03.12.24

Ranking Member Scott Statement on the President’s Budget

“The budget proposal calls for transformational investments that would grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and lower costs for students, workers, and families.”

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025.

“President Biden’s proposed budget details the Administration’s vision on how we can continue to build an America where everyone can succeed. The budget proposal calls for transformational investments that would grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and lower costs for students, workers, and families.

“The President’s budget proposal draws a sharp contrast with Republicans – who are determined to slash the critical programs that Americans rely on, such as Medicare and Social Security. Moreover, their proposal would increase the deficit by trillions of dollars and includes attempts to repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Actthat take on special interests and large corporations.

“I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for proposing historic investments, within a fiscally responsible budget, to strengthen our economy and respond to the real issues facing students, workers, and families.  I will continue working with my colleagues to deliver on the Administration’s vision for an America in which everyone can succeed.”

The President’s FY 2025 Budget invests in students by proposing:

  • $8 Billion in new mandatory funding over five years for Academic Acceleration and Achievement Grants to support pandemic learning recovery efforts such as high-quality tutoring and expanded learning time,
  • To enhance institutional capacity at HBCUs, TCCUs, MSIs, and low-resourced institutions, including community colleges, by providing an increase of $143 million,
  • To boost to the maximum Pell Grant Award by $100, bringing the current max Pell Grant to $7,495, and
  • To establish two years of subsidized tuition to students from families earning less than $125,000 who are enrolled in a four-year Historically Black College and University, Tribally Controlled College and University, or other minority-serving institution.

The President’s FY 2025 Budget invests in workers by proposing:

  • A 6.9 percent increase in funding for the National Labor Relations Board to increase capacity to enforce workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions,
  • To invest $2 billion in funding for the Department of Labor’s worker protection agencies, such as the Wage and Hour Division and the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration, an increase of $121 million. Moreover, the President requests additional funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to support implementation and enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and advancement of pay equity through the collection and analysis of employer pay data,
  • To increase civil monetary penalties for employers that violate workplace safety and health, wage and hour, child labor, equal opportunity, and labor organizing rules, and
  • To establish a national paid family and medical leave program providing up to 12 weeks of leave for workers to recover from an illness, care for a new child or a sick family member or cover other situations.

The President’s FY 2025 Budget invests in families by proposing:

  • A 4.5 percent increase in funding for Head Start funding to help raise wages for Head Start educators,
  • A 9.5 percent increase in funding nutrition assistance for women, infants, and children through the WIC program,
  • To establish federal-state partnership for voluntary, universal free preschool,
  • To direct the HHS Secretary to negotiate for lower prescription drugs costs for workers and their families, and
  • To build on the success of the Affordable Care Act by making permanent the expanded premium tax credits that the Inflation Reduction Act extended.

For a more detailed summary of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget proposal click here.

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