The CPC Center’s Unrig the Rules updates provide concise updates on Hill timelines and processes, the current state of play on key Congressional activity, and potential outcomes. Subscribe to these updates here.
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December 2023. This publication explores the U.S. response to the COVID-19 recession, the lessons learned, and the implications for the broader economy. The bright spots and challenges listed below are a partial list. But they highlight some of the ways the economy is working for people and the outstanding challenges we face.
November 2023. CEO-worker pay gaps are a powerful driver of our country’s extreme economic inequality. Between 2009 and 2019, incomes for the richest 0.1 percent of Americans grew 3.5 times as fast as those for the bottom 90 percent of earners. This explainer highlights CEO pay-related reforms in four areas where we see signs of momentum: tax, stock buybacks, subsidy/procurement, and Wall Street pay policies.
October 2023. Students are losing access to books as the wave of book censorship in the United States grows rapidly. According to the data, a majority of books subject to censorship explore issues examining race, LGBTQ+ rights, and U.S history—topics that can facilitate critical thinking and discussion that help shape a young person’s worldview. Read the first explainer in our three-part “freedom to learn” series.
September 2023. The U.S. government has shut down 21 times throughout its 247-year history. This explainer analyzes the shutdowns that began on October 1, 2013, and December 22, 2018. These shutdowns had far-reaching impacts on the public, including federal workers and contractors forced to stay home and forego their paychecks or work without pay.
September 2023. Every year, Congress funds federal government agencies and programs through the annual appropriations process. As part of this process, Congress assigns funding to various immigration-related agencies and programs. This explainer highlights those differences related to two key immigration issues in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations process: immigration enforcement and refugee assistance.
July 2023. Appropriations bills are a critical opportunity for Congress to meet the needs of the moment. From the WIC program to union elections, this process impacts nearly every element of public life. Congress has limited time to determine whether that impact will be helpful or harmful in the coming year. Read the explainer.
July 2023. Current government funding expires after September 30, 2023. Without new funding bills or a continuing resolution, the government will shut down on October 1. Shutdowns' lengths vary, as they last until Congress passes and the President signs appropriations bills to fund the government. Read our frequently asked questions on government shutdowns here.
July 2023. The bloated Pentagon budget continues to rise, while programs millions of people rely on remain underfunded. Our analysis breaks down what we could do if we cut the Pentagon budget by $100 billion and invested in our communities instead.
June 2023. Gun control laws save lives. Generally, states that enact strong gun reform measures see lower instances of gun violence than states with loose gun restrictions. Notwithstanding state-level efforts to curb gun violence, federal legislation has lagged behind. This explainer examines gun laws in six states and the impacts of stricter vs. looser gun restrictions on rates of gun violence.
June 2023. The 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case could have significant implications for LGBTQ+ rights and anti-discrimination laws in the United States. At stake are laws protecting marginalized communities across America from discrimination at the businesses they patronize, facilities they use, and in other spaces open to the public. Read our full explainer.
June 2023. The ideological composition of committees is a significant matter when it comes to passing legislation that the full House or Senate will consider. Committee members affiliated with certain ideological caucuses advocate for issues such as universal childcare, Medicare for all, and less U.S. militarism around the world. In contrast, other ideological caucuses may not support investment in social needs, but do support continued increases in military spending. This explainer compares the ideological composition of the various foreign policy committees in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 117th Congress to the current 118th Congress.
May 2023. On May 28, 2023, the White House and House Republican Leadership released the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, legislation to suspend the debt limit until January 1, 2025. While the bill prevents a default on the U.S. debt for nearly two years, it also cuts funding for non-defense programs, doubles down on onerous and unnecessary work requirements on families under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); claws back funds intended to catch wealthy tax evaders; and weakens environmental protections. Read the full explainer
May 2023. Recently, stakeholders inside and outside Congress have encouraged President Joe Biden to avoid a looming default on the United States’ debt by invoking the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This fact sheet breaks down how the 14th Amendment relates to the debt ceiling and why it could provide an escape hatch as the U.S. inches closer to default.
April 2023. On April 19, 2023, Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, unveiled the Republican proposal to raise the debt limit, The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. The bill also cuts federal programs and services, blocks student debt relief, adds onerous and unnecessary work requirements to Medicaid and SNAP that take food assistance and health care from families, rescinds unspent COVID aid, and repeals parts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This explainer describes key provisions in the Speaker’s proposal and reactions that may indicate how the default crisis could unfold.
April 2023. The debt ceiling is a statutory limit Congress places on the total debt the federal government can incur. However, in recent years, some lawmakers have used debt ceiling negotiations as leverage to force federal budget cuts that harm vulnerable communities. This explainer describes the manufactured connection between the debt ceiling and spending cuts.
April 2023. For over 80 years, Congress has placed a cap on the total debt the federal government can take on, which is known as the “debt ceiling.” In this explainer we break down the debt ceiling’s history, its threats, and options for dealing with it—immediately and for good. Understanding these issues is important to navigating the crisis looming in 2023 and avoiding harmful concessions that keep vital resources away from U.S. communities.
March 2023. Past presidents have repeatedly conducted military activities without express authorization from Congress, known formally as an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). This explainer examines the various AUMFs still in effect and specifically addresses the Iraq war AUMFs of 1991 and 2002.
