A bill that would provide greater protections for journalists is currently making its way through Congress. The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act (H.R. 4330) would create a federal law shielding journalists from having to divulge confidential information, including information from sources, except in cases where the information relates to an act of terrorism or imminent violence. “With the PRESS Act closer than ever to becoming law, a federal press shield law is within reach that affords journalists protection from government overreach and abuse of the subpoena power,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) in a statement after the…

President Joe Biden wants oil companies to share the wealth as they reap historic profits — or at least use the revenue to boost domestic energy production and help American consumers at the pump. Amid rising gas prices this fall, the president announced plans for an oil and gas windfall tax if domestic energy producers do not invest some of their profits back into the economy to bring prices down. American oil companies saw profits increase after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which made the world more reliant on U.S. energy supplies due to embargoes on Russian fuel. “It’s time for…

With gas and fuel costs rising for most of 2022, members of Congress are looking to take action against oil-producing countries they accuse of artificially raising the price of oil. The bipartisan No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC) would specifically target the group of countries in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which includes Russia and Saudi Arabia. The bill would adjust U.S. antitrust law to allow the U.S. attorney general to bring lawsuits against OPEC countries and their state-owned oil companies for price fixing, which is illegal in the U.S. In October, OPEC announced it…

Congress moved to strengthen the U.S. electoral process in fall 2022 when the House passed the Presidential Election Reform Act, which would reform the law that governs how states and voters choose the president and vice president every four years. Written in 1887, the Electoral Count Act (ECA) is considered by many to be so complex and arcane that it leaves room for ambiguity, something that former President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to exploit in their attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. According to the ECA, the Electoral College meets in states across the country on the…

The U.S. Department of Education recently introduced new rules on federal funding for charter schools. The agency argued that its new rules are meant to stop for-profit companies from opening charter schools with federal funds, as well as to prevent premature school closures. Meanwhile, opponents of the new rules argue that they are burdensome and could prevent some schools from receiving federal funding through grants. Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools established and run by private groups. These groups create contracts — or charters — with state and local governments to establish a school’s mission and academic goals as…

As the debate on America’s immigration policies continues to evolve, Republican governors have begun transporting migrants to more Democratic-leaning cities throughout the U.S. While some support the move, arguing that immigrants should be moved to what have been deemed sanctuary cities and locations where they can be better supported, others object and argue that the new policy is inhumane and carries racist undertones. Two of the main proponents of immigrant relocation are Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both Republicans. In September, DeSantis organized flights from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts, for 50 Venezuelan…

Congress is moving closer to creating a federal digital data privacy standard for consumers. In July, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) in a 53-2 vote, a resounding show of support for a digital privacy law. Some lawmakers and data privacy stakeholders are at odds, however, over whether one federal statute is enough to protect the data privacy of all Americans. ADPPA (H.R. 8152) would focus on data minimization, or limiting the amount of data companies can collect to what is necessary to provide a specific service. Among its other aims,…

Democrats achieved a major victory this past summer when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a modified version of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan. Among its aims, the IRA will attempt to curb rising levels of inflation by reducing the federal deficit. It will also increase spending on climate change and clean energy solutions as well as address prescription drug and tax reform. Biden, who signed the bill into law in mid-August, called it “one of the most significant laws in our history.” He added during the signing ceremony that with this new law, “the American people…

Following the radical changes to many Americans’ work routines during the COVID-19 pandemic, some progressives are reinvigorating a push to an even more radical move: a shorter workweek. The current push for a reduced workweek is being spearheaded by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who introduced the 32-Hour Workweek Act in 2021. The bill would reduce the average workweek by lowering the 40-hour threshold for overtime compensation for nonexempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Thus, any time worked over 32 hours in a week would be subject to overtime compensation. Progressives say the move would improve work-life balance and…