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…

As lawmakers consider legislation to fight climate change and lower energy prices, one idea that has emerged is imposing a carbon border tax. Advocates say that levying a fee on imports with a large carbon footprint would set an example for the rest of the world while also supporting American manufacturers. Opponents, however, argue that such a tax would be difficult to enact without setting a similar domestic border tax and that it could damage the country’s international work fighting climate change. The idea was first floated by Democrats in 2021 with support from the Biden administration. Those talks went…

As millions of Americans moved to virtual work in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so too did members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The move was designed to allow lawmakers to continue working on behalf of their constituents without putting Capitol staff or other lawmakers at risk from the virus. However, some in Congress now say that the danger has passed and that it’s time to lift proxy voting rules, saying it hinders the legislative process. While the Senate continued to require members to show up in person throughout the pandemic, the House passed a temporary resolution…

As cryptocurrency becomes more popular, some lawmakers are calling for increased regulation of these digital assets. However, the unique aspects of cryptocurrency have even the most supportive industry stakeholders warning that any new rules must be created thoughtfully and with a light touch rather than leaning on existing banking rules. The use of cryptocurrency, a form of digital currency, has grown rapidly. By the end of 2021, the crypto market nearly surpassed $3 trillion, up from $14 billion five years before. Roughly 16% of Americans also report having invested in, traded or used this type of currency, according to a…

In mid-March, the Senate made a rare move to swiftly enact bipartisan legislation. The goal: making sure most Americans would no longer need to change their clocks twice a year by making daylight saving time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act (S. 623) passed the Senate by voice vote but still needs to pass the House. If it becomes law, the bill would make the time change permanent in November 2023 in order to accommodate segments of the transportation industry that already have schedules set through then. Currently daylight saving time, where clocks are set an hour ahead of standard time,…