March 2023. This explainer also documents a short list of transformative, EAs enacted during the first two years of President Biden’s term. The last part of this explainer lays out a platform of potential EAs across a range of issue areas that the Biden Administration could act on during the remainder of his term.
March 2023. On March 9, 2023, President Biden released his budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. For FY2024, President Biden proposed $886 billion for defense spending. President Biden’s defense budget request is one of the highest in presidential history.
February 2023. Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Congress has passed four supplemental appropriations bills that provided aid to Ukraine. This explainer breaks down all the federal funds the U.S. has sent to Ukraine since the war began in 2022.
February 2023. Every year, Congress passes appropriations bills to fund the government. While much of the timeline for the appropriations process is set by law, the federal government often does not abide by its deadlines. This explainer illustrates a rough timeline of key inflection points during the annual appropriations process.
February 2023. 301 of the 350 bills and resolutions that passed in the House of Representatives last year used the expedited “suspension bill” process, making it attractive to lawmakers seeking to advance their legislation. Understanding these trends may help stakeholders better anticipate the types of bills likely to advance in the U.S. House.
January 2023. The House of Representatives’ rules play a crucial role in the legislative process. Changes to the House’s rules can impact the issues Congress focuses on, which voices are amplified or diminished, and even shape legislation itself. This explainer breaks down some of the most significant House rules changes for the 118th Congress.
April 2023. On April 7 a Trump-appointed U.S. District judge ruled in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (AHM v. FDA) that the FDA’s 23-year-old approval of mifepristone— one of the first of two medications in a medication abortion— is suspended. This explainer provides context to and answers common questions surrounding AHM v. FDA, and the broader implications for the future of medication abortion access.
December 2022. Committees are an essential aspect of the legislative body as a whole. Some of Congress’ most substantive work happens in its committees, where members discuss the country’s most pressing issues, conduct oversight, and fine-tune legislation. This explainer unpacks some of the terms often used in discussions about Congress’ committees.
November 2022. A party must retain a majority of seats in the U.S. House or Senate to control that chamber’s proceedings and administration. In addition to controlling the chamber’s legislative agenda, a new majority gains numerous powers that it can use to change the way the chamber operates and the work it does for the American people. This explainer describes some changes that might be expected when control of the House or Senate flips.
August 2022. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains $369 billion in climate and energy provisions, including nearly $280 billion in clean energy tax incentives. This would constitute the largest-ever U.S. investment in climate action and is designed to accelerate the buildout of renewable energy, speed up the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and aid in the deployment of energy efficiency technologies in low-income and minority communities.
Read the full explainer.
October 2022. Through nationwide injunctions, a single judge deciding the outcome of one lawsuit can effectively enact policy changes that impact the entire U.S. population. This explainer will discuss the nature of nationwide injunctions, recent examples, and their potential implications for American democracy.
October 2022. Despite the wide support DACA receives and the positive impact it has had on young people and our communities, the program has been the target of many politically motivated attacks. This explainer examines the legal challenges brought by Texas and other Republican attorneys general.
September 2022. The Supreme Court is slated to hear two cases in late 2022 that will have profound implications for fair representation, the right to vote, and the future of American democracy: Merrill v. Milligan and Moore v. Harper. The Court’s decisions in these cases could determine the extent to which racial discrimination in redistricting is prohibited, as well as whether there can be any safeguards against partisan state legislatures that seek to cement their hold on power.
August 2022. In nearly every aspect of our lives, high-speed internet access, or broadband, is fundamental, allowing us access to information and connecting us to a broader online community. Yet, more than 30 million Americans live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure, and a quarter million still use dial-up. This explainer provides context on the funding for broadband in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Omnibus.
November 2022. Ranked choice voting can help afford voters a greater voice in their leaders’ selection and, at the same time, discourage candidate sparring. In addition, policymakers might consider ranked choice systems and their benefits as they develop solutions for the considerable challenges facing American democracy.
October 2022. While the U.S. has ended its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Congress and the White House continue to support increases to Pentagon spending. Funding for the Pentagon mostly lines the pockets of defense contractors and weapons manufacturers and funds the building of weapons that destroy communities across the world. It also hurts communities here in the U.S. as weapons transfers programs lead to more violent policing in Black and brown communities.
September 2022. The Supreme Court is slated to hear two cases in late 2022 that will have profound implications for fair representation, the right to vote, and the future of American democracy: Merrill v. Milligan and Moore v. Harper. The Court’s decisions in these cases could together determine the extent to which racial discrimination in redistricting is prohibited and whether there can be any safeguards against partisan state legislatures seeking to cement their hold on power.
August 2022. The Inflation Reduction Act contains our country’s largest ever investment in tackling the climate crisis, changes to make the wealthiest Americans and mega corporations pay what they owe in taxes, policies to bring down prescription drug prices for seniors, and more.
Read the explainer for a summary of top takeaways and key policies included in the bill.
October 2022. The impact that Long COVID has had on individuals and their families cannot be understated, nor can the economic effects and societal disadvantages of the condition be ignored. The existing body of research suggests that the prevalence of Long COVID has a negative effect on US labor force participation rates, employment, and wages.
November 2022. The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center and the Economic Policy Institute have compiled fact sheets that analyze the increase in workers seeking to be represented by a union and unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board in all 50 states and certain territories (where data is available) between the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. These fact sheets illustrate the tremendous energy among workers seeking to unionize and bargain collectively.
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