U.S. President Biden Budget Proposes More Funding for Workforce, Manufacturing, R&D

Apr 16, 2021
| By kenschramko@ipc.org

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden released what is known as the “skinny budget” that gives topline dollar amounts for the president’s proposed discretionary funding for fiscal year 2022. The overview document does not dive into specific program spending amounts, but it does highlight the administration’s budget priorities, including increased funding for workforce training, manufacturing, and R&D programs that are relevant to our industry.

Here are a few excerpts:

  • Invest in high-quality workforce training programs: The budget “proposes significant new investments to build a strong workforce by expanding funding to support Registered Apprenticeships, while also investing in other key workforce programs to ensure that businesses have the skilled and diverse workforce they need, and workers have multiple pathways to the middle class.” 
  • Ensure the future is "Made in America": The budget would more than double last year’s funding level for National Institute of Science and Technology manufacturing programs and nearly double the funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. 
  • Renew America’s commitment to R&D: The package proposes “historic increases in funding for foundational research and development across a range of scientific agencies, including NSF, NASA, NIST, DOE, and others to help spur innovation across the economy and renew America’s global leadership.”  
  • Invest in a 21st century infrastructure: The plan calls for “investments that set the stage for an ambitious, comprehensive reform and investment strategy to build back better America’s highway, transit, and rail systems nationwide; make historic investment in safety, equity, and climate change mitigation; and foster neighborhood-oriented investments that transform America’s infrastructure, reconnect communities, and provide opportunities to all Americans.”

IPC will review the President’s more detailed FY22 budget request when it is available later this spring. For now, we are pleased to see another step forward on the path to boosting U.S. government support of manufacturing.