Podcast: Congress’s institutional limitations in responding to the coronavirus

May 14, 2020
Margaret Taylor sat down with Tony Mills, director of science policy at the R Street Institute, to talk about an article he recently wrote with Robert Cook-Deegan titled, “… Read More

Civil society groups to Congress: You need a plan.

May 13, 2020
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders McConnell, Schumer, and McCarthy: We write to express our deep concern over the lack of a clear and transparent plan for maintaining congressional operations during… Read More

Five new recommendations for virtual congressional hearings

May 11, 2020
While much of the country has already figured out how to conduct business remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress is moving slowly and erratically to implement plans for how it… Read More

New CRS report offers an authoritative review of the current debate over OTA

May 8, 2020
The report looks at the pros and cons of five different approaches Congress could take: Reestablish OTA Without Changes to Its StatuteReestablish OTA with Changes to Its StatuteCharge an Existing… Read More

Where’s Congress? Don’t Just Blame Trump for the Coronavirus Catastrophe

April 21, 2020
How in the world did it happen? The United States has the highest rating in the world on the Global Health Security Index, which assesses prevention, capacity for detection, preparedness… Read More

Sens. Portman and Durbin introduce bill to permit remote voting in the Senate

March 19, 2020
From a press release: “Today [March 19, 2020] , U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bipartisan resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the… Read More

Remote voting by Congress? Not so fast.

March 16, 2020
Amid a growing pandemic where social interaction could threaten health, many questions have been raised about the continuity of operations on Capitol Hill. Not for the first time, remote… Read More

Why the House needs a new technology working group

February 27, 2020
“The time has come to use advanced electronic data processing techniques in the legislative processes of Congress.” – Rep. Jack Brooks (D, TX), 1969. The House of Representatives cannot… Read More

APSA congressional reform task force report

January 21, 2020
Download the report. Read More

Why taxpayers should support expanding the GAO

January 8, 2020
Congress approved $1.4 trillion in new spending last week to avoid another government shutdown over the holidays. Taxpayers are right to be wary whenever Congress pulls out its checkbook. Read More