate-approved $1 trillion traditional infrastructure package [refer to Washington Highlights, Aug. 13].
The FY 2022 budget resolution provides top-line spending instructions for congressional committees to utilize as part of the budget reconciliation process, which allows the Senate to pass legislation — including components of President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan — by a simple majority and without being subject to a filibuster [refer to Washington Highlights, Aug. 13].
Following House passage, AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and AAMC Chief Public Policy Officer Karen Fisher, JD, issued a statement congratulating the chambers on advancing the budget resolution. The AAMC leaders stated that the legislative measure “establishes a blueprint for investments in programs to benefit patients, families, communities, and the health care providers that care for them. We are particularly encouraged that the initial framework reflects many AAMC priorities to improve health for people everywhere, including critical components of the nation’s health infrastructure.”
The AAMC also sent an Aug. 27 letter to congressional leaders reiterating several key academic medicine priorities for consideration in the reconciliation package, including investments in the health care workforce, health care coverage, health equity, research infrastructure, pandemic preparedness, and immigration reform.
Both chambers will now work to craft legislative text to fulfill the reconciliation instructions with a tentative deadline to submit legislation by Sept. 15. Committees are expected to begin marking up their contributions to the reconciliation package during the week of Sept. 6.