Senate to begin debate on FY 2022 budget resolution, paving way for reconciliation process for up to $3.5 trillion ‘human’ infrastructure package

The Senate today will begin debate on a concurrent budget resolution giving Congress fast-track procedures to pass a second “human” infrastructure package of up to $3.5 trillion with a simple majority vote in the Senate. The second infrastructure package, based on President Biden’s American Families Plan, which was released in April would make investments in health care, education and child care.  
 
The resolution allocates up to $3.5 trillion to 12 Senate and 13 House committees with jurisdiction over Biden’s American Families Plan and instructs them to report legislation to the Budget Committees by Sept. 15. However, that deadline is not binding, and it is unlikely Senate committees will formally consider the legislation, given the equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans on Senate committees and the Democrat’s slim Senate majority.  Rather, the bill is likely to be considered directly by the full Senate in October. The House is expected to pass both the bipartisan infrastructure package and reconciliation after Senate consideration. While the reconciliation legislation could spend up to $3.5 trillion, a substantial portion of that spending is expected to be offset.  
 
With respect to health care, the resolution’s assumptions include action on the following health care initiatives:  a continuation of expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies; filling the “Medicaid coverage gap”; addressing health care provider shortages through action on Graduate Medical Education; an expansion of Medicare to cover hearing, dental and vision benefits and lowering the eligibility age; home health care benefits for seniors and persons with disabilities; addressing inequities in health care; reducing prescription drug costs; and certain workforce investments, including the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps, and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education.