# What This Budget Bill Actually Does

This is Congress's official spending plan for the federal government. Think of it like a household budget, except it covers the entire United States government for 2022 through 2031. The bill sets targets for how much money the government will collect in taxes, how much it will spend, and how much debt it will take on each year.

Here's what matters to you: The budget shows the government expects to spend significantly more money than it takes in through taxes. In 2022 alone, the government is projected to run a deficit of about $1.2 trillion—meaning it will spend $1.2 trillion more than it collects. That gap gets smaller over the next few years but never disappears. By 2026, the budget actually projects a small surplus (more money coming in than going out), but deficits return after that. This deficit spending means the government borrows money, which adds to the national debt. The bill projects the national debt will grow from about $24.4 trillion in 2022 to $26.5 trillion by 2031.

The budget also allocates specific amounts to major government functions. Defense spending increases steadily from about $775 billion in 2022 to $970 billion by 2031. International affairs spending (foreign aid, diplomacy) stays relatively flat around $65-78 billion per year. Science and technology funding stays around $38-40 billion annually. These numbers guide how Congress will write specific spending bills throughout the year, but they don't directly change what you pay in taxes or what benefits you receive—those come through separate legislation. Essentially, this bill is Congress saying "here's our financial roadmap," but the actual impact on your wallet depends on what other bills Congress passes based on this framework.

Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031.

Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2022, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2023-FY2031, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation to reduce the deficit. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2022-FY2031 for <ul> <li> federal revenues, </li> <li> new budget authority, </li> <li> budget outlays, </li> <li> deficits, </li> <li> public debt, </li> <li> debt held by the public, and </li> <li> the major functional categories of spending. </li> </ul> It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct several Senate committees to report legislation to reduce the deficit over FY2022-FY2031 by amounts specified for each committee. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes reserve funds that allow certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate legislation relating to (1) efficiencies, consolidations, and other savings; or (2) health savings accounts. The resolution also sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as budget points of order, emergency legislation, Congressional Budget Office cost estimates, and adjustments for legislation that reduces appropriations.