18 Dec 2019 Key Provisions, Increased Funding in Budget Deal Signal Important Bipartisan, Bicameral Movement on Critical Issues in Budget and Appropriations

BPC Action applauds Congress for finding bipartisan consensus on key issues in the budget deal. In particular, BPC Action applauds:

• Increased funding for early childcare, particularly increased investment in the Child Care and Development Block Grant; energy innovation, specifically direct air capture and carbon capture technologies; and election security and administration; 
• Full, long-term authorization of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), which is critical to promoting patient access to evidence-based treatments and high-value care; and
• Inclusion of the Setting Every Community up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019, which is based on BPC recommendations and fundamental to ensuring millions of Americans have a more financially secure retirement.

This deal signals that despite a hyperpartisan environment, Congress still has the capacity to forge necessary bipartisan, bicameral agreements to act on critical issues. We hope to see more of this bipartisan momentum in the second session of the 116th Congress.