Senator Debbie Stabenow Statement on President Biden’s Budget Request

WASHINGTON—Senator Debbie Stabenow, senior member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on President Biden’s FY 2023 Budget request. 

“A budget is a statement of our nation’s values and priorities. President Biden’s budget builds on the strongest economy in decades by making investments that will help businesses create jobs, lower costs for Americans, and reduce our deficit.

“President Biden understands that building a better America means making more things in America. By investing in American manufacturing, electric vehicles, and registered apprenticeship programs, Michigan workers and businesses will be able to make products here in America—and bring jobs home from overseas.

“The President’s historic investment in mental health and addiction services shows how much he understands that health care is health care – whether it is above the neck or below the neck. This budget includes a nationwide expansion of my mental health and addiction initiative and includes more funding for clinics already providing these services in Michigan. More funding will make sure no person has to sit in jail or the emergency room when what they really need is immediate, quality health care services in their community.

“Like he has in the past, President Biden continues to show up for our Great Lakes and Michigan’s way of life. This budget continues our investment in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and I applaud his commitment to keeping our Great Lakes healthy for future generations.

“President Biden rightly proposes that we pay for these priorities that improve the quality of life for every American by making sure billionaires pay their fair share of taxes.”

In 2014, Senator Stabenow authored and passed her bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). It is the biggest step forward in expanding community mental health and addiction services in decades. Her legislation created high-quality standards for services and a nationwide demonstration program that is setting the standard for care and permanently closing the gap in funding between physical and behavioral health care in communities around the country. With Senator Stabenow’s leadership and support, Michigan joined this demonstration program in 2020. 

Senator Stabenow’s bill, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act, was signed into law in December 2020. The law reauthorized the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which was set to expire at the end of FY 2021, for another five years. Senator Stabenow authored the original Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2010.

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