In the final days of the 117th Congress just a few weeks ago, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2023, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on Dec. 23. Included in this sweeping legislation are landmark investments in education, health care, environmental protection, support for working families, and investments in research and innovation. The New England Council – the nation’s oldest regional business association – was pleased to see many of our longtime priorities included, and we believe this legislation will help drive our region’s continued economic growth.
Here are a few of the biggest wins for New England in the bill:
Increased Pell Grant. The Pell Grant is a key tool for expanding access to higher education, providing support for low-income students to attend college. The council has long supported increasing the maximum Pell Grant amount – in fact, we have advocated for doubling the maximum grant. While the omnibus bill did not go so far as to double Pell, it did increase the maximum award by $500 to $7,395 for the 2023-2024 school year, marking the largest increase since the 2009-2010 school year.
Federal research funding. New England is home to some of the top research institutions, including world-class universities and hospitals. These facilities conduct research on some of the most pressing medical and scientific challenges facing our nation. As such, the council has long supported federal investments in research, and so we were pleased that the omnibus bill included $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health – a 5.6% increase – as well as a historic 12% increase for the National Science Foundation to $9.9 billion.
Mental health and substance abuse prevention support. The need for increased mental health and substance abuse services is one of the biggest health challenges facing our region and the nation at large. The demand for services has only surged in recent years as the pandemic has presented new challenges for those who struggle with mental health and addiction. Fortunately, the spending bill included billions of dollars for new and increased services, including $1 billion for mental health block grants, $385 million for certified community behavioral health clinics, and $1.6 billion to states to address the opioid misuse epidemic through the State Opioid Response Grant.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy. The New England region is a leader in efforts to decrease carbon emissions and develop renewable energy resources. The spending bill included a number of measures that will support these efforts and help create new jobs in the clean energy sector. The $3.46 billion appropriated in the bill for energy efficiency and renewable energy – a $260 million increase over the previous fiscal year – will allow for investments in vehicle technologies, hydrogen research and development, weatherization assistance programs and renewable grid integration, as well as marine, wind and solar energy.
Retirement savings provisions. Finally, the spending bill also includes a number of provisions aimed at bolstering retirement savings and ensuring a secure financial future for millions of American workers. The bill included a legislative package known as SECURE 2.0. Specifically, the bill will expand access to retirement savings plan enrollment, allow emergency withdrawal from plans, increase the opportunity to make catch-up contributions and support workers paying off student loan debt, just to name a few.
Beyond these provisions, the spending bill also includes investments to bolster working families, expand access to affordable housing, and support our law enforcement, military and veterans. The New England Council is grateful to our region’s congressional delegation for their efforts to advocate for our region’s priorities in this important piece of legislation. We have no doubt that our region’s economy will benefit from the investments this bill makes in the year ahead.
James T. Brett is the CEO and president of The New England Council, a regional alliance of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and health and educational institutions supporting economic growth and quality of life in New England.
