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,…

Since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in February, almost 4 million people have fled Ukraine in one of the most significant European refugee crises since World War II. Countries, including the United States, were then faced with the pressing question of how many of those refugees to accept — if any. By late March, the Biden administration announced that the U.S. would accept 100,000 Ukrainians and other displaced people fleeing the conflict. Priority was given to LGBTQI people, those with medical needs, journalists and dissidents. The move came amid broad popular support. A March AP-NORC poll found almost 70%…

Capitol Hill staffers are pushing to unionize and now have the support of the majority of House Democrats, who signed a resolution in February supporting the effort. The logistics of running such a union, however, are presenting a hurdle for moving forward. The Congressional Workers Union publicly launched in early 2022 after organizing for more than a year with the aim of helping staffers feel more protected at work. “While not all offices and committees face the same working conditions, we strongly believe that to better serve our constituents will require meaningful changes to improve retention, equity, diversity and inclusion…

In February, the House passed legislation aimed at bolstering America’s competitiveness with China and strengthening the country’s supply chain. A companion bill passed the Senate in June 2021 but is now caught up in a partisan divide and larger debate over how to handle America’s technology industry and the country’s economic policy toward China. The America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521) passed in a 222-210 vote, with one Republican voting in favor and one Democrat voting no. The bill includes $52 million to support the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, the computer chips that are often used in cars and computers. The…

There is growing momentum in Congress to limit elected officials’ ability to buy and sell stocks while they serve in public office. Government watchdogs have long called for such a ban, but it took on new life after reports that several lawmakers may have profited from stock sales during the COVID-19 pandemic that could have been influenced by intelligence briefings. For example, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for stock trades he made shortly after he was briefed about COVID-19 in early 2020. Burr unloaded as much as $1.7 million of stocks following…

More than 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the onset of the war on terror, policymakers are still debating the need to house suspected terrorists at a U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Opened in January 2002 under then-President George W. Bush, the infamous detention center has been the source of much conflict. Proponents have argued that Guantanamo was and still is needed to protect Americans’ safety, while detractors question the facility’s practice of detaining individuals without judicial oversight and the legacy of controversial interrogation techniques that have violated the Geneva Conventions. Some Guantanamo detainees who have…

In December 2021, Congress raised the nation’s debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion so that the federal government would not default on its financial obligations. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law, ensuring that the U.S. will make good on its fiscal commitments into 2023. However, the contentious lead-up to the bill’s passage left many questioning the effectiveness and necessity of a U.S. debt ceiling. Initially created to help constrain the nation’s borrowing, the U.S. debt ceiling defines the amount of money the U.S. government can borrow to pay its obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits; military and civilian…